"As a result of the World War and of a peace whose imperfections and risks are no longer denied by anyone, are we not even further away from the great aspirations and hopes for peace and fraternity than we were one or two decades ago?"

This quote by Hjalmar Branting assesses the after-effects of World War I and the imperfections of the peace that followed. He questions whether the world is any closer to achieving the great aspirations and wish for peace and fraternity than it was before the war. He suggests that the war and the peace that followed have actually not brought the world any closer to attaining peace and fraternity, however rather have actually made it harder to accomplish these objectives. This quote works as a reminder of the importance of pursuing peace and understanding in between nations, and of the need to collaborate to create a much better world. It likewise works as a caution that war and conflict can have long-lasting and devastating consequences, which peace and understanding should be actively pursued in order to develop a better future.