"The United States while they wish for war with no nation, will buy peace with none, it being a principle incorporated into the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, so war is better than tribute."
— James Madison

January 1, 1970

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Added on April 10, 2026
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Presidents of the United StatesAcademics from the United StatesFounding Fathers of the United States of AmericaUnited States presidential candidates, 1812United States presidential candidates, 1808
Original Language: English

Sources

A paraphrased variant of this seems to have arisen on the internet around 2007: It is ... a settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute. The United States, while they wish for war with no nation, will buy peace with none.