"Four years of world war, at a cost in human suffering which our minds are mercifully too limited to imagine, led to the very clear realization that international anarchy must be abandoned if civilization was to survive"

Arthur Henderson's quote powerfully encapsulates the extensive effect of World War I and the crucial need for structured international relations in its after-effects. Henderson, a prominent British political leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, highlights the inconceivable human suffering sustained during the war, suggesting that the restrictions of human cognition serve as a merciful shield, sparing us from completely understanding its scaries. This "merciful limitation" implies that the vast scale of discomfort and loss is beyond what the human mind can conveniently process, thus highlighting the war's destructive scope.

Henderson then rotates to a call for action: the realization that to avoid such devastating occasions from repeating, the absence of order-- called here as "international anarchy"-- should be addressed. The term "worldwide anarchy" refers to the lack of an overarching authority to control the interactions and disputes in between sovereign states, which can result in mayhem and unchecked aggressiveness, as exemplified by the war.

This declaration shows the dominating sentiment among many post-war thinkers and leaders who thought that the status quo of uncontrolled national pursuits undoubtedly led to dispute. Henderson's words hint at the emergence of a brand-new international consciousness intending to foster cooperation, discussion, and cumulative security, preparing for organizations like the League of Nations, and later on, the United Nations. These bodies were conceived to supply a platform for dispute resolution and to establish standards and contracts to protect peace.

In essence, Henderson articulates a crucial juncture in international history-- a movement from condition to order, and from separated national interests to cooperative global structures. The survival of civilization, he recommends, depends upon this transition, advising a dedication to worldwide governance structures capable of preventing the repeat of such terrible conflicts. His call resonates as both a reflection on human limitations and a vision for a collective future.