He who joyfully marches to music rank and file,
has already earned my contempt.
He has been given a large brain by mistake,
since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice.
This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once.
Heroism at command, how violently I hate all this,
how despicable and ignoble war is;
I would rather be torn to shreds
than be a part of so base an action.
It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war
is nothing but an act of murder.- Albert Einstein