War is man’s failure as a thinking animal

When one considers the current war – instigated by Trump and Netanyahu – there can be no doubt its driven by leaders with a huge idiotic sense of things. Their actions are akin to using a nuclear bomb to kill a canary. Steinbeck was right – All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal – and Trump is symbolic of that failure – possibly one of the worse examples. Other men have started wars through poor logic or deeply irrational thinking, but with the accession of Trump thinking just seems to go out of the window. Its an extreme example of how idiocy can be dangerous to such an extent it poses a threat to the entire world.

John Steinbeck

Below are some posts from Twitter (or X if one prefers) – all are to do with war in one way or another. Most are from the current war period the US (and Israel) is undertaking against Iran. We start with Steinbeck’s “All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal”…

Steinbeck’s quote frames war as a, regression to primitive violence rather than a solution to conflict. It comes from “Once There Was A War” (1958). There’s an online version at the Internet Archive. The work originates from a collection of articles written by Steinbeck as a special war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune between June and December 1943.

This comes from Ernest Hemingway’s essay “Notes on the Next War: A Serious Topical Letter,” published in Esquire magazine in September 1935. (PDF version). It’s a direct anti-war piece warning about how leaders manipulate people into conflict.

George Orwell

 Frequently used in discussions about war, the quotes comes from Orwell’s essay “Facing Unpleasant Facts”. Some others from that work can be seen here.

Orwell, a writer & distinguished journalist, held some interesting, even brilliant views. 1984 is Orwell’s magnum opus – a tome on how humans get to become mere, insignificant, beings brainwashed by an indomitable power. His view in the early 1940s debate about war & pacifism was such that during January 1940 Orwell wrote “It seems to me that now we are in this bloody war we have got to win it and I would like to lend a hand”. He duly reported on the Spanish Civil war, having also taken part in that. His views on pacifism were strong but any necessity in reporting on war meant one had to be actively involved. The wars of the 20th Century were a completely different world far removed from the present day where anyone can easily be a armchair reporter.

“The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous.” Quote from Orwell’s famous work 1984, which entails three superstates – Eastasia, Eurasia, and Oceania who are perpetually at war. “War is peace” is another example from Orwell’s 1984. Perpetual war creates a stability which the leaders of the Party exploit in order to maintain control of its hugely indoctrinated citizens. Here’s a downloadable pdf of Orwell’s 1984 for those who have not read the book.

Leo Tolstoy

“War is so unjust and ugly that all who wage it must try to stifle the voice of conscience within themselves.” – Leo Tolstoy. X.

This quote form War and Peace suggests that by not being not manipulated or forced into battle, individuals would choose peace.

From Patriotism or Peace – A letter to Manson (1896). Unmitigated loyalty and nationalism often brings about war. By questioning patriotism one can uncover the roots of war. Peace requires the rejection of a strong nationalistic inebriety.

According to Tolstoy, governments alone initiate wars. The interests of the people are ignored. Tolstoy argues that rulers, driven by power, force nations into violence, making war a “necessity” while the populace suffers. Its a reminder from Tolstoy that people ought to value peace. By that they need to consider carefully the leaders who are chosen. This view of Tolstoy’s can be best read in “On Patriotism” (1894).

This can be viewed with retrospect to Trump’s claim there would be no more wars. His election speech cited “I’m not going to start wars, I’m going to stop wars.” That claim was made a few more times and the White House extolled Trump as “The President of Peace”. No doubt Americans are ruing the day they voted for him.

Other authors’ quotes

Arranged by author alphabetically.

Otto von Bismarck on the realities of war.

Fyodor Dostoevsky thought war was necessary. Without it there would be barbarianism.

Attributed to the French novelist and poet Anatole France (1844–1924), is more accurately translated as: “You think you are dying for your country; you die for the industrialists.” The quote appeared in the publication L’Humanité for July 1922.

C. S. Lewis on survival.

John Stuart Mill – war is ugly.

Paul Valéry – war a massacre of people who don’t know each other.

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