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War
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“Biafran War Memories is a lifelong project for me. Most of the people who saw the war are in their mid 60’s and upwards. I’m trying to get the stories out of them while we still can, while they are still alive... We need to have a full story, which is why I’m not talking to just Igbo people.”
Chika Oduah (born 1986) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It was Putin who chose this war (2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine), not the Russian people, so we must see clearly that this is Putin's war.”
Olaf Scholz (born 1958) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Olaf Scholz cited in: "Germany's reversal on Ukraine weapons policy 'response to Putin's aggression'" in DW, 27 February 2022.
“(Addressing World War II veterans on Victory Day) You have passed through the hell of war, (pause) with fascism you've fulfilled your duty to your fatherland until the end.”
Viktor Yanukovych (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There has been no serious reconciliation process after the war, because the winning side saw no need for it. They had won and they were now in control – that was it. They see Sri Lanka as a Buddhist Sinhalese nation and they are not interested in reconciliation with other groups. After going through such a long war, they do not want to live anything similar again.”
Noel Emmanuel (born 1960) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Sri Lanka: “Fundamentalists see Christianity as a threat.” (29 November 2017)
“Looking back on the long period of post-war peace, reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never again be repeated.”
Naruhito (born 1960) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Japan marks 76th anniversary of WWII surrender with emperor expressing "deep remorse" over wartime atrocities" in Xinhua (15 August 2021)
“Not a war. But then, it was a war. When the forest burns do the locusts stop to say goodbye?”
Cyprian Ekwensi (1921–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Democracy is confronted by serious challenges, to the point that we could say there is a war declared against democracy. A war which we need us all to confront with more political will and determination, consensus and solidarity.”
Salome Zourabichvili (born 1952) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Salome Zourabichvili (2021) cited in: "Georgia greets 2022 with prospects of a ‘murky national accord’" in OC Media, 30 December 2021.
“It will be a lot of refugees (if Russia invades Ukraine). It will be a disaster for Europe because this war is not only (in the) east of Ukraine. This war is going in (the) east of Europe. I am seriously saying.”
Oleksii Reznikov (born 1966) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Oleksii Reznikov (2022) cited in "Ukraine warns Europe war with Russia will create massive refugee crisis" on Restoring America, 19 January 2022.
“Weakness provokes him: if he thinks that he’s stronger, he can take up this war, then he will take up war, but if he sees that we are strong, then he doesn’t look our way, and that’s what we are doing.”
Kaja Kallas (born 1977) first seen 2025 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EU ramped up defence spending after Trump's call, Kaja Kallas tells Euronews Euro News (June 25, 2025).
“I have to maintain the climate of brotherhood here in Indonesia, because the majority of the population are Muslim, so I try to maintain their feelings,because sometimes what the policy of the government is initially misinterpreted. I do say "the war against terrorism," but there must be -- there might be a manipulation, "the war against Islam.”
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (born 1949) first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview with Charlie Rose (2011)
“For the Soviets, and for Putin today, the most important fact about the Ukrainians during the war was not their victimhood but their alleged collaboration with the Nazis..No matter that far more Ukrainians fought in the Red Army than in the Wehrmacht and that Germany was able to recruit tens of thousands of Russian prisoners of war, too.”
“Our people's patriotic war of resistance against US aggression has achieved great victories in all fields, compelling the American imperialists to unconditionally end their war of destruction against the North, withdraw part of their troops from the South and come to the four-party conference in Paris.”
Trường Chinh (1907–1988) said by 1988 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We are now at war with the whole world, as it was in the Great Patriotic War.”
Rustam Minnekayev wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I don’t mind it when inept people try to rule the world, but it irritates me when they’re so nervous. If you want war with us, then declare war, so we can start swinging.”
Vladimir Solovyov (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Aggressive marketing of war affects people and they start thinking that war is acceptable. Governments and their propaganda supporters are fully responsible for the militaristic rhetoric on state-owned television channels.”
Dmitry Muratov (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Propaganda is the kitchen of war, Propaganda is war itself. First comes the militarisation of national holidays, then the news is replaced by propaganda shows.”
Dmitry Muratov (born 1961) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Nobel peace prize Dmitry Muratov: Propaganda is war itself", Vox Europ, 3 May 2022
“The destruction of the media in Russia is more and more like an act of war, like when a rocket launcher destroys everything from the face of the earth. The destruction of the Russian media is complete. The government has undoubtedly won the war against the independent media that presents an alternative point of view. Propaganda has won.”
