Hugo Grotius > Quotes

“I have spent my life laboriously doing nothing.”
― Grotius Hugo

“There is none of you who would not publicly exclaim that everyone should be moderator and arbitrator in his own matter, who would not command all citizens to use rivers and public places equally and indifferently, who would not with all his power defend the liberty of going hither and thither and trading.”
― Hugo Grotius, The Free Sea

“A man cannot govern a nation if he cannot govern a city; he cannot govern a city if he cannot govern a family; he cannot govern a family unless he can govern himself; and he cannot govern himself unless his passions are subject to reason.”

By understanding many things, I have accomplished nothing.”

Hugo Grotius”
― Hugo Grotius

“It is no less ancient than a pestilent error wherewith many men (but they chiefly who abound in power and riches) persuade themselves, or (as I think more truly) go about to persuade, that right and wrong are distinguished not according to their own nature but by a certain vain opinion and custom of men.”
― Hugo Grotius, The Free Sea

“He who wills the attainment of a given end, wills also the things that are necessary to that end. God wills that we should protect ourselves, retain our hold on the necessities of life, obtain that which is our due, punish transgressors, and at the same time defend the state… But these divine objectives sometimes constitute causes for undertaking and carrying on war… Thus it is God’s Will that certain wars should be waged… Yet no one will deny that whatsoever God will, is just. Therefore, some wars are just.”
― Hugo Grotius