Bruce Catton Quotes
A singular fact about modern war is that it takes charge. Once begun it has to be carried to its conclusion, and carrying it there sets in motion events that may be beyond men's control. Doing what has to be done to win, men perform acts that alter the very soil in which society's roots are nourished.
Catton, Bruce. Terrible Swift Sword. Doubleday, 1963.
This was not always so. But even in WWII America and its allies were willing to inflict such terrible damage on teh infrastructure and civillians required if the last vestiges of the military are to be destryoed or rendered incapabley of ressurecting themselves. Since then we have not been willint to pay that price, nor the price of losing lives of our own military. As a result, fanatics who can recruit additional fanatics who are willing to die for a cause con continue the firght almost perpetually.
Charles Bruce Catton was an American historian and journalist, known best for his books concerning the American Civil War. Known as a narrative historian, Catton specialized in popular history, featuring interesting characters and historical vignettes, in addition to the basic facts, dates, and analyses. His books were researched well and included footnotes. He won a Pulitzer Prize during 1954 for A Stillness at Appomattox, his study of the final campaign of the war in Virginia.
