No individual gets up and says, I'm going to take this because I want it. He'd say, I'm going to take it because it really belongs to me and it would be better for everyone if I had it. It's true of children fighting over toys. And it's true of governments going to war. Nobody is ever involved in an aggressive war; it's always a defensive war -- on both sides.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People and nations justify aggression by claiming they are acting defensively or for the common good.
- In plain terms
- Nobody admits to starting a fight; everyone claims they are protecting themselves.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize that aggressors always frame their actions as defensive.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we identify true aggression?
- Why do nations justify war this way?
Another view
Self-defense claims can sometimes be legitimate even if framed broadly.
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