Action Quote by Elihu Root
“The methods of peace propaganda which aim at establishing peace doctrine by argument and by creating a feeling favorable to peace in general seem to fall short of reaching the springs of human action and of dealing with the causes of the conduct which they seek to modify.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on International Relations, 1919
Peace efforts that rely only on rational argument and positive sentiment miss the deeper motivations behind human actions and the root causes of conflict.
In simple terms: Peace talks need to address deeper human drives, not just arguments.
Address underlying causes, not just surface arguments.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- diplomatic negotiations
- conflict mediation
- policy making
- public advocacy
- education programs
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can peace initiatives tap into deeper human motivations?
- What are the hidden drivers of conflict?
Surface-level messaging may be ignored if it doesn't resonate with core human emotions.