Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Note on the text
- Prologue to the three books On the Law of War and Peace
- Book I On the Law of War and Peace
- Book II On the Law of War and Peace
- 1 The causes of war: first, defence of self and property
- 2 Of things which belong to men in common
- 3 Of original acquisition of things, with special reference to the sea and rivers
- 4 On assumed abandonment of ownership and occupation consequent thereon; and wherein this differs from ownership by usucaption and by prescription
- 5 On the original acquisition of rights over persons. Herein are treated the rights of parents, marriage, associations, and the rights over subjects and slaves
- 6 On secondary acquisition of property by the act of man; also, alienation of sovereignty and of the attributes of sovereignty
- 7 On derivative acquisition of property which takes place in accordance with law; and herein, intestate succession
- 8 On acquisitions commonly said to be by the law of nations
- 9 When sovereignty or ownership ceases
- 10 On the obligation which arises from ownership
- 11 On promises
- 12 On contracts
- 13 On oaths
- 14 On promises, contracts, and oaths of those who hold sovereign power
- 15 On treaties and sponsions
- 16 On interpretation
- 17 On damage caused through injury, and the obligation arising therefrom
- 18 On the right of legation
- 19 On the right of sepulchre
- 20 On punishments
- 21 On the sharing of punishments
- 22 On unjust causes [of wars]
- 23 On doubtful causes of war
- 24 Warnings not to undertake war rashly, even for just causes
- 25 On the causes of undertaking war on behalf of others
- 26 On just causes for war waged by those who are under the rule of another
- Book III On the Law of War and Peace
- Appendix 1 Note 18 (p. 329): the text of Grotius's note
- Appendix 2 Alternative outline
- Further reading
- Index of names
- Subject index
24 - Warnings not to undertake war rashly, even for just causes
from Book II - On the Law of War and Peace
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 April 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Note on the text
- Prologue to the three books On the Law of War and Peace
- Book I On the Law of War and Peace
- Book II On the Law of War and Peace
- 1 The causes of war: first, defence of self and property
- 2 Of things which belong to men in common
- 3 Of original acquisition of things, with special reference to the sea and rivers
- 4 On assumed abandonment of ownership and occupation consequent thereon; and wherein this differs from ownership by usucaption and by prescription
- 5 On the original acquisition of rights over persons. Herein are treated the rights of parents, marriage, associations, and the rights over subjects and slaves
- 6 On secondary acquisition of property by the act of man; also, alienation of sovereignty and of the attributes of sovereignty
- 7 On derivative acquisition of property which takes place in accordance with law; and herein, intestate succession
- 8 On acquisitions commonly said to be by the law of nations
- 9 When sovereignty or ownership ceases
- 10 On the obligation which arises from ownership
- 11 On promises
- 12 On contracts
- 13 On oaths
- 14 On promises, contracts, and oaths of those who hold sovereign power
- 15 On treaties and sponsions
- 16 On interpretation
- 17 On damage caused through injury, and the obligation arising therefrom
- 18 On the right of legation
- 19 On the right of sepulchre
- 20 On punishments
- 21 On the sharing of punishments
- 22 On unjust causes [of wars]
- 23 On doubtful causes of war
- 24 Warnings not to undertake war rashly, even for just causes
- 25 On the causes of undertaking war on behalf of others
- 26 On just causes for war waged by those who are under the rule of another
- Book III On the Law of War and Peace
- Appendix 1 Note 18 (p. 329): the text of Grotius's note
- Appendix 2 Alternative outline
- Further reading
- Index of names
- Subject index
Summary
On giving up a right in order to avoid war
Although it does not seem properly to be a part of this work, which is entitled On the Law of War, to inquire what other virtues [than adherence to law] enjoin or admonish with regard to war, nevertheless we must proceed to correct an error, in order to prevent anyone from thinking that, where a right has been adequately established, either war should be waged forthwith, or even that war is permissible in all [such] cases. On the contrary, it frequently happens that it is more upright and just to abandon one's right. [W]e may honourably neglect the care of our own lives in order that, to the best of our ability, we may safeguard the life and eternal salvation of another. … Such conduct is above all becoming for Christians.
On giving up the right to inflict punishments in order to avoid war
There are in truth many reasons which admonish us to forgo punishments. … [O]bserve how many things fathers pass over in their sons. … Now whoever wishes to punish another assumes in some measure the character of a ruler, that is of a father.
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- Hugo Grotius on the Law of War and PeaceStudent Edition, pp. 311 - 314Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2012