Attractive Quote by Henry A. Kissinger
“One theory is that we will make war look so attractive that we undermine the deterrent. That's Never Never Land. What we have now would have been enough to deter Hitler. But we are talking in a different order of reality.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Strategic forum, 2020, discussing modern deterrence
Making war appear appealing erodes its deterrent power, risking conflict escalation.
In simple terms: War's allure weakens its ability to prevent war.
Key Takeaway
Preserve war's grim reality to deter aggression.
Themes
deterrence
war
politics
Mood
cautionary
analytical
Type
policy
theory
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- military strategy sessions
- international negotiations
- academic conferences
Key Concepts
strategic stability
psychology of conflict
nuclear policy
Questions to Reflect On
- Can deterrence survive in a world of sensationalized warfare?
- How to counteract war's romanticization?
A Different Perspective
Appealing narratives may unintentionally glorify conflict.
![“Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." [...] But since the Freedom of Information Act, I'm afraid to say things like that.” quote by Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6dc/henry-a-kissinger-1068_freedom_before-the-freedom-of-information-act-i_25339.jpg)
