1783 Letter Quotes
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I join with you most cordially in rejoicing at the return of peace. I hope it will be lasting, and that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats: for in my opinion there never was a good war, or a bad peace. What vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility. What an extension of agriculture even to the tops of our mountains; what rivers rendered navigable, or joined by canals; what bridges, aqueducts, new roads and other public works, edifices and improvements, rendering England a complete paradise, might not have been obtained by spending those millions in doing good which in the last war have been spent in doing mischief! In bringing misery into thousands of families, and destroying the lives of so many thousands of working people who might have performed the useful labor.
Context
This line was written by Benjamin Franklin in a letter to Sir Joseph Banks (July 27, 1983).
War—what is it good for? Absolutely nothing! Or at least that's what Ben Franklin thought when he was writing this letter to Sir Joseph Banks in July of 1783. The British and Americans had finally agreed on a cease-fire in the Revolutionary War and peace had come at last. Was the fight worth it to get 'Murica up and running? Mr. Franklin's not 100% sure.
Yes, the country has won independence, but they've also squandered a whole lot of time and money and resources and lives in getting it. And who's given up the most? England. They haven't even come out of the fight with a win. Well, maybe it would have been better to leave the stars and stripes alone, right, King George?
Where you've heard it
This is a pretty notable quote, so you'll probably hear it being said occasionally in an antiwar context. Of course, not everyone agrees that peace can't be bad and war can't be good, but those are arguments for another day.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
We think you're okay to bring this one up at your next gathering of friends. Though you know what they say about discussing politics in mixed company, and war is definitely political.