Friday 27 October 2017

Bismarck v Lincoln

Interesting opinions on war.  Are they contradictory?

'Why do great states go to war?  The only good reason is state egoism, not romantic ideas.  It is not worthy for a great state to fight for something which is not in its own interest'.
Bismarck's speech to the Prussian Landtag on the Olmütz Agreement, 3 December 1850

'The central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us, of proving that popular government is not an absurdity'.
Lincoln to John Hay, 1861


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