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Expenses Quote by Benjamin Franklin

“The expenses required to prevent a war are much lighter than those that will, if not prevented, be absolutely necessary to maintain it.” quote by Benjamin Franklin
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“The expenses required to prevent a war are much lighter than those that will, if not prevented, be absolutely necessary to maintain it.”

Benjamin Franklin

About This Quote

Source Letter: Private correspondence, 1755

Preventing war costs less than the expenses needed to sustain a war that was not avoided.

In simple terms: War prevention is cheaper than war maintenance.

Key Takeaway

Invest in peace to avoid higher future costs.

Themes

peace war economics

Mood

cautious strategic

Type

political economic

When to use this quote

  • government budgeting
  • diplomacy
  • military planning
  • public policy

Key Concepts

cost‑benefit analysis conflict prevention

Questions to Reflect On

  • What investments can reduce conflict risk today?
  • How can societies balance security and peace spending?
A Different Perspective

Peace efforts can be politically unpopular.

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