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The evils which of necessity encompass the life of man are…

“The evils which of necessity encompass the life of man are sufficiently numerous. Why should we add to them by voluntarily distressing and destroying one another? Peace, brothers, is better than war. In a long and bloody war, we lose many friends, and gain nothing. Let us then live in peace and…” quote by Thomas Jefferson
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“The evils which of necessity encompass the life of man are sufficiently numerous. Why should we add to them by voluntarily distressing and destroying one another? Peace, brothers, is better than war. In a long and bloody war, we lose many friends, and gain nothing. Let us then live in peace and friendship together, doing to each other all the good we can.”

Thomas Jefferson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human life is already filled with inevitable hardships; adding conflict only worsens suffering.

In simple terms: War adds unnecessary suffering to already hard lives.

Key Takeaway

Choose peace over conflict.

Themes

peace war humanity conflict friendship

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • political negotiations
  • community building
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

philosophy ethics social contract

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can societies build lasting peace?
  • What sacrifices are needed to avoid war?
A Different Perspective

Peace may be ideal but requires mutual trust and enforcement.

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