The frivolous matters upon which war is made, show the disposition and avidity of Governments to uphold the system of war, and betray the motives upon which they act.
Thomas Paine: “The frivolous matters upon which war is made, show the disposition and avidity of Governments to uphold the system of…”
Editor's note · Context
In "Rights of Man," this criticizes governments for initiating wars over trivial matters, revealing their self-serving interest in maintaining a system of conflict.
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The Parliaments on their part insisted that they had not only a right to remonstrate, but to reject; and on this ground they were always supported by the nation.
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