Famous quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley

"War is the statesman's game, the priest's delight, the lawyer's jest, the hired assassin's trade"

About this Quote

This quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley from his poem "The Mask of Anarchy" offers a sharp review of different societal roles and their relationship to war. By attributing war to different professions, Shelley highlights its pervasive impact and the differing intentions and attitudes of those included.

To start with, when Shelley refers to war as the "statesman's video game", he highlights the political adjustment and strategic maneuvering involved in disputes. Statesmen, or political leaders, typically perceive war as a tool for attaining geopolitical goals, expanding area, or consolidating power. The term "game" recommends a lack of severity about the real expenses of war, stressing the detachment of leaders who treat it as a computed relocation within their more comprehensive ambitions.

Second of all, describing war as the "priest's delight" suggests complicity or enthusiasm from spiritual figures in backing or legitimizing war. Throughout history, religious organizations have in some cases supported wars under the guise of moral or magnificent sanction. Shelley's usage of "pleasure" suggests a critique of how faith can be twisted to back violence, calling into question the expected ethical high ground that some spiritual leaders declare.

The phrase "lawyer's jest" serves to condemn the legal occupation's function in validating war or discovering legal loopholes to permit it. Attorneys, trained in rhetoric and argumentation, may trivialize the seriousness of war through legal structures or treat it as an intellectual exercise, detached from the human suffering it causes. "Jest" suggests cynicism and mockery, suggesting an ethical detach in between legal reasons and the grim truths of war.

Lastly, calling war the "worked with assassin's trade" casts it as a business of computed killing. This phrase captures the mercenary element of war, where individuals take part in violence for revenue, highlighting the commodification of human life. It slams the dehumanization fundamental in treating war as a mere deal.

Through these perspectives, Shelley deconstructs the romantic or noble shine typically related to war, revealing it rather as a multifaceted organization driven by self-interest, adjustment, and moral compromise.

About the Author

England Flag This quote is written / told by Percy Bysshe Shelley between August 4, 1792 and July 8, 1822. He/she was a famous Poet from England. The author also have 37 other quotes.
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