Fun with Twain on War-Twain Called the Libby Trial 100 Year Ago...

I posted this on a friend's blog that referenced some fun, anti-Congress/government quotes a few days ago. He's a conservative, who was pretty rah-rah about Congress until a few months ago, and lately, has had a change of heart. I can't imagine why...:).

Mark Twain is by far my favorite writer ever. Many other writers have brought a chuckle, a smile, a tear, but that man's genius is really quite impossible to ever describe in mere words...

He was perhaps the only man who could have found a way to do that...It's fun to pull the anti-government/congress quotes, but pull his take on war (there's plenty of stuff, google mark twain quotes on war) and you'll be busy reading for months.

He was no fan of government, but most especially because they created wars.

It's interesting how stuff written a century ago is still so pertinent today.

Here are a few of my favorites from Mr. Twain to get you started:

One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a really beautiful woman is after considerable acquaintance with her; and the rule applies to Niagara Falls, to majestic mountains, and to mosques--especially to mosques. -- Innocents Abroad

To be a patriot, one had to say, and keep on saying, " Our country, right or wrong," and urge on the little war. Have you not perceived that that phrase is an insult to the nation.- "Glances at History," 1906

An inglorious peace is better than a dishonorable war.- "Glances at History," 1906

Man is the only animal that deals in that atrocity of atrocities, War. He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and calm pulse to exterminate his kind. He is the only animal that for sordid wages will march out...and help to slaughter strangers of his own species who have done him no harm and with whom he has no quarrel. ..And in the intervals between campaigns he washes the blood off his hands and works for "the universal brotherhood of man"--with his mouth.- What Is Man?

And this in honor of the Libby trial and Dick Cheney's obvious high crimes and misdemeanors (that our Dem Congress is cowering to rather than impeach him) is clearly prophetic, but one I have had posted on my wall everywhere I have worked since September 11, 2001 to remind me to be vigilant of all leaders:

Statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception.- "Chronicle of Young Satan"