Political Quotes

On the record
All Trade, in essence, is advantageous, even to the party who profits by it the least; all War, in essence, is ruinous: and yet the great employments of Government are to treasure up occasions of War, and to put fetters upon Trade.
Said by
Charles Sumner
Massachusetts

Editor's note · Context

In this statement, Sumner contrasts the benefits of trade with the harms of war, critiquing government priorities.

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