The worst, the hardest, the most disagreeable thing that you may have to do may be the thing that counts most, because it is the hard discipline, and it alone, that makes possible the highest efficiency. Elihu Root More Quotes by Elihu Root More Quotes From Elihu Root The limitation upon this mode of promoting peace lies in the fact that it consists in an appeal to the civilized side of man, while war is the product of forces proceeding from man's original savage nature. Elihu Root men war lying The law of the survival of the fittest led inevitably to the survival and predominance of the men who were effective in war and who loved it because they were effective. Elihu Root law men war The point of departure of the process to which we wish to contribute is the fact that war is the natural reaction of human nature in the savage state, while peace is the result of acquired characteristics. Elihu Root wish war facts The attractive idea that we can now have a parliament of man with authority to control the conduct of nations by legislation or an international police force with power to enforce national conformity to rules of right conduct is a counsel of perfection. Elihu Root perfection men ideas Human nature must have come much nearer perfection than it is now, or will be in many generations, to exclude from such a control prejudice, selfishness, ambition, and injustice. Elihu Root selfishness ambition perfection Honest people, mistakenly believing in the justice of their cause, are led to support injustice. Elihu Root justice believe people The line of least resistance in the progress of civilization is to make that theoretical postulate real by the continually increasing force of the world's public opinion. Elihu Root progress real civilization It is to be observed that every case of war averted is a gain in general, for it helps to form a habit of peace, and community habits long continued become standards of conduct. Elihu Root community war long The framers of the Constitution realized that . . . there needed to be some guardian of the sober second thought, and so they created the Senate to fulfill that high and vitally important duty. Elihu Root constitution political important War was forced upon mankind in his original civil and social condition. Elihu Root mankind social war Cruelty to men and to the lower animals as well, which would have passed unnoticed a century ago, now shocks the sensibilities and is regarded as wicked and degrading. Elihu Root aggravation animal men No nation now sets forth to despoil another upon the avowed ground that it desires the spoils. Elihu Root spoil nations desire To deal with the true causes of war one must begin by recognizing as of prime relevancy to the solution of the problem the familiar fact that civilization is a partial, incomplete, and, to a great extent, superficial modification of barbarism. Elihu Root causes war civilization It is only through the power of association that those of any calling exercise due influence in their communities. Elihu Root community calling exercise The mere assemblage of peace loving people to interchange convincing reasons for their common faith, mere exhortation and argument to the public in favor of peace in general fall short of the mark. Elihu Root faith people fall In the first place, when there is a policy of intentional aggression, inspired by a desire to get possession of the territory or the trade of another country, right or wrong, a pretext is always sought. Elihu Root territory desire country Secretary of War Stanton used to get out of patience with Lincoln because he was all the time pardoning men who ought to be shot. Elihu Root patience men war The popular tendency is to listen approvingly to the most extreme statements and claims of politicians and orators who seek popularity by declaring their own country right in everything and other countries wrong in everything. Elihu Root politicians wrong everything country
