"There is peace more destructive of the manhood of living man than war is destructive of his material body"

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.