An inglorious peace is better than a dishonorable war

To kill in an illegal and immoral war/occupation is not heroic, nor is it admirable or worthy of respect. Meaningless talk of heroism perpetuates the myth of honor and glory, masks the crimes of aggression and encourages and motivates others to become cannon fodder, murderers, and victims of corporate sponsored militarism and greed.

Human beings feel dishonor the most, sometimes, when they most deserve it

Could I have but a line a century hence crediting a contribution to the advance of peace, I would gladly yield every honor which has been accorded me in war

I did not say anything. I was always embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious, and sacrifice and the expression in vain. We had heard them, sometimes standing in the rain almost out of earshot, so that only the shouted words came through, and had read them on proclamations that were slapped up by billposters over other proclamations, now for a long time, and I had seen nothing sacred, and the things that were glorious had no glory and the sacrifices were like the stock yards at Chicago if nothing was done with the meat except to bury it.

And always we had wars, and more wars, and still other wars — all over Europe, all over the world. 'Sometimes in the private interest of royal families,' Satan said, 'sometimes to crush a weak nation; but never a war started by the aggressor for any clean purpose — there is no such war in the history of the race.