There are three great destroyers of mankind, Plague, Famine, and Hero. Plague and Famine destroy your persons only, and leave your goods to your Heirs; but Hero, when he comes, takes life and goods together; his business and glory it is, to destroy man and the works of man.
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard Improved (1748 ed.)
(Source)
Franklin, referring to Louis XV and Louis XIV of France, uses the term "hero" her as one who leads their country into the "glory" of war and conquest.
Quotations about:
plague
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EPIDEMIC, n. A disease having a sociable turn and few prejudices.
Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914?) American writer and journalist
“Epidemic,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1883-04-28)
(Source)
Not collected in later books.
If a predatory enemy to our species can’t unite everyone on Earth to fight it, I’m left wondering what hope remains for Civilization.
Neil deGrasse Tyson (b. 1958) American astrophysicist, author, orator
Twitter (19 Apr 2020)
(Source)
Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
