“Monarchs ought to put to death the authors and instigators of war, as their sworn enemies and as dangers to their states.”
- September 7, 1533 – March 24, 1603
- English
- Queen of England and Ireland, Monarch
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Quote
“Monarchs ought to put to death the authors and instigators of war, as their sworn enemies and as dangers to their states.”
Explanation
In this forceful declaration, Elizabeth I argues that those who provoke or initiate war should be treated as traitors to peace and enemies of the state. Her recommendation that such individuals be put to death reflects both the severity of the consequences of war and the monarch’s duty to safeguard national stability. She views warmongers not as heroes, but as threats to the very order monarchs are sworn to protect.
This quote likely emerged from Elizabeth’s experience navigating the complex and often dangerous geopolitical tensions of 16th-century Europe. Although she was capable of military action, she often preferred diplomacy and avoided unnecessary conflict. Her stance here reveals a conviction that war should never be entered lightly, and that those who seek to instigate it for personal, political, or ideological reasons are a menace to peace and public welfare.
In today’s context, the quote can be read as a caution against those who profit from or advocate for war without just cause—whether political leaders, arms dealers, or ideologues. It challenges modern societies to scrutinize the motivations behind conflict and to hold accountable those who endanger peace for their own ends, reaffirming the timeless value of diplomacy, restraint, and justice in leadership.
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