Letters of Anton Chekhov to His Family and Friends

TO HIS BROTHER MIHAIL.

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....