Letters of Anton Chekhov, by Anton Chekhov

YALTA, February 6, 1899.

. . . Being bored, I am reading “The Book of my Life” by Bishop Porfiry. This passage about war occurs in it:

“Standing armies in time of peace are locusts devouring the people’s bread and leaving a vile stench in society, while in time of war they are artificial fighting machines, and when they grow and develop, farewell to freedom, security, and national glory! . . . They are the lawless defenders of unjust and partial laws, of privilege and of tyranny.” . . .

That was written in the forties. . . .