"War is not the quintessential emergency in which man has to prove himself, as my generation learned at its school desks in the days of the Kaiser; rather, peace is the emergency in which we all have to prove ourselves"

This quote by Gustav Heinemann speaks to the concept that peace is the ultimate difficulty for humanity, rather than war. Heinemann recommends that the concept of war being the supreme test of human strength and nerve is outdated, and that peace is the true challenge. Heinemann's generation was taught in school that war was the supreme test of a person's character, but he thinks that peace is the real challenge. Heinemann thinks that peace is the emergency in which all of us need to prove ourselves, which it is a far more difficult task than war. Heinemann's quote speaks to the concept that peace is the ultimate difficulty for mankind, and that it is a far more uphill struggle than war. Heinemann's quote motivates us to pursue peace, rather than war, and to show ourselves in the pursuit of peace.