--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing constantly overlooked by those…" description: "\"The thing constantly overlooked by those hopefuls who talk about abolishing war is that it is by no means an evidence of decay but rather a proof of he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/h-l-mencken-245_decay_the-thing-constantly-overlooked-by-those_1018772.png" --- # The thing constantly overlooked by those hopefuls who talk… ![“The thing constantly overlooked by those hopefuls who talk about abolishing war is that it is by no means an evidence of decay but rather a proof of health and vigor.” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/h-l-mencken-245_decay_the-thing-constantly-overlooked-by-those_1018772.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/h-l-mencken-245_decay_the-thing-constantly-overlooked-by-those_1018772.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/h-l-mencken-245_decay_the-thing-constantly-overlooked-by-those_1018772.png) > “The thing constantly overlooked by those hopefuls who talk about abolishing war is that it is by no means an evidence of decay but rather a proof of health and vigor.” [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that the desire to end war shows a society’s strength, not its weakness, because it reflects a commitment to peace and moral vigor. **In simple terms:** Wanting to end war shows societal strength. Key Takeaway Recognize peace advocacy as a sign of health. Themes peace war morality strength societal health Mood thoughtful hopeful critical Type philosophical political inspirational When to use this quote - political activism - peace negotiations - education curricula - public discourse - policy reform Key Concepts Social contract collective responsibility ethical progress Questions to Reflect On - How does advocating for peace reflect societal values? - Can a desire for peace coexist with necessary defense actions? A Different Perspective It may ignore that some wars are fought for defense or justice, complicating the notion of peace as pure health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abolishing War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abolishing-war-1364298/) [Constantly Overlooked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constantly-overlooked-1045164/) [Decay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Overlooked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overlooked/) [Overlooked Hopefuls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overlooked-hopefuls-2256949/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Vigor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vigor/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-means-361190/) ## Related quotes > [The truly important things in life - love, beauty, and one's own uniqueness - are constantly being overlooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/the-truly-important-things-in-life-love-beauty-and-one-s-own/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [The only sane policy for the world is that of abolishing war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-only-sane-policy-for-the-world-is-that-of-abolishing-war/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [If men do not now succeed in abolishing war, civilization and mankind are doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-men-do-not-now-succeed-in-abolishing-war-civilization-and-mankind/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [My opposition to war was not because of the horrors of war, not because war demands that the race offer up its very best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriot-eaton-stanton-blatch/my-opposition-to-war-was-not-because-of-the-horrors-of-war-not/) [Harriot Eaton Stanton Blatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriot-eaton-stanton-blatch/) > [Capitalism undoubtedly has certain boils and blotches upon it, but has it as many as government? Has it as many as marriage? Has it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/capitalism-undoubtedly-has-certain-boils-and-blotches-upon-it-but-has/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Business is war by other means.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/business-is-war-by-other-means/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [War is by definition the indiscriminate killing of huge numbers of people for ends that are uncertain. Think about means and ends, and apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/war-is-by-definition-the-indiscriminate-killing-of-huge-numbers-of/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“War means fighting. The business of the soldier is to fight. Armies are not called out to dig trenches, to throw up breastworks, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stonewall-jackson/war-means-fighting-the-business-of-the-soldier-is-to-fight-armies-are/) [Stonewall Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stonewall-jackson/) > [War paralyzes your courage and deadens the spirit of true manhood. It degrades and stupefies with the sense that you are not responsible, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/war-paralyzes-your-courage-and-deadens-the-spirit-of-true-manhood-it/) [Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/) > [War is not a means to an end, it is the end, whereas politics is merely the hiatus between wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/war-is-not-a-means-to-an-end-it-is-the-end-whereas-politics-is-merely/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [There is fascism , leading only into the blackness which it has chosen as its symbol, into smartness and yapping out of orders,and self-righteous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/there-is-fascism-leading-only-into-the-blackness-which-it-has-chosen/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [War is not the only means to stop war. Men of goodwill, who fully recognize their duties, should be able, with the assistance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-not-the-only-means-to-stop-war-men-of-goodwill-who-fully/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [War means fighting. The business of the soldier is to fight. ... To move swiftly, strike vigorously, and secure all the fruits of victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stonewall-jackson/war-means-fighting-the-business-of-the-soldier-is-to-fight-to-move/) [Stonewall Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stonewall-jackson/) > [War means blind obedience, unthinking stupidity, brutish callousness, wanton destruction, and irresponsible murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/war-means-blind-obedience-unthinking-stupidity-brutish-callousness/) [Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/) > [War is by no means something glamorous, and I don't think that should ever be forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-schilling/war-is-by-no-means-something-glamorous-and-i-don-t-think-that-should/) [Curt Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-schilling/) ## More by H. L. Mencken > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [A bad artist almost always tries to conceal his incompetence by whooping up a new formula.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-bad-artist-almost-always-tries-to-conceal-his-incompetence-by/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. 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Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Women have simple tastes. They get pleasure out of the conversation of children in arms and men in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/women-have-simple-tastes-they-get-pleasure-out-of-the-conversation-of/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The critic, to interpret his artist, even to understand his artist, must be able to get into the mind of his artist; he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-critic-to-interpret-his-artist-even-to-understand-his-artist-must/) [H. L. 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Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [To the extent that I am genuinely educated, I am suspicious of all the things that the average citizen believes and the average pedagogue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/to-the-extent-that-i-am-genuinely-educated-i-am-suspicious-of-all-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Philosophy first constructs a scheme of happiness and then tries to fit the world to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/philosophy-first-constructs-a-scheme-of-happiness-and-then-tries-to/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [For it is the natural tendency of the ignorant to believe what is not true. In order to overcome that tendency it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-the-natural-tendency-of-the-ignorant-to-believe-what-is-not/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) [Explore all 827 H. L. Mencken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) ## More Decay quotes > [Unfortunately, moral beauty in art - like physical beauty in a person - is extremely perishable. It is nowhere so durable as artistic or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/unfortunately-moral-beauty-in-art-like-physical-beauty-in-a-person-is/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [We think literature is immortal, but even that decays and ultimately turns to dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-farren/we-think-literature-is-immortal-but-even-that-decays-and-ultimately/) [Mick Farren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-farren/) > [Wise people are able to give themselves gracefully to seemingly contradictory experiences, because they know that they belong to different seasons of life, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/wise-people-are-able-to-give-themselves-gracefully-to-seemingly/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [The ensouled is distinguished from the unsouled by its being alive. Now since being alive is spoken of in many ways, even if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ensouled-is-distinguished-from-the-unsouled-by-its-being-alive/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It seems that the whole world is beginning to decay, and that its putrefaction has chosen to spread outward from here, from the land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/it-seems-that-the-whole-world-is-beginning-to-decay-and-that-its/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [But the grind has begun. 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Columbus never reached China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/without-adventure-all-civilization-is-full-of-decay-adventure-rarely/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [“Out of all its squalor and human decay, its eruptions of butchery, India produced so many people of grace and beauty, ruled by elaborate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-all-its-squalor-and-human-decay-its-eruptions-of-butchery/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 744 Decay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing constantly overlooked by those hopefuls who talk about abolishing war is that it is by no means an evidence of decay but rather a proof of health and vigor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "H. L. 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