Quotation by
Percy Bysshe Shelley
War is the statesman's game, the priest's delight, the lawyer's jest, the hired assassin's trade.
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Understanding this quote AI Analysis
Shelley is saying that war serves different selfish interests: politicians use it to gain power, religious leaders enjoy it as a form of divine approval, lawyers benefit from the chaos it creates, and mercenaries make a living by killing. Each group finds something to exploit or gain from conflict, highlighting the grim reality behind the glorification of war.
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