"There is peace more destructive of the manhood of living man than war is destructive of his material body"
- Douglas William Jerrold
About this Quote
This quote by Douglas William Jerrold speaks to the concept that peace can be more destructive to a person's sense of self and identity than war is damaging to their physical body. Jerrold is suggesting that peace can be a kind of oppression, where an individual's sense of autonomy and flexibility is eliminated. This can be seen in scenarios where an individual is living in a repressive program, or in a society where there is a lack of opportunity or flexibility of expression. In such cases, the person may feel helpless and unable to make meaningful modifications in their life, resulting in a sense of despondence and despair. This can be more harmful to an individual's sense of self and identity than the physical damage caused by war. Jerrold's quote is a suggestion that peace can be just as damaging as war, and that it is very important to make sure that peace is not utilized as a tool of oppression.