If u wishes for peace, prepare for war

If u wishes for peace, prepare for war

This is an ancient Roman saying. As a ruler, we prepare for what we want; we do not wish for its opposite. Here the contradiction is verbal, not material.

The meaning of the saying is to be strong and of that enemies will beware of warring with you. It is not war of aggression for which you are to prepare; in aggression war preparation is meant to end in war, but war to defend rights.

You stand on defense. There are many instances in history of a strong army or navy ensuring peace and of a weak army or navy inviting the inscription: “Happy is the city which in time of peace thinks of war”. At the same time it should be borne in mind that the pulling up of huge armaments even when honestly intended to secure peace, might cause war.

For,

“How oft the right of means to do ill deeds”.

Make deeds ill done!  

Knowledge is power

Knowledge is power; this is true; weather the power which knowledge gives be used for good or for evil. By his medical knowledge the doctor can cure disease and save his patient’s life.

But the blackmailer, by his knowledge of one’s guilty secret, can bleed his victim while under the threat of disclosure. In general, the man who knows has an advantage over the man who does not know.

In this way the educated classes have always been able to rule over the ignorant. Physically, a man is a comparatively weak animal. He cannot naturally run like a horse, nor fly-like the birds. He is no match in strength for the elephant, the lion or the bear. He has no natural weapons defense like the tiger’s fangs and claws.

Yet he conquers all these strong and fierce beasts and forces some of them to be his servants. It is his superior knowledge and intelligence that makes him the master of creatures’ superior to him in physical strength.