Norman Angell speaks to the intellect. He is cool and…

Norman Angell speaks to the intellect. He is cool and clear. He has a profound belief in reason and in rationalism. He is convinced that at long last reason will prevail when we succeed in sweeping away the mists of illusion and intellectual error.

Quotes about Angell, The Nobel Presentation Speech

Other Norman Angell Quotes

In 1909, he published a little book of some hundred pages, Europe’s Optical Illusion, and he awoke one morning to find himself famous. - View Quote Details on In 1909, he published a little book of some hundred…
The Great Illusion in its turn created certain illusions in those who read the book superficially (or who only heard about it). Because Norman Angell had proved war to be foolish, to be a bad business proposition, many believed that he had said there would be no more war in Europe. Against this misinterpretation Norman Angell at once protested with the greatest heat. He asked: “Why then do I pursue my fight against war?” Indeed, why should pacifists continue their frequently thankless and unpopular work if they believe that war will never occur any more? Rational people do not try to break down an open door. - View Quote Details on The Great Illusion in its turn created certain illusions in…
Angell argued that in a modern economy no economic benefit could be generated even by successful wars of conquest… Angell’s argument showed, beyond reasonable doubt, that war and territorial expansion are not, in general sensible policies. His views have often been derided on the basis that they were falsified by the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, which was pursued to the bitter end even though it destroyed the global market economy that had formed the backdrop to his analysis. But in reality the outcome proved him right. Of course, Germany, the power most influenced by the arguments of Clausewitz and his successors, reaped nothing but grief from the war. But the attempts of the victorious allies to exact reparations, extend their colonial influence and so on were also entirely futile, exactly as Angell had predicted. - View Quote Details on Angell argued that in a modern economy no economic benefit…
The final chapter of The Great Illusion presents a convincing plea for a change in foreign policy from that of a war policy to one of international cooperation and peace. If this is not made, war, he says, will be inevitable. The fact that we are living in a world of international interdependence makes it imperative that we organize the international community of nations accordingly, basing the community on the common interests which bind nations together, relinquishing the principle of isolated national defence, providing collective security through common effort by erecting an international authority which can replace the prevailing international anarchy. - View Quote Details on The final chapter of The Great Illusion presents a convincing…
He has a profound and warm belief in what he calls in one of his books “the potential rationalism of mankind”. Let us hope that his optimism may be vindicated. - View Quote Details on He has a profound and warm belief in what he…
What is the “Great Illusion” which Norman Angell wishes to explode? In few — and therefore insufficient — words, it is this: war is a quite inadequate method for solving international disputes; war does not carry any advantage, not even to the victors, least of all any economic advantage. - View Quote Details on What is the “Great Illusion” which Norman Angell wishes to…