"It is far easier to make war than peace"

To understand why war is often simpler to initiate than peace is to grapple with the complexities of human nature, national interests, and the machinery of power. War, despite its devastation, usually begins with a clear declaration of objectives, an identified enemy, and the mobilization of resources toward a common cause. The clarity of action, the unity provoked by perceived threats, and the adrenaline of battle often override deeper ideological divisions or reservations. On the battlefield, issues can seem stripped down to binary terms: victory or defeat, us versus them. Decisions may be made swiftly under the pressure of necessity, with dissent silenced by appeals to patriotism or survival.

Peace, by contrast, demands an intricate weaving together of divergent perspectives, acknowledging histories of grievance and loss. It calls for negotiation, compromise, and the deliberate effort to bridge differences, tasks that require trust, patience, and moral courage. Unlike the unity found in war, peace negotiations often expose internal divisions and conflicting interests. The process of forging peace involves not only dealing with former enemies, often requiring painful concessions and mutual forgiveness, but also contending with factions within one's own side who may feel betrayed or poorly served by reconciliation.

Moreover, peace is inherently fragile; it must be continually maintained through dialogue, mutual respect, and systems of justice that address the root causes of conflict. The immediate incentives for war, power, revenge, protection, are both primal and politically expedient. The incentives for peace, on the other hand, involve envisioning a future not dominated by fear or animosity, but built on common security and prosperity. Such a vision demands imagination and leadership of the highest order, as well as the willingness to take political risks for the sake of a longer-lasting, less dramatic, but more substantial good. The difficulties of achieving peace often surpass those of waging war, ensuring the latter remains the easier, if more tragic, path.