"So far war has been the only..." - Quote by William James
So far war has been the only force that can discipline a whole community, and until an equivalent discipline is organized, I believe that war must have its way.
More by William James
“The desire to gain wealth and the fear to lose it are our chief breeders of cowardice and propagators of corruption.”
“We ought, all of us, to realize each other in this intense, pathetic, and important way. If you say that this is absurd, and that we cannot be in love with everyone at once, I merely point out to you that, as a matter of fact, certain persons do exist with an enormous capacity for friendship and for taking delight in other people's lives; and that such persons know more of truth than if their hearts were not so big.”
“... I am the same personal being who in old times upon the Earth had those experiences.”
More on Discipline
“Practice makes perfect. After a long time of practicing, our work will become natural, skillfull, swift, and steady.”
“Watch your actions, they become your habits.”
“If you keep your mind active, regularly take on mental challenges, and continually think about the right things, you will develop the disciplined thinking that will help you with whatever you endeavor to do.”
More on Society
“Detestation of the high is the involuntary homage of the low.”
“We cut the throat of a calf and hang it up by the heels to bleed to death so that our veal cutlet may be white; we nail geese to a board and cram them with food because we like the taste of liver disease; we tear birds to pieces to decorate our women's hats; we mutilate domestic animals for no reason at all except to follow an instinctively cruel fashion; and we connive at the most abominable tortures in the hope of discovering some magical cure for our own diseases by them.”
“It is in bad taste," is the most formidable word an Englishman can pronounce.”