Dmitry Muratov (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Memorial Day has the tendency to conjure up old arguments about the Civil War. That’s understandable; it was created to mourn the dead of a war in which the Union was nearly destroyed, when half the country rose up in rebellion in defense of slavery. (p20 "The Myth of Kindly General Lee")”
Adam Serwer (born 1982) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Protesting this war, Chicano/as rose to condemn the killing fields with the slogan "Raza Si, Guerra No,” we wanted our young men here fighting for justice instead of in a faraway war.”
Enriqueta Vasquez (born 1930) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And now everyone returning from an armed conflict is called a hero too. In the old days you had to commit specific acts of valor during war; now you just need to turn up. These days when a war is on, heroism seems to mean 'attendance.'”
Steve Toltz (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Not too long after the Iraq War began, I read an article that quoted a Hummer "patriotic." I guess that's what counts as sacrifice for the war effort these days: driving an overpriced, gas-sucking monstrosity that resembles a military vehicle. I'm sure the troops appreciated this show of solidarity.”
Jen Sorensen (born 1974) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This strip refers to the "War on Christmas," the rabble-rousing myth Fox News perpetuates every year, condemning those who dare to wish someone "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Interpreting a small effort to be inclusive of, say, Jews celebrating Hanukkah as a declaration of war on Christianity is simply the height of chutzpah.”
Jen Sorensen (born 1974) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The great war of to-day is a war for bread and butter”
Belva Ann Lockwood (1830–1917) said by 1917 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I just knew that I had to tell the world that there was torture, an undercover war against women. But this is not one person's war – all of us have to do something.”
Waris Dirie (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If one weighs his [Carl von Clausewitz] influence and his emphasis, one might describe him historically as the Mahdi of mass and mutual massacre. For he was the source of the doctrine of "absolute war", the fight to a finish theory which, beginning with the argument that "war is only a continuation of state policy by other means", ended by making policy the slave of strategy.”
B. H. Liddell Hart (1895–1970) first seen 1933 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Ghost of Napoleon (1933), p. 120
“At this time, the super powers are in a state of decline. The Iranians rose up and said no to US imperialism; the Afghanis and Eritreans are saying no to Soviet-social imperialism. The situation has become critical and the only resource left is world war between the US and the Soviet Union. We are daily being given warning that war is imminent.”
Pat Parker (1944–1989) said by 1989 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The details vary from war to war, but no matter the epoch, the camaraderie remains. It's a closeness no civilian will ever really understand.”
David Bellavia (born 1975) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We firmly know that the peoples of Russia and Ukraine do not want a war. Such a war would also run counter to the fundamental interests of Europe. But the ruling powers of the United States appear to want it.”
Gennady Zyuganov (born 1944) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Russian Communist leader: The West is backing fascists and using Ukraine" in People's World (16 February 2022)
“If Hitler wanted peace, he knew how to insure it; if he wanted war, he knew equally well what would bring it about. The choice lay with him, and in the end the entire responsibility for war was his.”
Nevile Henderson (1882–1942) first seen 1940 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 1940 in pg 227 of memoirs "Failure of a Mission" published in New York by G. P. Putnam’s Sons
“[On his military service during the Falklands War in 1982] So whilst I think back to a day when a young man went to war, full of bravado, I returned a changed man.”
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He says, “No ruler in the history of the world has ever been able to afford a war. They’re not affordable things. No prince ever says, ‘This is my budget, so this is the kind of war I can have.’ You enter into one and it uses up all the money you’ve got, and then it breaks you and bankrupts you.”
Hilary Mantel (1952–2022) said by 2022 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“That's the only way you can stop war, stop participating in it, and stop so much consumption that requires war, at least that's the way I look at it.”
Juanita Morrow Nelson (1923–2015) said by 2015 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“War reduces things to a very simple level. Maybe this is why patriarchy likes war: the simplicity of it. The longing for good guys and bad guys, the goal-directed win-or-lose male adventure-and of course for this country it's almost always been win.”
Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (1945–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Woman was not wanting in courage in the early ages. In war and bloodshed this trait was often displayed. Grecian and Roman history have lauded and honored her in this character. English history records her courageous women too, for unhappily we have little but the records of war handed down to us.”
Lucretia Mott (1793–1880) said by 1880 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In time of war as in time of peace, the Negro woman has ever been ready to serve for her people's and the nation's good. During the recent World War she pleaded to go in the uniform of the Red Cross nurse and was denied the opportunity only on the basis of racial distinction.”
Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955) said by 1955 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When the Indochina war started, the United States was undoubtedly the leading power in the world. Now that the Indochinese war is ended, the United States has been dismantled as a world power. It has been unmasked. It has been shown how weak it is as a world power. It has been overextended.”
Juan González (journalist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“while the capitalists were fighting, 200 million people turned to socialism of the Soviet Union. After the second World War, when the fascists fought a capitalist society, 600 million people turned to socialism in China. So we think maybe after the third world war, the whole world might turn into socialism.”
