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About this quote

What does it mean?
World War III might use advanced weapons, but World War IV would revert to primitive tools like sticks and stones due to destruction.
In plain terms
Future wars might destroy civilization so much that people fight with basic tools again.
What can you take from it?
Extreme warfare risks destroying human progress and civilization.

Where it applies

  • political discussion
  • ethical debate
  • future planning

Putting it to work

  • advocating peace
  • discussing ethics
  • promoting disarmament

Questions to consider

  • How can we prevent such destruction?
  • What value does peace hold?

Another view

This prediction assumes destruction would inevitably lead to technological regression.

More from Albert Einstein

  1. Never memorize what you can look up in books.

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  2. Even on the most solemn occasions I got away without wearing socks and hid that lack of civilisation in high boots.

    Permalink to quote #82
  3. The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.

    Permalink to quote #79

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