Question

Read the passage from Utopia. They detest war as a very brutal thing, and which, to the reproach of human nature, is more practised by men than by any sort of beasts. They, in opposition to the sentiments of almost all other nations, think that there is nothing more inglorious than that glory that is gained by war; and therefore, though they accustom themselves daily to military exercises and the discipline of war, in which not only their men, but their women likewise, are trained up, that, in cases of necessity, they may not be quite useless, yet they do not rashly engage in war, unless it be either to defend themselves or their friends from any unjust aggressors, or, out of good nature or in compassion, assist an oppressed nation in shaking off the yoke of tyranny. Which quotation from the passage best summarizes the central idea?

Answer 1

"They...think that there is nothing more inglorious than that glory that is gained by war"

This quotation sums up the main idea because it not only reinforces to the reader that they are against war, but it gives some insight into why they are against war. The people think that there is no glory to be gained in war, so they choose to just prepare a defensive army, never an offensive one.