Since we're sharing quotes, and as an expert on national security matters yourself, you're doubtlessly also familiar with that famous Roman, Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, and his "Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum" (if you want peace, prepare for war").  You're probably also quite familiar with how the weakness and isolationism of the western democracies after WWI enabled the rise of fascism and totalitarianism and paved the way for WWII.