# Looking for your favorite poems and quotes about war and peace... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600 "2001-09-14T14:32:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/1 "2001-09-14T14:32:38Z")
We are using the back page of the company newsletter as a forum for employees to post their thoughts and feelings about Tuesday’s tragedy, and also to read some comforting words. I am a looking for some more stuff. Please let me know if you have a favorite poem, quote or verse on war, peace, grief or anything suitable. _Mods - I wasn’t sure if this should go here or in Cafe Society, it’s a poll, but about art, please move it if I am mistaken._ ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/2 "2001-09-14T14:38:14Z")
I don’t know who originally said it or the exact words, but: “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers most.” ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/3 "2001-09-14T17:07:54Z")
> [@](#): > > In Flanders fields the poppies blow > Between the crosses, row on row, > That mark our place; and in the sky > The larks, still bravely singing, fly > Scarce heard amid the guns below. > > We are the Dead. Short days ago > We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, > Loved, and were loved, and now we lie > In Flanders fields. > > Take up our quarrel with the foe: > To you from failing hands we throw > The torch; be yours to hold it high. > If ye break faith with us who die > We shall not sleep, though poppies grow > In Flanders fields. > > –John McCrae, “Flanders Fields” > [@](#): > > They were coming, they were coming, gaunt and ghastly, sad and slow; > They were coming, all the crimson wrecks of pride; > With faces seared, and cheeks red smeared, and haunting eyes of woe, > And clotted holes the khaki couldn’t hide. > Oh, the clammy brow of anguish! the livid, foam-flecked lips! > The reeling ranks of ruin swept along! > The limb that trailed, the hand that failed, the bloody finger tips! > And oh, the dreary rhythm of their song! > > “They left us on the veldt-side, but we felt we couldn’t stop > On this, our England’s crowning festal day; > We’re the men of Magersfontein, we’re the men of Spion Kop, > Colenso – we’re the men who had to pay. > We’re the men who paid the blood-price. Shall the grave be all our gain? > You owe us. Long and heavy is the score. > Then cheer us for our glory now, and cheer us for our pain, > And cheer us as ye never cheered before.” > > The folks were white and stricken, and each tongue seemed weighted with lead; > Each heart was clutched in hollow hand of ice; > And every eye was staring at the horror of the dead, > The pity of the men who paid the price. > –Robert Service, “The Army of the Dead” > [@](#): > > One of the bravest men that I ever saw was a fellow on top of a telegraph pole in the midst of a furious fire fight in Tunisia. I stopped and asked what the hell he was doing up there at a time like that. He answered, ‘Fixing the wire, sir.’ I asked, ‘Isn’t that a little unhealthy right about now?’ He answered, ‘Yes Sir, but the Goddamned wire has to be fixed.’ I asked, ‘Don’t those planes strafing the road bother you?’ And he answered, ‘No, sir, but you sure as hell do!’ > –Gen. George S. Patton ---
**Author:** ![tisiphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tisiphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tisiphone)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/4 "2001-09-14T19:12:51Z")
> [@](#): > > So we read > And we watched > All the specially selected news > And we learned so much more about the good guys > Won’t you stand > By the flag > Was the question I’m asked > Won’t you join in and fight with the Allies? > What could we say, we’re only twenny-five years old > Twenty-five sweet summers, hot fires in the cold > This kind of life makes that violence unthinkable > We like to play hockey, have kids and grow old… > > Fighters for Texaco > Fighters for power > Fighters for longer turns in the shower > Don’t tell me I can’t fight > 'Cause I’ll punch out your lights > And history seems to agree > That I would fight you for me > That us would fight them for we > He’s just a peacenik > She’s just a warhawk > That’s where the beach was > That’s where the sea > What could we say we’re only twenty-five years old… > And history seems to agree > That I would fight you for me > That us would fight them for we > Is that how it always must be? > > –“Gulf War Song”, Moxy Fruvous ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/5 "2001-09-14T19:26:54Z")
Captain Ross’s (portrayed by Dana Andrews) speech to the Japanese judge after being told that his crew will be executed as common criminals, instead of being allowed to remain as POWs in Japanese prison camps: _It’s true we Americans don’t know very much about you Japanese, and never did. And now I realize you know even less about us. You can kill us–all of us or part of us–but if you think that’s going to put the fear of God into the United States of America and stop them from sending other fliers to bomb you, you’re wrong– **dead wrong.** They’ll come by night and they’ll come by day, thousands of them. They’ll blacken your skies and burn your cities to the ground and make you get down on your knees and beg for mercy. This is **your** war. You **wanted** it. You **asked** for it. You **STARTED** it. And now you’re going to get it, and it won’t be finished until your dirty little empire is wiped off the face of the earth._ ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/6 "2001-09-14T19:40:29Z")
\*Sheltered from the Evils of the World until the Truth Is Seen. Sheltered from Realities of Life, Your Human Rights Are Free. **Freedom, Taken for Granted 'Cause We Don’t Know What Oppression Means** \* - **Anthrax** - _One Man Stands_ ---
**Author:** ![Kvallulf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Kvallulf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kvallulf)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/7 "2001-09-14T19:44:50Z")
In Peace, Sons bury their Fathers In War, Fathers bury their Sons. ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/8 "2001-09-14T19:51:10Z")
