Yes, but I’ve also walked about in your city and I’ve…
““Yes, but I’ve also walked about in your city and I’ve watched your people. Your people are aggressive!” “You see, Duncan? Peace encourages aggression.” “And you say that your Golden Path . . .” “Is not precisely peace. It is tranquility, a fertile ground for the growth of rigid classes and many other forms of aggression.” “You talk riddles!” “I talk accumulated observations which tell me that the peaceful posture is the posture of the defeated. It is the posture of the victim. Victims invite aggression.” “Your damned enforced tranquility! What good does it do?” “If there is no enemy, one must be invented. The military force which is denied an external target always turns against its own people.” “What’s your game?” “I modify the human desire for war.” “People don’t want war!” “They want chaos. War is the most readily available form of chaos.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Peace can mask underlying tensions, allowing aggression to fester beneath a calm surface.
In simple terms: Peace may hide conflict.
Key Takeaway
Question the stability of calm.
Themes
politics
war
peace
aggression
power dynamics
Mood
cautionary
thought‑provoking
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- military strategy
- social movements
- community building
Key Concepts
social control
psychology of conflict
strategic deception
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden conflicts might peace conceal?
- How can societies address aggression without war?
A Different Perspective
Peace without addressing root causes can lead to greater unrest.