--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On conflicts, generally speaking, the…" description: "\"On conflicts, generally speaking, the world is a hell of a lot better to live in today than it was thirty years ago, despite what's going on in Syria. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/richard-branson-256_conflict_on-conflicts-generally-speaking-the-worl_2695774.jpg" --- # On conflicts, generally speaking, the world is a hell of a… ![“On conflicts, generally speaking, the world is a hell of a lot better to live in today than it was thirty years ago, despite what's going on in Syria. There are definitely hopeful signs that the world is moving, decade by decade, in the right direction.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/richard-branson-256_conflict_on-conflicts-generally-speaking-the-worl_2695774.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/richard-branson-256_conflict_on-conflicts-generally-speaking-the-worl_2695774.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/richard-branson-256_conflict_on-conflicts-generally-speaking-the-worl_2695774.jpg) > “On conflicts, generally speaking, the world is a hell of a lot better to live in today than it was thirty years ago, despite what's going on in Syria. There are definitely hopeful signs that the world is moving, decade by decade, in the right direction.” [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues the world has improved despite current crises, noting hopeful trends over decades. **In simple terms:** The world is better now than 30 years ago. Key Takeaway Focus on long‑term progress. Themes optimism global development historical perspective hope progress Mood hopeful balanced Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - education - public health - media reporting - personal outlook Key Concepts socio‑economic trends global health political change long‑term analysis Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports global improvement? - How can we balance optimism with current crises? A Different Perspective Optimism may downplay ongoing suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Conflicts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts/) [Conflicts Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts-generally-2694438/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Despite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Hopeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopeful/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Moving Decade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-decade-2694440/) [Right direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-direction/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty/) [Thirty years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty-years/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-moving-342695/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [If you have conflicts, everything breaks down in society. Kids can't go to school. Basic health can't be looked after. Every aspect of society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/if-you-have-conflicts-everything-breaks-down-in-society-kids-can-t-go/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Conflicts often stem from a couple of leaders on both sides that are badly brought up. They'd rather go to war than compromise. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-leaders-on-both-sides-that-are/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [We all know about the big world conflicts: Israel and Palestine, Zimbabwe, and so on. But there are smaller conflicts that aren't even on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-all-know-about-the-big-world-conflicts-israel-and-palestine/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [We've all got to do everything we can to avoid conflicts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-ve-all-got-to-do-everything-we-can-to-avoid-conflicts/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [ In Syria, if \[Bashar al-\] Assad had just been a statesman and handed over the reigns in time, Syria would not be heading down… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/in-syria-if-bashar-al-assad-had-just-been-a-statesman-and-handed-over/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [In my lifetime, the world has become better, not worse. And the world is moving, very slowly but surely with more democracy and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-my-lifetime-the-world-has-become-better-not-worse-and-the-world-is/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“The train is a small world moving through a larger world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisha-cooper/the-train-is-a-small-world-moving-through-a-larger-world/) [Elisha Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisha-cooper/) > [“The world is moving so fast, progressing towards new ways of thinking and doing things. You'll be left behind if you don't adjust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitta-xinindlu/the-world-is-moving-so-fast-progressing-towards-new-ways-of-thinking/) [Mitta Xinindlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitta-xinindlu/) > [When you start working as an Internet entrepreneur, the world is moving at a million miles an hour and is changing rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-pierce/when-you-start-working-as-an-internet-entrepreneur-the-world-is/) [Brock Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-pierce/) > [“The world may be moving faster than us, but it doesn't always mean you gotta rush to catch up. As long as we're rotating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-rikasari/the-world-may-be-moving-faster-than-us-but-it-doesn-t-always-mean-you/) [Diana Rikasari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-rikasari/) > [It must be shown that self-seeking is out of fashion, and that the world is moving on to a larger conception of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manly-hall/it-must-be-shown-that-self-seeking-is-out-of-fashion-and-that-the/) [Manly Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manly-hall/) > [Our world is moving at an ever-accelerating pace, and with the advent of social media, what happens in New York now can be reported…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rose/our-world-is-moving-at-an-ever-accelerating-pace-and-with-the-advent/) [Stuart Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rose/) > [The next generation has always been and will be better than the previous one. If it is not, then the world would not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-dev/the-next-generation-has-always-been-and-will-be-better-than-the/) [Kapil Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-dev/) > [I dance because there's no greater feeling in the world than moving to a piece of music and letting the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dance-because-there-s-no-greater-feeling-in-the-world-than-moving/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And for the first time in my life, I had that feeling. You know, like the world is moving all around you, all beneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juli-baker/and-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-had-that-feeling-you-know-like/) [Juli Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juli-baker/) ## More by Richard Branson > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Fantasizing about the future is one of my favorite pastimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/fantasizing-about-the-future-is-one-of-my-favorite-pastimes/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I will work day and night to avoid failure, but if I can't, I'll pick myself up the next day. The most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-will-work-day-and-night-to-avoid-failure-but-if-i-can-t-i-ll-pick/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Tough times are inevitable in life and in business. But how you compose yourself during those times defines your spirit and will define your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/tough-times-are-inevitable-in-life-and-in-business-but-how-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [All successful people - not just entrepreneurs - have got things wrong over and over again before finding the right solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/all-successful-people-not-just-entrepreneurs-have-got-things-wrong/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [We have the enormous opportunity in our hands to make a positive difference for business, people, and the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-have-the-enormous-opportunity-in-our-hands-to-make-a-positive/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Money is a poor indicator of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/money-is-a-poor-indicator-of-success/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Business leaders take things far too seriously, and forget that most of the time people spend in their lives is at work, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/business-leaders-take-things-far-too-seriously-and-forget-that-most/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I love the freedom of movement that my phone gives me. That has definitely transformed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-love-the-freedom-of-movement-that-my-phone-gives-me-that-has/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Everything in your business can be outsourced... if you're not emotionally attached to doing it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/everything-in-your-business-can-be-outsourced-if-you-re-not/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [People have to decide on priorities if they want to get anywhere. The best lessons I learned was to just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/people-have-to-decide-on-priorities-if-they-want-to-get-anywhere-the/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [There isn't a flight goes by when I don't stare out of the window and thank my stars for what I'm seeing and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/there-isn-t-a-flight-goes-by-when-i-don-t-stare-out-of-the-window-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) [Explore all 805 Richard Branson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## More Conflict quotes > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [There is a conflict in the Middle East between two entities, and they're both right, each in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/there-is-a-conflict-in-the-middle-east-between-two-entities-and-they/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Conflict isn't negative, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-crum/conflict-isn-t-negative-it-just-is/) [Thomas Crum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-crum/) > [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [The irrepressible conflict propounded by abolitionism has produced now its legitimate fruits - disunion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-irrepressible-conflict-propounded-by-abolitionism-has-produced/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [“While there is battle and hatred men have eyes for nothing save the fact that the enemy is the cause of all the troubles;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/while-there-is-battle-and-hatred-men-have-eyes-for-nothing-save-the/) [Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/all-men-have-an-instinct-for-conflict-at-least-all-healthy-men/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) [Browse all 3,969 Conflict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On conflicts, generally speaking, the world is a hell of a lot better to live in today than it was thirty years ago, despite what's going on in Syria. 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