“There are only two cases in which war is just: first, in order to resist the aggression of an enemy, and second, in order to help an ally who has been attacked.”
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The law of nations is naturally founded on this principle, that different nations ought in time of peace to do one another all the good they can, and in time of war as little injury as possible, without prejudicing their real interests.
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Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.
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The deterioration of a government begins almost always by the decay of its principles.
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