"War is the symptom, not the disease"

This quote by L. M. Heroux recommends that war is not the origin of conflict, but rather a symptom of deeper underlying problems. It suggests that war is a symptom of a larger problem, rather than the issue itself. This might be translated to indicate that the true reason for war lies in elements such as greed, power battles, or unsolved disputes in between countries. By seeing war as a symptom, it moves the focus towards dealing with the underlying concerns rather than entirely attempting to end the physical violence. It likewise highlights the importance of understanding and attending to the origin of dispute in order to prevent future wars.