Doug Casey on international law

Here’s an analogy. Look at the world of international law as a sleazy nightclub with 200 customers. Some are going to be raucous, some will be quiet; some are friendly, some are aggressive; some smart, some stupid. 

There will always be a few gangbangers who don’t like each other, some townies who hate the preppies, some junkies, a couple of ex-cons, and a few psychos. And there’s no cop to keep order. The world is just like that bar. No written rules, just some vague understandings. And lots of misunderstandings. Like in any bar, customers size each other up, deciding who to drink with, who’s looking for trouble, or, if you’re a bad actor, who you can beat up and roll.

The US used to be the toughest customer in the saloon of international law, buying friends with free drinks. But he’s turned into a mean drunk who’s overdrawn his tab. The other customers who used to tolerate his eccentricities have started to dislike, disrespect, and resent him. It will probably end up like an altercation in Deadwood’s Gem Saloon.

~ Doug Casey, "Cost of the Iran War—and Why It Will Fuel Inflation," International Man, March 13, 2026

 

Napoleon Bonaparte on war blunders

Never interrupt an enemy when he is making a mistake.

~ Napoleon Bonaparte

 

Sun Tzu on avoiding conflicts

If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by.

~ Sun Tzu

 

Otto von Bismarck on preemptive war

Starting a preemptive war is like committing suicide for fear of death.

~ Otto von Bismarck

 

Benjamin Franklin on living and dying

Many people die at twenty-five and aren't buried until they are seventy-five.

~ Benjamin Franklin

 

Kevin Duffy on pursuit of the truth

Once you realize pursuit of the truth - dedication to reality at all costs - is the key to investing and life, you realize there is no other choice.  Being uncomfortable then becomes your comfort zone.  Since others prefer comforting lies, this becomes a massive, durable edge in both games (life and investing).

~ Kevin Duffy

 

Kevin Duffy on how to organize society

There are only two ways to organize society: coercively or voluntarily.  In order to sell coercion, its promoters must slander voluntarism as exploitative and evil, in the process justifying their theft and thuggery as necessary and righteous.

~ Kevin Duffy, X post, January 28, 2026