Quotes do not define the author; they are phrases taken out of context that can be interpreted by the reader, and they can be shaped by those who cite them.
Here are two examples!
WAR DECLARATION:
“With energy and sleepless vigilance, advance and give us victories.”
(Abraham Lincoln to Major General Joseph Hooker, 1863)
Abraham Lincoln was neither a warmonger nor a pacifist in the strictest sense.
While he believed in resolving conflicts through dialogue and reconciliation, he also recognised the necessity of war, especially during the American Civil War.
Lincoln was committed to preserving the Union and viewed the conflict as a crucial means to achieve that goal.
Nevertheless, towards the end of the war, he advocated for peace and unity, seeking to reconcile the North and South.
His approach was more pragmatic than ideological.
PACIFIST DECLARATION:
“The essence of moral responsibility lies in deciding in advance the consequences of what we do or do not do.”
(Richard Nixon, No More Vietnams, 1985)
Richard Nixon was not regarded as a pacifist.
During his presidency, he engaged in war policies, particularly regarding the Vietnam War.
Although he attempted to negotiate a peace settlement and introduced the “Vietnamisation” policy to decrease American military involvement, his administration also escalated bombing campaigns in Vietnam and other countries in the region.
Overall, Nixon was better known for his realpolitik and diplomatic strategies than for any pacifist stance.