Nor is there much evidence of a weakening of this sinister proclivity with the passage of time or the continued advance in the arts of life.

The only civilized nations that can be counted on as habitually peaceable are those who are so feeble or are so placed as to be cut off from hope of gain through contention.

Vainglorious arrogance may run at a higher tension among the more backward and boorish nations; but it is not evident that the advance guard among the civilised peoples are imbued with a less complete national self-complacency.

If the peace is to be kept, therefore, it will have to be kept by and between peoples made up, in effect, of complete patriots; which comes near being a contradiction in terms.

Patriotism is useful for breaking the peace, not for keeping it.