"War prosperity is like the prosperity that an earthquake or a plague brings"

This quote by Ludwig von Mises is a criticism of the concept that war can bring economic prosperity. He is recommending that the economic advantages of war are short-term and ultimately destructive. He compares war prosperity to the prosperity that an earthquake or a pester brings, suggesting that it is a false prosperity that is ultimately devastating. He is suggesting that war does not bring true financial success, however rather a momentary boost in financial activity that is ultimately unsustainable. He is likewise suggesting that war is a destructive force that can cause long-lasting financial damage. In conclusion, this quote is a criticism of the concept that war can bring economic success, and recommends that it is an incorrect success that is ultimately destructive.