"They used to be seen as insane or unthinkable acts of madmen. But if they take place they'll be called "war" too. And there will still be no conventional war"

In this quote, Bruce Sterling is talking about the altering perception of war. He notes that in the past, specific actions that were considered extreme or illogical were seen as the work of psychopathic people. Nevertheless, as society develops, these exact same actions may now be identified as "war." This highlights the shifting definition of war and how it is no longer limited to standard battles in between nations. Sterling also recommends that even with this expanded meaning, there will still be no clear difference between standard and non-traditional war. This quote acts as a commentary on the ever-changing nature of conflict and the requirement to continuously reassess our understanding of war.