 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
I spent the evening walking round the streets, especially in the neighbourhood of Trafalgar Square, noticing cheering crowds, and making myself sensitive to the emotions of passers-by. During this and the following days I discovered to my amazement that average men and women were delighted at the prospect of war. I had fondly imagined, what most pacifists contended, that wars were forced upon a reluctant population by despotic and Machiavellian governments.
Source： The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, v.2, chapter 1: The World War I
More info.: https://russell-j.com/beginner/AB21-020.HTM
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This was Russell's statement when Britain entered the First World War. Until then, Russell had never thought that Europe, with its advanced civilisation, would start a major war, so he was shocked when World War I actually broke out.
In contrast, the Japanese people rejoiced when World War I broke out. Japan also benefited from being the victorious country. Then, after losing World War II, the Japanese people realised for the first time that war was a bad thing.
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