Medieval War Quotes:

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.

topic: War, Fighting, Flesh, Medieval War

War is delightful to those who have had no experience of it.

topic: Crazy, War, Wish, Medieval War

- Desiderius Erasmus

topic: Peace, Military, War, Just War, Medieval War

Nothing good ever comes of violence.

War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity, it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it.

topic: War, Violence, Anti War, Medieval War, Antiwar

No one conquers who doesn't fight.

topic: War, Humanity, States, Medieval War, Anti War

- Gabriel Biel

topic: War, Fighting, Conquer, Medieval War

If they wish to fight today, let them come like men.

- Bohemond I of Antioch

topic: War, Fighting, Men, Medieval War

There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.

- Michel de Montaigne

source: Michel de Montaigne, William Hazlitt (1845). “The Works of Michael de Montaigne: Comprising His Essays, Letters, Journey Through Germany and Italy. With Notes from All the Commentators, Biographical and Bibliographical Notices, &c. &c”, p.92

topic: Inspirational, Motivational, Success, Medieval War, Overcoming Hardship

Undertake this journey for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the Kingdom of Heaven!

- Pope Urban II

topic: War, Journey, Heaven, Medieval War, Remission

Come on soldiers! Guardians and agents of the supreme law! Here is a sacrifice of dogs ready for your swords!

- Ilghazi

topic: Dog, War, Sacrifice, Medieval War

The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.

Let those who once fought against brothers and relatives now rightfully fight against barbarians.

source: "Should We Spill Blood Over Oil?" by Laurence W. Beilenson, Kevin Lynch, reason.com. February 1982.

topic: War, Soldier, Gold, Medieval War, Good Soldiers

- Pope Urban II

topic: Brother, War, Fighting, Medieval War

Better to reign in hell than serve in heav'n.

- John Milton

source: Paradise Lost bk. 1, l. 263 (1667)

topic: Death, War, Paradise, Medieval War, Lost Myself

The souls of emperors and cobblers are cast in the same mold. The same reason that makes us wrangle with a neighbor creates a war betwixt princes.

- Michel de Montaigne

topic: War, Equality, Soul, Cobblers, Medieval War

I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways.

He doth nothing but talk of his horses.

source: 1599-1600 Touchstone. AsYou Like It, act 5, sc.1, l.51-6.

topic: War, Fifty, Way, Medieval War

Do you know, my son, with what little understanding the world is ruled?

topic: Horse, Medieval War, Equestrian

- Pope Julius III

topic: War, Son, Understanding, Medieval War, Understanding The World

Let anyone who has zeal for God come with me! Let us fight for our brothers! Let Heaven's will be done!

- Conrad III of Germany

topic: Brother, War, Fighting, Medieval War

Kill them all, God will recognise his own.

- Arnaud Amalric

topic: War, Gods Will, Recognise, Medieval War, Total War

To whom God will, there be the victory.

For what can war, but endless war, still breed?

source: William Shakespeare (1823). “The Plays of William Shakspeare”, p.239

topic: War, Victory, Gods Will, Medieval War

- John Milton

source: 'On the Lord General Fairfax at the Siege of Colchester' (written 1648, published 1694)

topic: War, Endless, Stills, Medieval War, Endless War

So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how to follow evil.

Good order and discipline in any army are to be depended upon more than courage alone.

source: NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI (1947). “THE PRINCE”

topic: War, Evil, Able, Medieval War

I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse.

topic: War, Army, Order, Medieval War

- Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

topic: Horse, War, Italian, Roman Emperor, Speaking French

Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.

On both sides the troops were commanded by royal princes and they massacred each other mercilessly.

topic: War, Men, Order, Medieval War

- Matthew of Edessa

topic: War, Royal, Sides, Medieval War

Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense, and understanding.

The fighting was fierce and lasted for the greater part of a day; blood ran in rivers.

topic: Faith, War, Feet, Medieval War, Faith And Reason

- Matthew of Edessa

topic: War, Fighting, Blood, Medieval War

In order for a war to be just, three things are necessary. First, the authority of the sovereign... Secondly, a just cause... Thirdly... a rightful intention.

- Thomas Aquinas

source: "Summa Theologica". Book by Thomas Aquinas (Part II-II, Question 40, Article 1, pp. 1359-1360), 1485.

topic: Peace, Powerful, War, Just War, Medieval War

To carry on war, three things are necessary: money, money, and yet more money.

- Gian Giacomo Trivulzio

topic: War, Three, More Money, Medieval War

So loud was the wailing of the women and children that there was not one man among us whose heart did not bleed at the sound...

- Hernando Cortes

topic: Children, War, Heart, Medieval War

A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!

Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.

topic: Horse, Memorable, Animal, Medieval War, Most Memorable

- Christopher Columbus

topic: Light, Sea, History, Medieval War, Old World

Take up the weapons of the glorious army for the salvation of many thousands.

- Adela of Normandy

topic: War, Army, Weapons, Medieval War

Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than War.

- John Milton

topic: Life, War, Victory, Medieval War, Renowned

Strike up the drum and march courageously.

- Christopher Marlowe

topic: War, March, Strikes, Medieval War

We are ready to try our fortunes to the last man.

Whoever devotedly undertakes and performs this most holy journey... shall have the enjoyment of eternal reward from the repayer of all men.

topic: War, Men, Trying, Medieval War

- Pope Eugene III

topic: War, Journey, Men, Medieval War

Inflict not on an enemy every injury in your power, for he may afterwards become your friend.

- Saadi

source: Saadi, Francis Gladwin, Eric Serejski (2016). “Gulistan or Rose Garden”, p.149, Innovations and Information

topic: War, Enemy, May, Medieval War

They assembled from all sides, one after another, with arms and horses and all the panoply of war.

- Anna Komnene

topic: Horse, War, Arms, Medieval War

Many strokes, though with a little axe, hew down and fell the hardest-timber'd oak.

Let the boy win his spurs.

topic: Time, Down And, Littles, Medieval War, Oaks

- Edward III of England

source: "Chroniques". Book by Jean Froissart, trans. Geoffrey Brereton, 1968, Book 1, p. 92, 1369 - 1400.

topic: War, Winning, Boys, Medieval War

That field hath eyen, and the wood hath ears.

- Geoffrey Chaucer

source: Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Cowden Clarke (1835). “The Riches of Chaucer: In which His Impurities Have Been Expunged, His Spelling Modernised, His Rhythm Accentuated and His Obsolete Terms Explained; Also Have Been Added a Few Explanatory Notes and a New Memoir of the Poet”, p.103

topic: Walls Have Ears, Woods, Fields, Medieval War

Wisdom and peace come when you start living the life the creator intended for you.

- Geronimo

topic: Live Life, Creator, Medieval War, Native American Proverbs

A safe stronghold our God is still. A trusty shield and weapon.