"It is to be observed that every case of war averted is a gain in general, for it helps to form a habit of peace, and community habits long continued become standards of conduct"

Elihu Root's quote highlights the importance of habit-forming practices on social levels, stressing that each instance in which war is prevented contributes positively to the overarching objective of peace. At the core of this assertion is the concept that actions, when duplicated collectively, cultivate routines, and in time, these habits crystallize into social norms or standards of conduct.

Root recommends that preventing war is not only advantageous in immediate, concrete terms-- such as the conservation of lives and resources-- but also in more abstract, long-term implications. Each prevented dispute strengthens the inclination towards peaceful resolutions and strengthens diplomatic relations in time. This, in turn, contributes incrementally towards developing a regular preference for peace throughout neighborhoods, countries, and the world at large.

From a psychological perspective, practices are formed through duplicated behaviors and choices. When people or societies regularly pick peace over conflict, these options construct cognitive and cultural paths that make serene resolutions most likely in the future. Gradually, these pathways end up being ingrained, moving the cumulative state of mind towards valuing and anticipating peace as the standard instead of the exception.

Furthermore, the quote indicates a tactical technique to dispute management, where an emphasis on avoiding war today sets a foundation for a more peaceful tomorrow. Simply as unfavorable practices can perpetuate cycles of violence and retribution, favorable practices can lead the way for reconciliation, understanding, and cooperation. The gradual accretion of peaceful practices not only prevents the instant risks of dispute but likewise purchases a future where peace is the default response to conflicts.

In sum, Root's statement is a call to action, motivating societies to invest in peace as a purposeful and strategic choice. By regularly selecting peace, societies can develop long-lasting requirements of conduct that favor diplomacy over war, embedding peace into the material of cumulative behavior for generations to come.