"The limitation upon this mode of promoting peace lies in the fact that it consists in an appeal to the civilized side of man, while war is the product of forces proceeding from man's original savage nature"

Elihu Root's quote looks into the complex interaction in between mankind's pursuit of peace and its inherent tendencies towards conflict. At its essence, the quote stresses a dichotomy within humanity.

The "constraint upon this mode of promoting peace" suggests that efforts to motivate peace often appeal to mankind's reasonable, caring, and "civilized" aspects. These are qualities cultivated through societal development, education, culture, and the development of moral and ethical requirements. Peace, in this context, is framed as a product of our informed understanding of coexistence and mutual regard, which are characteristic of a civilized society.

Nevertheless, Root juxtaposes this with the acknowledgment that "war is the product of forces proceeding from guy's original savage nature". This part of the quote highlights the primal instincts and basic elements of humanity that gravitate towards conflict. The reference to "savage nature" evokes our evolutionary past, where survival frequently depended upon supremacy, aggression, and competition. War, therefore, is seen as an outgrowth of these ancient instincts, a regression to our baser selves driven by worry, desire for power, and territoriality.

Root's statement therefore reflects on the internal conflict within human beings, a battle between our higher goals for peace and the deeply embedded, instinctive drives towards conflict. This tension suggests that efforts to establish long lasting peace should not just interest our rational side however likewise address and change the underlying "savage" impulses that give rise to conflict. It suggests a need for a holistic technique to peacebuilding that incorporates the growing of compassion, understanding, and restraint with mechanisms that mitigate and transform conflict-inducing tendencies.

In summary, Root articulates a poignant difficulty to mankind: to fix up and harmonize its dual nature. Achieving peace requires going beyond the constraints imposed by our evolutionary heritage and completely accepting our capability for civilization, moderation, and mutual regard.