It is heroic to prepare for war with a tyrant power. Patriots will always win the admiration of mankind for daring to meet the bloodshed of battle for their country's liberty. But the patriot who is willing to go to that sacrifice will be the first to condemn the aimless and secret shedding of blood in time of peace.

About This Quote

About John Boyle O'Reilly

John Boyle O'Reilly was a 19th-century Irish poet, journalist, author and activist. John Boyle O'Reilly was an Irish poet, journalist, author and activist. As a youth in Ireland, he was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, or Fenians, for which he was transported to Western Australia. Read more on Wikipedia →

Themes

  • Time — Reflections on the passage of time and how we spend it
  • Power — The dynamics of influence, authority, and leadership
  • War — Reflections on conflict, peace, and the human cost of war

More quotes by John Boyle O'Reilly

Related Quotes