Statesmen will invent cheap lies,
putting blame upon the nation that is attacked,
and every man will be glad
of those conscience-soothing falsities,
and will diligently study them,
and refuse to examine any refutations of them;
and thus he will by and by convince himself
that war is just, and will thank God
for the better sleep he enjoys
after this process of grotesque self-deception.

-- Mark Twain via booknotes