"I can not believe that war is the best solution. No one won the last war, and no one will win the next war"
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Eleanor Roosevelt's quote, "I can not believe that war is the very best solution. Nobody won the last war, and nobody will win the next war", speaks to a deeply pacifist philosophy rooted in the understanding of the ravaging human, economic, and social expenses of dispute. Her point of view challenges the notion that war is a way to accomplish long lasting peace or resolution of conflicts.
Roosevelt, who lived through both World Wars and saw the worldwide devastation they triggered, recognized that although wars might end with a stated victor, the real expense of conflict leaves scars that touch every country included, no matter their role or outcome. For her, the "last war" refers not simply to particular historical conflicts but to the universal suffering they bring. Civilian casualties, loss of life, and extensive damage are plain tips that the repercussions of war extend far beyond any battleground triumph, resounding through generations.
She argues that there is no genuine winner in war, challenging the simple view that military conquest relates to success. Rather, war causes additional resentment, financial strain, and loss of human capacity, wearing down the really fabric of societies. The notion of "winning" ends up being hollow when weighed against what is compromised and what is left to rebuild.
In this quote, Roosevelt prompts diplomatic engagement, good understanding, and non-violent dispute resolution as alternative courses to peace. She predicts that "no one will win the next war", suggesting a cycle of recurring conflict unless humankind shifts far from militaristic options. Her words are a call to desert the glorification of war in favor of supporting worldwide coexistence, cooperation, and discussion. In essence, Roosevelt's vision is for a world where distinctions are browsed through compassion and factor, not through the destruction of war, a vision that remains profoundly relevant in contemporary international relations.
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