WIST Quotations

Berry, Wendell -- Essay (1999), “The Failure of War,” Citizenship Papers (2003)

Dave — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:25:29 +0000

Violence breeds violence. Acts of violence committed in “justice” or in affirmation of “rights” or in defense of “peace” do not end violence. They prepare and justify its continuation.

Wendell Berry (b. 1934) American farmer, educator, poet, conservationist
Essay (1999), “The Failure of War,” Citizenship Papers (2003)

Shakespeare, William -- Macbeth, Act 3, sc. 4, l. 152 (3.4.152) (1606)

Dave — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 15:50:04 +0000

MACBETH: It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Macbeth, Act 3, sc. 4, l. 152 (3.4.152) (1606)

To Lady Macbeth.

Carter, Jimmy -- Nobel Peace Prize Lecture (10 Dec 2002)

Dave — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:12:03 +0000

War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.

Jimmy Carter (b. 1924) American politician, US President (1977–1981), Nobel laureate [James Earl Carter, Jr.]
Nobel Peace Prize Lecture (10 Dec 2002)

King, Martin Luther -- Stride Toward Freedom, ch. 11 “Where Do We Go from Here?” (1958)

Dave — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 19:00:33 +0000

Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher
Stride Toward Freedom, ch. 11 “Where Do We Go from Here?” (1958)

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 29, Night Watch [Vimes] (2002)

Dave — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 14:46:27 +0000

Here’s some advice boy. Don’t put your trust in revolutions. They always come around again. That’s why they’re called revolutions.

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author
Discworld No. 29, Night Watch [Vimes] (2002)

Shakespeare, William -- Othello, Act 1, sc. 3, l. 234ff (1.3.234-235) (1603)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

DUKE: To mourn a mischief that is past and gone
Is the next way to draw new mischief on.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Othello, Act 1, sc. 3, l. 234ff (1.3.234-235) (1603)