--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Until the last great war, a general…" description: "\"Until the last great war, a general expectation of material improvement was an idea peculiar to Western man. Now war and its aftermath have made econom..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/lester-b-pearson-15334_aftermath_until-the-last-great-war-a-general-expec_1561770.png" --- # Until the last great war, a general expectation of… ![“Until the last great war, a general expectation of material improvement was an idea peculiar to Western man. Now war and its aftermath have made economic and social progress a political imperative in every quarter of the globe.” quote by Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/lester-b-pearson-15334_aftermath_until-the-last-great-war-a-general-expec_1561770.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/lester-b-pearson-15334_aftermath_until-the-last-great-war-a-general-expec_1561770.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/lester-b-pearson-15334_aftermath_until-the-last-great-war-a-general-expec_1561770.png) > “Until the last great war, a general expectation of material improvement was an idea peculiar to Western man. Now war and its aftermath have made economic and social progress a political imperative in every quarter of the globe.” [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western societies once saw material progress as a unique goal; now global conflict forces all nations to prioritize economic and social development. **In simple terms:** War made progress a worldwide necessity. Key Takeaway Focus on rebuilding after conflict. Themes war progress globalization politics Mood reflective serious Type political historical When to use this quote - government policy - NGO planning - international aid - economic reform Key Concepts development economics post‑war reconstruction Questions to Reflect On - How does conflict reshape development priorities? - What policies best translate war‑time urgency into lasting peace? A Different Perspective Peace alone cannot guarantee progress; underlying structures matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aftermath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aftermath/) [Great war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-war/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-progress/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [“The presuming social view that mental health is not as serious as the media says it is, blocks progress. This too is political.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-hill-ms/the-presuming-social-view-that-mental-health-is-not-as-serious-as-the/) [Tamara Hill, MS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-hill-ms/) > [The 'Alliance for Progress' was a political proposal to improve conditions. It was aimed at lowering the social difference between cultures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/the-alliance-for-progress-was-a-political-proposal-to-improve/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [The political core of any movement for freedom in the society has to have the political imperative to protect free speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-political-core-of-any-movement-for-freedom-in-the-society-has-to/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Legislators consistently put the political imperative before the national interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-bandow/legislators-consistently-put-the-political-imperative-before-the/) [Doug Bandow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-bandow/) > [The second you feel a political imperative, it destroys your art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/the-second-you-feel-a-political-imperative-it-destroys-your-art/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [“Wimsey stooped for an empty sardine-tin which lay, horribly battered, at his feet, and slung it idly into the quag. 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Social insurance fully developed may provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/organisation-of-social-insurance-should-be-treated-as-one-part-only/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [The study of social progress is to-day not less needed in literature than is the analysis of the human heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-de-vigny/the-study-of-social-progress-is-to-day-not-less-needed-in-literature/) [Alfred de Vigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-de-vigny/) > [Literature is at once the cause and the effect of social progress. It deepens our natural sensibilities, and strengthens by exercise our intellectual capacities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/literature-is-at-once-the-cause-and-the-effect-of-social-progress-it/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [If freedom makes social progress possible, so social progress strengthens and enlarges freedom. The two are inseparable partners in the great adventure of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/if-freedom-makes-social-progress-possible-so-social-progress/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [Literature is at once the cause and the effect of social progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/literature-is-at-once-the-cause-and-the-effect-of-social-progress/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [“Experience does not give you wisdom. Wisdom comes through liberation of the mind. And since most humans live a conditioned life, they never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/experience-does-not-give-you-wisdom-wisdom-comes-through-liberation/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [National security is vital for economic and social progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kagame/national-security-is-vital-for-economic-and-social-progress/) [Paul Kagame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kagame/) ## More by Lester B. Pearson > [How can there be peace without people understanding each other; and how can this be if they don't know each other?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/how-can-there-be-peace-without-people-understanding-each-other-and/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [ Not only did he \[Dean Acheson\] not suffer fools gladly, he did not suffer them at all. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/not-only-did-he-dean-acheson-not-suffer-fools-gladly-he-did-not/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [But while we all pray for peace, we do not always, as free citizens, support the policies that make for peace or reject those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/but-while-we-all-pray-for-peace-we-do-not-always-as-free-citizens/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [We are all descendants of Adam, and we are all products of racial miscegenation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/we-are-all-descendants-of-adam-and-we-are-all-products-of-racial/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [The best defence of peace is not power, but the removal of the causes of war, and international agreements which will put peace on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/the-best-defence-of-peace-is-not-power-but-the-removal-of-the-causes/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [“When you are special to a cat, you are specialindeed. She brings to you the gift of her proference of you, the sight of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/when-you-are-special-to-a-cat-you-are-specialindeed-she-brings-to-you/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [Understanding the nature of conflict leads to peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/understanding-the-nature-of-conflict-leads-to-peace/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [As for the promotion of peace congresses we have had our meetings and assemblies, but the promotion through them of the determined and effective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/as-for-the-promotion-of-peace-congresses-we-have-had-our-meetings-and/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [The scientific and technological discoveries that have made war so infinitely more terrible for us are part of the same process that has knit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/the-scientific-and-technological-discoveries-that-have-made-war-so/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [It would be especially tragic if the people who most cherish ideals of peace, who are most anxious for political cooperation on a wider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/it-would-be-especially-tragic-if-the-people-who-most-cherish-ideals/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [ This fastest of all games \[hockey\] has become almost as much of a national svmbol as the maple leaf. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/this-fastest-of-all-games-hockey-has-become-almost-as-much-of-a/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [We know now that in modern warfare, fought on any considerable scale, there can be no possible economic gain for any side. Win or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/we-know-now-that-in-modern-warfare-fought-on-any-considerable-scale/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [I cannot think of anything more difficult than to say something which would be worthy of this impressive and, for me, memorable occasion, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/i-cannot-think-of-anything-more-difficult-than-to-say-something-which/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [Today the predatory state, or the predatory group of states, with power of total destruction, is no more to be tolerated than the predatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/today-the-predatory-state-or-the-predatory-group-of-states-with-power/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/politics-is-the-skilled-use-of-blunt-objects/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) [Explore all 43 Lester B. Pearson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) ## More Aftermath quotes > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [“She might have been there for you in the aftermath, but I was there when everything came crashing down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-duke/she-might-have-been-there-for-you-in-the-aftermath-but-i-was-there/) [Megan Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-duke/) > [Most people may not think about it, but the aftermath of war is very costly. Costly not just in lives, but the treatment. 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Whatever the result its always important that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-matobo/it-s-common-knowledge-that-every-act-has-an-aftermath-factor-it-can/) [Frank Matobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-matobo/) > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [In the aftermath of 9/11, people had not a good time, but a deep, profound, rousing time, woke up from their ennui and isolation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/in-the-aftermath-of-9-11-people-had-not-a-good-time-but-a-deep/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [They were anticipating a different kind of immediate aftermath of the fall of Baghdad, it turned out to be not exactly as they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/they-were-anticipating-a-different-kind-of-immediate-aftermath-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [In a brilliant fusion of fact and fiction, Jayne Anne Phillips has written the novel of the year. 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We just had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-can-t-think-of-any-time-we-had-a-discussion-with-dre-about-the/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) [Browse all 218 Aftermath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aftermath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Until the last great war, a general expectation of material improvement was an idea peculiar to Western man. Now war and its aftermath have made economic and social progress a political imperative in every quarter of the globe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lester B. 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