on the need for balance

"Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah says: If there is no Torah, there is no worldly occupation; if there is no worldly occupation, there is no Torah. If there is no wisdom, there is no fear of God; if there is no fear of God, there is no wisdom. If there is no knowledge, there is no understanding, if there is no understanding, there is no knowledge. If there is no flour, there is no Torah; if there is no Torah, there is no flour." Pirke Avot,3:21

Reciprocation

Pacifism only works when it is reciprocated. Holland can afford to be more or less pacifist because it’s surrounded by European Union countries with similar dispositions. Lebanon and Israel face hostiles who use violence as a matter of course. - Michael Totten, “The Road to Fatima Gate”

Lessons

"I believe the lessons of the Holocaust are these. First, if an enemy of our people says he seeks to destroy us, believe him. Don't make light of it. Do all in your power to deny him the means of carrying out his satanic intent." - Menachem Begin, "The Prime Ministers" by Yehuda Avner