War is not two great armies meeting in the clash and…
“War is not two great armies meeting in the clash and frenzy of battle. War is a boy being carried on a stretcher, looking up at God’s blue sky with bewildered eyes that are soon to close; war is a woman carrying a child that has been injured by a shell; war is spirited horses tied in burning buildings and waiting for death; war is the flower of a race, battered, hungry, bleeding, up to its knees in filthy water; war is an old woman burning a candle before the Mater Dolorsa for the son she has given.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
War is depicted through personal loss and human tragedy rather than battlefield strategy.
In simple terms: War is human suffering.
Recognize the human cost of conflict.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- journalism
- peace activism
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal stories reveal war’s impact?
- How can societies prevent such suffering?
Focusing only on suffering may overlook systemic causes.