"The pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in either victory or defeat. The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned"

Dag Hammarskjold’s statement underscores the enduring, lifelong nature of striving for peace and progress. He emphasizes that such a pursuit is not a finite campaign with a clear winner or loser decided over a short span. Unlike a battle or competition, achieving harmony and advancement is a complex, ongoing process shaped by a continuous flow of successes, errors, and setbacks. The wisdom of Hammarskjold’s words lies in recognizing that humanity’s greatest achievements are inherently iterative and demand resilience. Progress is not a destination to reach once, but rather an evolving journey demanding patience, adaptation, and unwavering commitment.

Human history bears testament to the cycles of progress and regression. Political, social, and technological advancements never follow a straight path. There are constant obstacles, misunderstandings, conflicts, failures, but these do not mark the end. Instead, they call for reassessment and renewed effort. Hammarskjold warns of the danger in feeling prematurely victorious or despairing after apparent defeat. Believing that peace is ever fully secured, or that a temporary loss signals permanent failure, undermines the gradual, cumulative nature of betterment.

Moreover, the pursuit Hammarskjold describes is a shared responsibility, transcending any single leader, generation, or political system. The unending necessity for vigilance and effort reflects an understanding that the work of bettering society requires wide participation. Abandoning the task, even momentarily, would risk losing hard-won ground and allowing regression. Relaxing in the struggle for peace can breed complacency, leaving space for conflict and injustice to grow.

Ultimately, Hammarskjold’s reflection is a call to persistent engagement. Resilience and humility must accompany each step, knowing that errors and setbacks are inevitable. The hope of progress, then, is not measured by the absence of failure but by the refusal ever to abandon the pursuit. Humanity advances only by refusing to give up, continually striving for a more peaceful and just world.