“Heroism by order, senseless violence, and all the pestilent nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism—how I hate them! War seems to me a mean, contemptible thing: I would rather be hacked in pieces than take part in such an abominable business.”
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Probable attribution
A source trail connects this quotation to Albert Einstein and The World As I See It, but the exact English wording has not been confirmed in a primary text. The attribution is therefore probable rather than definitive.
Likely origin: The World As I See It
About this quote
This page records the wording "Heroism by order, senseless violence, and all the pestilent nonsense…," which centers on heroism, order, senseless. A concrete trail points toward Einstein, but the exact English form remains unconfirmed; the page therefore labels it as attributed to him while preserving its creativity and justice context.
When to use it
- Use "Heroism by order, senseless violence, and all the pestilent nonsense…" in a creativity discussion, then ask which concrete claim the wording makes.
- Compare its treatment of heroism with order in a lesson, essay, or editorial note before drawing a conclusion.
- Before sharing it as Einstein's exact words, display the attribution caveat and follow the evidence link recorded on the page.