--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are betrayals in war that are…" description: "\"There are betrayals in war that are childlike compared with our human betrayals during peace. The new lovers enter the habits of the other. Things are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/michael-ondaatje-940_betrayal_there-are-betrayals-in-war-that-are-chil_754553.png" --- # There are betrayals in war that are childlike compared… ![“There are betrayals in war that are childlike compared with our human betrayals during peace. The new lovers enter the habits of the other. Things are smashed, revealed in a new light. This is done with nervous or tender sentences, although the heart is an organ of fire.” quote by Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/michael-ondaatje-940_betrayal_there-are-betrayals-in-war-that-are-chil_754553.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/michael-ondaatje-940_betrayal_there-are-betrayals-in-war-that-are-chil_754553.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/michael-ondaatje-940_betrayal_there-are-betrayals-in-war-that-are-chil_754553.png) > “There are betrayals in war that are childlike compared with our human betrayals during peace. The new lovers enter the habits of the other. Things are smashed, revealed in a new light. This is done with nervous or tender sentences, although the heart is an organ of fire.” [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War’s betrayals seem childish compared to the subtle, personal betrayals that occur in peace, revealed through tender yet nervous prose. **In simple terms:** Peace betrayals can be deeper than war’s. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden betrayals in everyday life. Themes betrayal peace war human nature Mood melancholic introspective Type literary poetic When to use this quote - marriage - friendships - political negotiations Key Concepts psychology relationships Questions to Reflect On - What betrayals go unnoticed in peace? - How does tender language expose hidden pain? A Different Perspective War’s overt betrayals are easier to identify than subtle ones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) [Betrayals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayals/) [Childlike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childlike/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [New Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-love/) [Organs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organs/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“July 1936 There are betrayals in war that are childlike compared with our human betrayals during peace. The new lover enters the habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/july-1936-there-are-betrayals-in-war-that-are-childlike-compared-with/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Betrayals during war are childlike compared with our betrayals during peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-minghella/betrayals-during-war-are-childlike-compared-with-our-betrayals-during/) [Anthony Minghella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-minghella/) > [“Betrayal wears a lot of different hats. You don’t have to make a show of it like Brutus did, you don’t have to leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/betrayal-wears-a-lot-of-different-hats-you-don-t-have-to-make-a-show/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [“If you’re in trouble, I swear I will never stop until I get to you,” he called softly. Sage could’ve pretended she was already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-beaty/if-you-re-in-trouble-i-swear-i-will-never-stop-until-i-get-to-you-he/) [Erin Beaty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-beaty/) > [“Every night she wrote in that ledger. 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And I laughed, because I knew I would never see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-chisman/i-watched-you-try-on-suits-in-hugo-boss-for-the-big-job-you-said-and/) [Kate Chisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-chisman/) > [Beware the viper in your closet. Isn’t that another thing you’re always saying, Father? Ambition and jealousy are at the heart of all betrayals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/beware-the-viper-in-your-closet-isn-t-that-another-thing-you-re/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The worst of betrayals is by those who you trust most. Beware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-of-betrayals-is-by-those-who-you-trust-most-beware/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Was that all life really was? A series of betrayals? Was there no way we could avoid damaging each other?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/was-that-all-life-really-was-a-series-of-betrayals-was-there-no-way/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [The worst betrayals come from the ones we trust the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-betrayals-come-from-the-ones-we-trust-the-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The implied trust was humbling. He didn't deserve it, but then again, he wouldn't betray it either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-wildes/the-implied-trust-was-humbling-he-didn-t-deserve-it-but-then-again-he/) [Emma Wildes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-wildes/) > [“Grief works its own perversions and betrayals; the shape of what we have lost is as subject to corruption as the mortal body...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/grief-works-its-own-perversions-and-betrayals-the-shape-of-what-we/) [Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/) ## More by Michael Ondaatje > [“In spite of this, our table's status on the Oronsay continued to be minimal, while those at the Captain's Table were constantly toasting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/in-spite-of-this-our-table-s-status-on-the-oronsay-continued-to-be/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [He will hear the rain before he feels it, a clicking on the dry grass, on the olive leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/he-will-hear-the-rain-before-he-feels-it-a-clicking-on-the-dry-grass/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would lean over and smell the skin at the base of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/whenever-her-father-was-alone-with-a-dog-in-a-house-he-would-lean/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“...those who had risked everything at a riverbend on a left turn and so discovered a fortune.