Francois Rabelais Quotes

If you find your opponent in a strong position costly to force, you should leave him a line of retreat as the quickest way of loosening his resistance. It should, equally, be a principle of policy, especially in war, to provide your opponent with a ladder by which he can climb down.

Preventing a war is tantamount to winning a war.

We should seek by all means in our power to avoid war, by analysing possible causes, by trying to remove them, by discussion in a spirit of collaboration and good will.

I'm not running around the world looking for ways to create hostilities.

Better build them a golden bridge than offer a decisive battle.

Walk softly and carry a big stick. Or stomp loudly and carry enough firepower to start a small war. Whatever worked

I don't consider myself dovish and I certainly don't consider myself hawkish. Maybe I would describe myself as owlishthat is wise enough to understand that you want to do everything possible to avoid war.

It is accordance with our determination to refrain from aggression and build up a sentiment and practice among nations more favorable to peace, that we ratified a treaty for the limitation of naval armaments made in 1921, earnestly sought for a further extension of this principle in 1927, and have secured the consent of fourteen important nations to the negotiation of a treaty condemning recourse to war, renouncing it is an instrument of national policy, and pledging each other to seek no solution of their disagreements except by pacific means.

Always remember, however sure you are that you could easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think he also had a chance.

It is better to pay tribute of gold to the enemy than tribute of blood in war.

The great lesson to be learned in the battered towns of England and the ruined cities of Germany is that the best way to win a war is to prevent it from occurring.

Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

If not in the interests of the state, do not act. If you cannot succeed, do not use troops. If you are not in danger, do not fight.

The way to prevent war is to bend every energy toward preventing it, not to proceed by the dubious indirection of preparing for it.

What Tully said of war may be applied to disputing: "It should be always so managed as to remember that the only true end of it is peace." But generally true disputants are like true sportsmen,--their whole delight is in the pursuit; and the disputant no more cares for the truth than the sportsman for the hare.

The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting.

It is not only war that can stop war but men of goodwill, conscious of their mission can deal with such deadly enemy.

Reconciliation with our enemies is simply a desire to better our condition, a weariness of war, or the fear of some unlucky thing from occurring.

The United States is not looking for a way to launch war.

We ain't goin' study war no more.

The Executive should be able to repel and not to commence war.

You have to be willing to sacrifice as much to prevent war, as soldiers are willing to sacrifice to wage war.

I am insulted by the persistent asertion that I want war. Am I a fool? War! It would settle nothing.

It is better to learn war early from friends, than late from enemies.

The biggest difference would be made if we don't have wars to begin with.