--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems to me, that if statesmen had a…" description: "\"It seems to me, that if statesmen had a little more arithmetic, or were accustomed to calculation, wars would be much less frequent.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/benjamin-franklin-65_accustomed_it-seems-to-me-that-if-statesmen-had-a-l_1581865.png" --- # It seems to me, that if statesmen had a little more… ![“It seems to me, that if statesmen had a little more arithmetic, or were accustomed to calculation, wars would be much less frequent.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/benjamin-franklin-65_accustomed_it-seems-to-me-that-if-statesmen-had-a-l_1581865.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/benjamin-franklin-65_accustomed_it-seems-to-me-that-if-statesmen-had-a-l_1581865.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/benjamin-franklin-65_accustomed_it-seems-to-me-that-if-statesmen-had-a-l_1581865.png) > “It seems to me, that if statesmen had a little more arithmetic, or were accustomed to calculation, wars would be much less frequent.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If leaders used rational calculation rather than emotion, wars would be less frequent, highlighting the need for logical decision‑making. **In simple terms:** Logical thinking could reduce wars. Key Takeaway Promote rational analysis in policy. Themes politics logic war leadership Mood instructive optimistic Type historical political When to use this quote - government negotiations - education curricula - conflict resolution Key Concepts rational choice theory peace studies Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance empathy with calculation in governance? - What obstacles prevent rational policymaking? A Different Perspective Human emotions and politics are complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arithmetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arithmetic/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Statesmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statesmen/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [No man acquires property without acquiring with it a little arithmetic also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-acquires-property-without-acquiring-with-it-a-little/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Wars, however frequent and destructive they may be, have never been able to kill entirely the intellectual and moral sense which raises man above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-ducommun/wars-however-frequent-and-destructive-they-may-be-have-never-been/) Elie Ducommun > [No employment can be managed without arithmetic, no mechanical invention without geometry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/no-employment-can-be-managed-without-arithmetic-no-mechanical/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Arithmetic arithmetock Turn the hands back on the clock How does the ocean rock the boat? 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