---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even the alleged benefits of war, so far…"
description: "\"Even the alleged benefits of war, so far as more than alleged, spring from the fact that conflict of peoples at least enforces intercourse between them..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10a/john-dewey-545_barriers_even-the-alleged-benefits-of-war-so-far_107037.png"
---

#  Even the alleged benefits of war, so far as more than…

![“Even the alleged benefits of war, so far as more than alleged, spring from the fact that conflict of peoples at least enforces intercourse between them and thus accidentally enables them to learn from one another, and thereby to expand their horizons. Travel, economic and commercial tendencies…” quote by John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10a/john-dewey-545_barriers_even-the-alleged-benefits-of-war-so-far_107037.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10a/john-dewey-545_barriers_even-the-alleged-benefits-of-war-so-far_107037.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10a/john-dewey-545_barriers_even-the-alleged-benefits-of-war-so-far_107037.png)

> “Even the alleged benefits of war, so far as more than alleged, spring from the fact that conflict of peoples at least enforces intercourse between them and thus accidentally enables them to learn from one another, and thereby to expand their horizons. Travel, economic and commercial tendencies, have at present gone far to break down external barriers; to bring peoples and classes into closer and more perceptible connection with one another.”

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Conflict forces interaction, which unintentionally creates opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual learning, expanding peoples' perspectives.

**In simple terms:** War compels contact, leading to unintended cultural growth.

Key Takeaway

Interaction through conflict broadens horizons.

Themes

cultural exchange conflict globalization learning interdependence

Mood

reflective cautiously optimistic

Type

philosophical sociopolitical

When to use this quote

- post‑war reconstruction
- international trade agreements
- multicultural workplaces

Key Concepts

accidental education breakdown of barriers

Practical Applications

- Encourage dialogue in contentious settings
- Leverage shared challenges for joint innovation

Questions to Reflect On

- When can forced interaction become genuinely collaborative?
- How do we mitigate the harms of conflict while preserving its learning potential?

A Different Perspective

Conflict also causes destruction and trauma, which can outweigh any incidental learning.

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[Barriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) [Breaking down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-down/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horizon/) [Intercourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intercourse/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

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