There are those who believe we have need of more literature, of a large international publishing house, of a great peace newspaper, or the like. I am rather skeptical about this idea.

Waging war we understand, but not waging peace, or at any rate less consciously so.

The aspect of congresses and such meetings generally to which I attach the greatest importance is the discussion. That is why people assemble: to hear different opinions, rather than to pass resolutions.

Indeed, whenever a new idea is developed, as for example ballooning, warfare immediately takes possession.

Peace congresses often start by dealing with some of the less important questions in excessive detail, so at the end there is no time to discuss the most important problems.

Always we must bear in mind that law has to be substituted for power, that care must be taken to serve the interests of law.

An advantage that the Hague Conferences lack, in contrast to the peace associations and the Interparliamentary Union, is a bureau.