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About this quote

What does it mean?
Healthy men naturally possess an instinct for conflict or struggle.
In plain terms
Men who are healthy tend to want to fight or struggle.
What can you take from it?
Conflict may be a natural part of vitality.

Where it applies

  • psychological analysis
  • historical study
  • debate on aggression

Putting it to work

  • channel energy positively
  • understand aggression
  • manage conflict

Questions to consider

  • Is conflict necessary for growth?
  • How do we reconcile aggression with peace?

Another view

This generalization ignores many men who avoid conflict entirely.

More from Hilaire Belloc

  1. Write as the wind blows and command all words like an army!

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  2. Statistics are the triumph of the quantitative method, and the quantitative method is the victory of sterility and death.

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  3. In soft deluding lies let fools delight. A shadow marks our days, which end in Night.

    Permalink to quote #10

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