"Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?"

Victor Hugo's quote challenges the conventional understanding of war by questioning the distinction between civil and foreign wars. When Hugo asks, "Civil war? What does that mean?" he is penetrating the approximate classifications humans use to disputes. Typically, civil war is comprehended as a war between factions within the same nation, whereas foreign wars include different countries. Nevertheless, Hugo suggests that this difference may be superficial. Making use of the term "civil", which implies civility, stands in plain contrast to the brutal nature of war itself, therefore questioning the efficacy and morality of the label.

Hugo deepens the query by asking, "Is there any foreign war?" Here, he proposes that all wars are essentially the very same, despite whether they are classified as domestic or worldwide. By highlighting that wars are constantly "combated between men, between siblings", Hugo accentuates the shared humanity of all combatants. The notion of "foreign" is deconstructed; no matter how borders and nationwide identities divide people, the shared human experience joins them. In doing so, Hugo stresses the tragic irony that war pits people, who are basically alike, against each other.

This philosophical position highlights the futility and ethical uncertainty of war. If every conflict is undoubtedly a terrible encounter in between 'brothers,' the distinctions in between civil and foreign conflicts end up being less significant. Hugo's quote invites us to reconsider the ramifications of labeling and how these labels might depersonalize the very genuine human suffering intrinsic in any conflict. Additionally, by referring to contenders as "bros", Hugo implicitly promotes for compassion and reconciliation, urging readers to recognize their shared humankind. His words work as an ageless tip of the underlying oneness of mankind, encouraging a reevaluation of the reasons and justifications for war.