War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity, it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it.

The influenza pandemic of 1918 may well be the greatest scourge ever to afflict humanity, exacting a death toll greater than all the wars of the 20th Century combined. The virus that wreaked this havoc apparently developed in birds, and then jumped to people. In other words, it was avian flu.

I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.

I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.

The fewer words the better prayer.

Baneful indeed is the scourge of war.