Juan González (journalist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am perfectly sure I could never say I believe in the vigorous prosecution of the war. War offends my common sense and my regard for human life too much. I cannot feel any faith in good coming out of it, even now that we are in it; and besides that, even if I admit that good may come out of it, I could not encourage other people to die for a cause I am not ready to die for myself.”
Crystal Eastman (1881–1928) first seen 1917 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Oswald Garrison Villard, November 16, 1917
“The horrors of war that stir the thinking world have been least noticed by the historians. The violation of women, and even children, is hardly included in the term “atrocity.” Yet so abhorrent are these things that the brutality of war passeth understanding, and men and women must so dedicate themselves to tis cause that it can never come into the world again.”
Lillian Wald (1867–1940) said by 1940 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“After World War I, the capitalist system enjoyed a short period of relative stability. Since World War II there has been no such relative stability. The forces of imperialism have been greatly weakened. U.S. imperialism, the main prop of the imperialist system, is also in a state of general decline. The general crisis of capitalism has greatly deepened.”
Peng Zhen (1902–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The structure of the international system, at the end of this century, is experiencing radical changes, particularly the end of the post-war bipolarity, the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the cold war. Many new peoples have gained their right to self-determination and democratic development, long repressed by totalitarian regimes.”
Ion Iliescu (1930–2025) first seen 1994 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech at the 49th session of the UN General Assembly" (1994)
“As a nation we were not prepared for World War II. Yes, we won the war, but at a terrific cost in lives, human suffering, and material, and at times the margin was narrow. History alone can reveal how many turning points there were, how many times we were near losing, and how our enemies’ mistakes pulled us through. In the flush of victory, some like to forget these unpalatable truths.”
Henry H. Arnold (1886–1950) said by 1950 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My great-grandfather was the last ruler of the Choctaw Nation...When I was growing up, we saw ourselves as Native Americans. I was really shielded. I knew literally nothing about blacks. The first time I was called "nigger" to my face was the first day I went to Ole Miss...Everybody else was dealing with the black-white war. Tell you the truth, I was still fighting the European-Indian war.”
James Meredith (born 1933) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But our duties as naval men are not at all lightened for that reason. To preserve in perpetuity the fruits of this war; to promote to an ever greater height of prosperity the fortunes of the country, the navy, which, irrespective of peace or war, has to stand between the Empire and shocks from abroad, must always maintain its strength at sea and must be prepared to meet emergency.”
Tōgō Heihachirō (1848–1934) first seen 1905 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks by Admiral Togo at dispersal ceremony for the combined fleet" (1905)
“And where is your guarantee against war in that, Miles?” “There can’t be any except in human ethical maturity. A sensible political structure would help enormously, but there’s going to be risk of war so long as men think they can justify hating strangers and grabbing for power. Human hearts and minds are basic—the rest is mechanics.”
Edgar Pangborn (1909–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One more aspect of the Russian Civil War reverberates directly with the conflict we are now watching play out. The war was not just about who would rule Russia, but about whom Russia would rule.”
Adam Hochschild (born 1942) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Just when the influential powers in the FRG sense the chance to annul the outcome of World War II and post-war developments through a coup, they have again had to realize that reality cannot be changed, that the GDR, on the western boundary of the socialist countries in Europe, remains firm as a dam against neo-Nazism and chauvinism. The GDR’s solid position in the Warsaw Pact cannot be shaken.”
Erich Honecker (1912–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“George Marshall may well have sighed at the results of the March 1945 poll- not at his own place but at MacArthur's. Marshall, more than most, knew the whole story of MacArthur's war. It is a mark of Marshall's own greatness that he so deftly managed MacArthur's fiery comet and unselfishly used its brilliance to accomplish the objectives of a global war.”
Walter R. Borneman (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Often we succeed, but not always. As I write this, on my way to Izyum to document war crimes, the occupiers may well be destroying the evidence of genocide in Mariupol. Despite all our efforts, too many stories will never be known. As a human rights activist, I document war crimes and advocate for justice. Yet, as a writer, I know there are wounds only stories can heal.”
Victoria Amelina (1986–2023) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Extract from Amelina's contribution to "'Hope matters': Ukrainian and international authors on why literature is important in times of conflict" The Guardian (6 October 2022)
“In the middle of the war there was Heine, there was Goethe, there was Schiller. I did posters for the German club, in the middle of the war. When I think back to how happy I was, studying German and flunking algebra, and I think what was going on for other Jewish teenagers on the other side of the world, I'm so puzzled by those dates.”
Cynthia Ozick (born 1928) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source