_“But in modern war… you will die like a dog for no good reason.”_ [sub]- Ernest Hemingway[/sub] _“The only way to win an atomic war is to make certain it never starts.”_ [sub]- General Omar Bradley[/sub] _“Henceforth the adequacy of any military establishment will be tested by its ability to preserve the peace.”_ [sub]- Henry Kissenger[/sub] _“What difference does it make to the dead… whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?.”_ [sub]- Mohandas Gandhi[/sub] _“We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world - or to make it the last.”_ [sub]- JFK[/sub] ```auto I dunno if these applied to what you wanted, but they made me think. Take care. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/9 "2001-09-14T19:57:44Z")
-“two men enter one man leaves” - oh wait that was “mad max” -“let him who desires peace,prepare for war” -sorry forgot who quoted that one ,anyone? -does anyone know where i can find the one by winston churchill? the one that begins: “we shall go on to the end…” ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/10 "2001-09-14T20:59:21Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Tony Montana \* > \*\* > -“let him who desires peace,prepare for war” -sorry forgot who quoted that one ,anyone?_\* That’s a very old one, supposedly an anonymous Roman proverb. > [@](#): > > \*\* -does anyone know where i can find the one by winston churchill? the one that begins: “we shall go on to the end…” \*\* “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender.” ---
**Author:** ![TheOtherOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@TheOtherOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOtherOne)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/11 "2001-09-14T21:21:20Z")
“You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake” Forgot who said that one, sorry. “I don’t know what weapons will be used to fight World War three, but World War four will be fought with sticks and stones.” Forgot that one too. “And that’s the world in a nutshell…An appropriate receptacle” ~Stan Dunn “War is a series of catastrophies that ends in a victory”~Georges Clemenceau “The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his” ~Patton Just firgured I’d toss those into the hat. ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/12 "2001-09-14T21:37:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheOtherOne \* > **"You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake" > Forgot who said that one, sorry.** Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin. > [@](#): > > **"I don’t know what weapons will be used to fight World War three, but World War four will be fought with sticks and stones." Forgot that one too.** Albert Einstein, I think. Danimal the Attribution Master. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/13 "2001-09-14T21:44:52Z")
“I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. _ **I hate war.** _” – Franklin Delano Roosevelt “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.” – Dwight David Eisenhower ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/14 "2001-09-14T21:46:19Z")
**The War Prayer** by Mark Twain. ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/15 "2001-09-14T21:58:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danimal \* > \*\*Danimal the Attribution Master. \*\* Ok - pop quiz **Danimal**![sub](or anyone)[/sub] Who said…? 1. _“War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.”_ 2. _“War can only be abolished through war.”_ Ten point bonus quote: 3. _“The possibility of war increases in direct proportion to the effectiveness of the instruments of war.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/16 "2001-09-14T22:23:59Z")
Pride goeth before a fall. I didn’t know any of those off the top of my head, like I did with the previous four. After a brief search, I discover that: 1 was by John F. Kennedy. 2 was by Mao Zedong. 3 was apparently by Norman Cousins. Danimal the (chastened) Attribution Master. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/17 "2001-09-14T22:28:15Z")
All of “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” especially this stanza: “When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered. Honor the charge they made, Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred.” As for peace, I think John Lennon’s song “Imagine” would do it, especially: “You may say I’m a dreamer, But I’m not the only one, I hope some day you’ll join us, And the world will live as one.” ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/18 "2001-09-14T23:22:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danimal \* > > **After a brief search, I discover that: > 1 was by John F. Kennedy. > 2 was by Mao Zedong. > 3 was apparently by Norman Cousins.** > **D** animal the (chastened) **A** ttribution **M** aster. \*\* Ok then. Is it all right if I call ya **D.A.M.** for short? 🙂 Well done. I’m outta quotes. ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-your-favorite-poems-and-quotes-about-war-and-peace/81600/19 "2001-09-15T02:12:38Z")
Hrm… let’s see here. Quotes about war and peace… From Darragh O’Donoghue (don’t ask me to pronounce it) at the IMDB: > [@](#): > > This epic has the reputation for being a limp, lifeless, mechanical thing; a vulgar simplification of Tolstoy. The latter accusation is partly correct, and thank goodness for it. War and Peace, the novel, has many great things, but also many excrescences: it goes on way too long, padded out with tediously detailed philosophies and theories of war; it also studiously refuses loose ends. Hrm… doesn’t sound very positive… But he goes on to say: > [@](#): > > I also suggest that WAR AND PEACE is nearly a masterpiece for two reasons. Ok, I’ve had my fun. everybody else go back to digging up quotes. Tenebras