“A just fear of an imminent danger, though there be no blow given, is a lawful cause of war.”

I suppose might makes right, huh?

How could anyone not see this as an absolute fact? If the quote did not have the word "just" in it would be debatable.

I suppose the Confederates of the legally seceded states were justified when they fired the first shot at Fort Sumpter. After all, Lincoln had been holding a gun on them for months so I guess it was inevitable that they would eventually fire. Makes sense.

Shoot first, ask questions later. Don't worry that you may have guessed wrong, or you give your adversary justification for what he may do in retaliation

AGAIN. Reread the quote. It said “JUST FEAR” as in justified, warranted and so forth. It did not say shoot first. READ. It doesn't say take a guess or do any thing you feel like. The ability of people to twist something into something else is incredible.

Who decides what is JUST cause, Warren?

I think this dangerous quote is what gave George W. Bush permission to invade Iraq...a criminal and pointless war!

The purveyors of ignorance seem to be mucking about again. . .

The reasoning can be applied across a broad range of understanding. "Imminent" danger, as with death, brings about Justifiable fear. Fight or flight, the natural law of cause and effect comes to mind. Pro-active in the face of such "imminent" danger saves ones own life and-or the life of ones own family. If an individual or nation has not the constitutional fortitude to protect there own, with such a threat being imminent, then that which they receive becomes just through their inaction or unwillingness to Act when needed. Knee jerk reactions to the quote show forth ignorance, the lack of understanding and experience on their part.

Kill 'em all! Let God sort 'em out! If I see a bear, and it sees me there is a justified concern about its hunger or whether it has a cub needing protection as to if it might attack. This is a "just" fear. I do not know, however, if there is justification for me to presume action on my part is required for personal defense. Yet, caution is certainly warranted. This is normal, otherwise, not. Judgment (preceded by perception) is in the mind and heart of an individual.