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/those-who-had-risked-everything-at-a-riverbend-on-a-left-turn-and-so/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“All over the world there must be people like us, Anna had said then, wounded in some way by falling in love - seemingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/all-over-the-world-there-must-be-people-like-us-anna-had-said-then/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Her father had taught her about hands. About a dog's paws. Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/her-father-had-taught-her-about-hands-about-a-dog-s-paws-whenever-her/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [What is interesting and important happens mostly in secret, in places where there is no power. Nothing much of lasting value ever happens at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/what-is-interesting-and-important-happens-mostly-in-secret-in-places/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [There's more danger in the violence you don't face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/there-s-more-danger-in-the-violence-you-don-t-face/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [From this point on, she whispered, we will either find or lose our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/from-this-point-on-she-whispered-we-will-either-find-or-lose-our-souls/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“You know it is the most relaxed thing when you when you sit with a best friend and you know there is nothing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/you-know-it-is-the-most-relaxed-thing-when-you-when-you-sit-with-a/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“There was no control except the " mood of his power... and it is for this reason it is good you never heard him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/there-was-no-control-except-the-mood-of-his-power-and-it-is-for-this/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [You're getting everyone's point of view at the same time, which for me, is the perfect state for a novel: a cubist state, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/you-re-getting-everyone-s-point-of-view-at-the-same-time-which-for-me/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [I see the poem or the novel ending with an open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-see-the-poem-or-the-novel-ending-with-an-open-door/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“The Time Around Scars: A girl whom I've not spoken to or shared coffee with for several years writes of an old scar. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/the-time-around-scars-a-girl-whom-i-ve-not-spoken-to-or-shared-coffee/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“- Daca ti-as incredinta viata mea, ai scapa-o pe jos. Nu-i asa?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/daca-ti-as-incredinta-viata-mea-ai-scapa-o-pe-jos-nu-i-asa/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) [Explore all 322 Michael Ondaatje quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## More Betrayal quotes > [“That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-s-the-catch-about-betrayal-of-course-that-it-feels-good-that/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Flattery looks like friendship, just like a wolf looks like a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/flattery-looks-like-friendship-just-like-a-wolf-looks-like-a-dog/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though ... betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/km-ii/there-is-no-deceit-in-death-it-delivers-precisely-what-it-has/) [KM II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/km-ii/) > [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As they say in New York, Get over it and, if you can't get over it, Get over talking about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-they-say-in-new-york-get-over-it-and-if-you-can-t-get-over-it-get/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“He returned her gaze, yearning for sentimental solace; love which emanated from a familiar source, mattered little how bedevilling. They shared an intimate moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-h-septimius/he-returned-her-gaze-yearning-for-sentimental-solace-love-which/) [A. H. Septimius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-h-septimius/) > [I was always here for you,you knew you could count on me and trust me blindly, and you knew that I would never tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayssus/i-was-always-here-for-you-you-knew-you-could-count-on-me-and-trust-me/) [Michael Hayssus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayssus/) > [Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/joy-doesn-t-betray-but-sustains-activism-and-when-you-face-a-politics/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“Betrayal and love are not mutually exclusive." (Mordred)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-mercer/betrayal-and-love-are-not-mutually-exclusive-mordred/) [Aldous Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-mercer/) > [Love comes exactly... To those who still hope, even though they've been disappointed. To those who still believe, even though they've been betrayed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mizhan/love-comes-exactly-to-those-who-still-hope-even-though-they-ve-been/) [Mizhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mizhan/) > [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. I don't believe the degree of betrayal is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-some-people-a-one-night-stand-doesn-t-make-any-difference-in-a/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Betrayal is a serious thing in this world,you know what else is serious? Being lied to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina/betrayal-is-a-serious-thing-in-this-world-you-know-what-else-is/) [Sabrina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina/) > [The greatest temptation for the like of us is: to renounce violence, to repent, to make peace with oneself. Most revolutionaries fell before this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-greatest-temptation-for-the-like-of-us-is-to-renounce-violence-to/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [“Sarai, you never know who might betray you until it’s too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/sarai-you-never-know-who-might-betray-you-until-it-s-too-late/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) [Browse all 2,050 Betrayal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are betrayals in war that are childlike compared with our human betrayals during peace. The new lovers enter the habits of the other. Things are smashed, revealed in a new light. 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