G.K's. Prophetic Vision of a World at War.

“The professional soldier gains more and more power as the general courage of a community declines. As it was in ancient Rome, so it is in contemporary Europe (America today). There was never a time when nations were more militaristic; there was never a time when men were less brave. Militarism demonstrated the decadence of Rome and it demonstrates the decadence of Prussia.” G.K. Chesterton, Heretics 1905, pg.19

In 1905 G.K. Chesterton wrote this almost 10 years before the onset of World War I. He was a modern day seer and prophet of his time, that wrote about the state of affairs not only for his time, but even for today as well.
For it seems that there is a general pattern that accompanies the ebb and flow of humanity as it progresses and regresses throughout the general flow of time.
Chesterton makes a very valid point that only the wise seem to grasp. This being that as the general population of a society becomes less and less brave, or willing to fight for the general good of that society’s ends, there is generally two other aspects that accompany the decline of a nation’s general courage: decadence through affluence and an increased militaristic agenda.
Chesterton makes note that as a society’s decadence increases, through great affluence, their general idea for increased militarism and the power that is diverted to the military also increases due to the general decrease or lack of the military virtue in the common man/woman. This virtue is not meant to be taken in the strict literal meaning of military per se, but more as the self discipline and self control that in general any military has or needs.

 

read more at prophecyinthemaking.blogspot.com/2010/04/chestertons-vision-yesterday-and-today.html