Able Quote by Martha Gellhorn
“From the earliest wars of men to our last heart-breaking worldwide effort, all we could do was kill ourselves. Now we are able to kill the future.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Future of War”, 1945
Humanity’s capacity for self‑destruction extends from war to destroying future possibilities.
In simple terms: We can kill ourselves now and our future.
Protect the future by limiting present violence.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- activism
- education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions today safeguard tomorrow?
- How do we balance present needs with future health?
Future protection can be ignored by short‑term gains.