Reading about Haditha, its comparisons to My Lai, and now reports that it was not an isolated incident have me even more gravely concerned about what we are doing in Iraq. Being a bit of a quotation junkie, I was immediately reminded of this comment.
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900), Beyond Good and Evil, Aphorism 146
As I said, I’m a quote junkie so I skimmed through all the quotes including the keyword ‘monster.’ What follows are some quotes that leapt out at me.
To conclude, all other living creatures live orderly and well, after their own kind: we see them flock and gather together, and ready to make head and stand against all others of a contrary kind: the lions as fell and savage as they be, fight not with one another: serpents sting not serpents, nor bite one another with their venomous teeth: nay the very monsters and huge fishes of the sea, war not amongst themselves in their own kind: but believe me, man at man's hand receiveth most harm and mischief.
- Pliny The Elder (23 AD - 79 AD)
Man’s cruelty to man is hardly a new phenomenon.
Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.
- Victor Marie Hugo
How can seven words say so much?
America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.
- John Quincy Adams (1767 - 1848)
Oh well. It’s been a long time since JQA was around, and this country is changed. We not only go abroad in search of monsters we actively create them when there aren’t any readily available. What else would you expect from a country with a foreign policy dictated by the military-industrial complex?
As I said, I’m a quote junkie so I skimmed through all the quotes including the keyword ‘monster.’ What follows are some quotes that leapt out at me.
To conclude, all other living creatures live orderly and well, after their own kind: we see them flock and gather together, and ready to make head and stand against all others of a contrary kind: the lions as fell and savage as they be, fight not with one another: serpents sting not serpents, nor bite one another with their venomous teeth: nay the very monsters and huge fishes of the sea, war not amongst themselves in their own kind: but believe me, man at man's hand receiveth most harm and mischief.
- Pliny The Elder (23 AD - 79 AD)
Man’s cruelty to man is hardly a new phenomenon.
Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.
- Victor Marie Hugo
How can seven words say so much?
America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.
- John Quincy Adams (1767 - 1848)
Oh well. It’s been a long time since JQA was around, and this country is changed. We not only go abroad in search of monsters we actively create them when there aren’t any readily available. What else would you expect from a country with a foreign policy dictated by the military-industrial complex?
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