--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are always those who wish to…" description: "\"“There are always those who wish to sanitize war by portraying its grand and noble deeds-which sometimes occur-while drawing a veil over its shameless ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-ferling-59467_human-nature_there-are-always-those-who-wish-to-sanit_245726.jpg" --- # There are always those who wish to sanitize war by… ![“There are always those who wish to sanitize war by portraying its grand and noble deeds-which sometimes occur-while drawing a veil over its shameless side. By its nature, war is harsh, brutal, and pitiless, and while it can call out the best in humankind, it can also awaken the darkest side of…” quote by John Ferling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-ferling-59467_human-nature_there-are-always-those-who-wish-to-sanit_245726.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-ferling-59467_human-nature_there-are-always-those-who-wish-to-sanit_245726.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-ferling-59467_human-nature_there-are-always-those-who-wish-to-sanit_245726.jpg) > ““There are always those who wish to sanitize war by portraying its grand and noble deeds-which sometimes occur-while drawing a veil over its shameless side. By its nature, war is harsh, brutal, and pitiless, and while it can call out the best in humankind, it can also awaken the darkest side of human nature, arousing in many participants a coldhearted callousness. For most, danger begets fear. For some, fear sires ferocity, and ferocity spawns a ruthlessness that subsumes compassion. For still other men, more than is gratifying to acknowledge, soldiering is a license to unleash iniquitous qualities that they struggled to suppress in peacetime.”” [John Ferling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ferling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War reveals both humanity’s highest virtues and its deepest cruelties, often amplifying fear into violence. **In simple terms:** War shows both noble and brutal sides of humans. Key Takeaway Recognize war’s dual nature and its moral costs. Themes war human nature morality fear violence Mood somber reflective critical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - military training - policy making - peace negotiations - post‑war reconstruction Key Concepts ethical philosophy psychology of conflict historical analysis Questions to Reflect On - What drives individuals toward cruelty in war? - Can societies prevent war’s dehumanizing effects? A Different Perspective Might romanticize conflict or ignore civilian suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darkest Side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkest-side/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Gates should have exceeded Washington as a military leader. 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