Autumn Quote by Barbara Tuchman
“When every autumn people said it could not last through the winter, and when every spring there was still no end in sight, only the hope that out of it all some good would accrue to mankind kept men and nations fighting. When at last it was over, the war had many diverse results and one dominant one transcending all others: disillusion.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman, 1962
Hope that good will emerge from conflict sustains societies through hardship, but after war the prevailing feeling is often disillusion.
In simple terms: Hope sustains during war; disillusion follows.
Key Takeaway
Balance hope with realistic planning.
Themes
war
hope
human resilience
disillusion
historical cycles
Mood
somber
reflective
thoughtful
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- military strategy
- public morale
- post‑war reconstruction
- policy making
Key Concepts
History
psychology
political science
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does hope play in sustaining conflict?
- How can societies prevent disillusion after war?
A Different Perspective
Hope can blind societies to warning signs.
![“The clergy [in the 14th century] on the whole were probably no more lecherous or greedy or untrustworthy than other men, but because they were supposed to be better or nearer to God than other men, their failings attracted more attention.” quote by Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/558/barbara-tuchman-3945_attention_the-clergy-in-the-14th-century-on-the-wh_159681.jpg)
