The Pity of War Quotes

“The First World War was at once piteous, in the poet's sense, and 'a pity'. It was something worse than a tragedy, which is ultimately something we are taught by the theatre to regard as unavoidable. It was nothing less than the greatest error of modern history.”
― Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War: Explaining World War I

“There was nothing wrong with the conclusion . . . that Germany and continental Europe west of Russia would only be able to hold their own . . . if Europe pulled together. And a united Europe would fall almost automatically under the leadership of the strongest power – Germany . . . [But] German leadership over a united Europe in order to brave the coming giant economic and political power blocs would have to overcome the imagined reluctance [sic] of Europeans to domination by any one of their peers. Germany would have to persuade Europe to accept German leadership . . . to make crystal clear that the overall interest of Europe would coincide with the enlightened self-interest of Germany . . . in order to achieve in the years after 1900 something like the position of the Federal Republic today.91”
― Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War: Explaining World War I

“The popular view was that (as in the 1790s) the blood tax – l’impôt du sang – should be borne by all,”
― Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War: Explaining World War I

“Beer production was reduced in all the European combatants, but the reduction was more severe among the Central Powers: a fall of two-thirds for Germany, compared with just over half for Britain.”
― Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War: Explaining World War I

“In all countries there was a torrent of what Paul Fussell has called ‘high diction’: a friend became a ‘comrade’, a horse became a ‘steed’, the enemy became the ‘foe’.”
― Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War: Explaining World War I

“tears’ after he told her simply: ‘It’s all up.’26 Churchill was the exception. He told Violet Asquith on 22 February 1915: I think a curse should rest on me – because I love this war. I know it’s smashing & shattering the lives of thousands every moment – & yet – I can’t help it – I enjoy every second”
― Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War: Explaining World War I