Debate in the House of Representatives, (6 February 1846).
“
Sir, it is true that republics have often been cradled in war, but more often they have met with a grave in that cradle. Peace is the interest, the policy, the nature of a popular Government. War may bring benefits to a few, but privation and loss are the lot of the many. An appeal to arms should be the last resort, and only by national rights or national honor can it be justified.
— Jefferson Davis
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Sir, it is true that republics have often been cradled in war, but more often they have met with a grave in that cradle. Peace is the interest, the policy, the nature of a popular Government. War may bring benefits to a few, but privation and loss are the lot of the many. An appeal to arms should be the last resort, and only by national rights or national honor can it be justified." in the context of "Debate in the House of Representatives, (6 February 1846)." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Jefferson Davis" (Quotes, 1840s)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis (3 June 1808 – 6 December 1889), the first and only president of the Confederate States. A Democrat and a slave-owner, he and his vice president, Alexander H. Stephens, led the Confederacy against the United States in the American Civil War, before their defeat by the U.S. in May 1865.
About Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis (3 June 1808 – 6 December 1889), the first and only president of the Confederate States. A Democrat and a slave-owner, he and his vice president, Alexander H. Stephens, led the Confederacy against the United States in the American Civil War, before their defeat by the U.S. in May 1865.
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