I believe that war should never be resorted to when, or so long as, it is honorably possible to avoid it.

I respect all men and women who from high motives and with sanity and self-respect do all they can to avert war.

I advocate preparation for war in order to avert war; and I should never advocate war unless it were the only alternative to dishonor.

I describe the folly of which so many of our people were formerly guilty, in order that we may in our own day be on our guard against similar folly.
We did not at the time of which I write take our foreign duties seriously, and as we combined bluster in speech with refusal to make any preparation whatsoever for action, we were not taken seriously in return.

Gradually a slight change for the better occurred, the writings of Captain Mahan playing no small part therein.