William Shakespeare (1564-1616), English poet, playwright, and actor, commenting on US foreign and military policy, from Macbeth (written sometime between 1599 and 1606):
But in these cases
We still have judgment here, that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice
To our own lips…
See “Evil Begets Evil,” SLL, 11/19/15
