John Milton - George Washington - David Hume - Calvin Coolidge - Louis Antoine Leon de Saint-Just - Star Trek: Voyager TV - Adolf Hitler - Star Trek: Voyager - Adolf Hitler - Niccolo Machiavelli - Horace - Cicero - John Bright - Oscar Wilde - Benjamin Franklin - Abraham Lincoln - Albert Einstein - Thomas Jefferson - Leon Trotsky - Alexander Pope - Rab C Nesbitt TV - Noam Chomsky -
Who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe. John Milton, Paradise Lost 1:648
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. George Washington
To see the easiness with which the many are governed by the few; and to observe the implicit submission with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers. When we enquire by what means this wonder is brought about, we shall find, that as Force is always on the side of the governed, the governors have nothing to support them but opinion. ’Tis therefore, on opinion only that government is founded; and this maxim extends to the most despotic and most military governments, as well as to the most free and most popular. David Hume
The power of the Sword is, and ever hath been, the Foundation of All Titles to Government. David Hume
A display of reason rather than a threat of force should be the determining factor in the intercourse among nations. Calvin Coolidge, inaugural address 4th March 1925
We must force the people to be free. Louis Antoine Leon de Saint-Just
The Kazon tend to be excessive in their use of force. Star Trek: Voyager s2e20: Investigations, Seska to Tom
Force without spiritual foundation is doomed to failure. Adolf Hitler
Be it known, then, that there are two ways of contending, one in accordance with the laws, the other by force; the first of which is proper to men, the second to beasts. But since the first method is often ineffectual, it becomes necessary to resort to the second. Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince
Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception. ibid.
Force, unaided by judgment, collapses through its own weight. Horace, Odes
By force of arms. [Vi et Armis] Cicero
cf.
Force overcome with force. [Vi Victa Vis] Cicero
Force is not a remedy. John Bright
I can stand brute force, but brute reason is quite unbearable. There is something unfair about its use. It is hitting below the intellect. Oscar Wilde
Force shites upon Reason’s back. Benjamin Franklin
Force is all-conquering, but its victories are short lived. Abraham Lincoln
Force always attracts men of low morality. Albert Einstein
Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism. Thomas Jefferson
Where force is necessary, there it must be applied boldly, decisively and completely. But one must know the limitations of force; one must know when to blend force with a manoeuvre, a blow with an agreement. Leon Trotsky, What Next?
Not believing in force is the same thing as not believing in gravitation. Leon Trotsky
For when success a lover’s toil attends,
Few ask, if fraud or force attain’d his ends. Alexander Pope
Necessary force? Aye, necessarily to liberate Bosnia. Rab C Nesbitt s3e5: Right, Rab to prison governor, BBC 1993
Authorised by the Security Council or under Article 51 … Article is generally interpreted to allow the use of force when the necessity for action is instant, overwhelming and leaving no choice of means and no moment of deliberation. Noam Chomsky, lecture Edinburgh University 2005, ‘Illegal But Legitimate: A Dubious Doctrine for the Times’