Only the dead have seen an end to war. (Incorrectly attributed to Plato by General Douglas MacArthur)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- War is a continuous human struggle with no definitive end in sight, even if individual conflicts cease.
- In plain terms
- War never truly ends for the living, only for those who have died.
- What can you take from it?
- Acknowledge the persistent nature of human conflict.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is war an inevitable part of human nature?
- What would true peace look like?
Another view
This view can be overly pessimistic as eras of lasting peace have existed.
More from George Santayana
Never build your emotional life on the weaknesses of others.
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Permalink to quote #58 Music is essentially useless, as life is: but both have an ideal extension which lends utility to its conditions.
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