Nationalism is our form of incest, is our idolatry, is our insanity. "Patriotism" is its cult. It should hardly be necessary to say, that by "patriotism" I mean that attitude which puts the own nation above humanity, above the principles of truth and justice; not the loving interest in one's own nation, which is the concern with the nation's spiritual as much as with its material welfare --never with its power over other nations. Just as love for one individual which excludes the love for others is not love, love for one's country which is not part of one's love for humanity is not love, but idolatrous worship.

— Erich Fromm

The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.

— Samuel P. Huntington

Today the real test of power is not the capacity to make war but the capacity to prevent it.

— Anne O'Hare McCormick

Another victory like that and we are done for. — Pyrrhus

Patriots always talk of dying for their country and never of killing for their country.

— Bertrand Russell

They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety.

— Benjamin Franklin