--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After a few generations of warfare…" description: "\"“After a few generations of warfare, though, the fanatics were either killed along with their backups, or were persuaded to modify their positions. Mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/walter-jon-williams-11442_war_after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-thoug_2164903.jpg" --- # After a few generations of warfare, though, the fanatics… ![“After a few generations of warfare, though, the fanatics were either killed along with their backups, or were persuaded to modify their positions. Most of the religious pockets had evolved into low-density lands devoted to agriculture, abundance, popular piety, and toleration.” quote by Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/walter-jon-williams-11442_war_after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-thoug_2164903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/walter-jon-williams-11442_war_after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-thoug_2164903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/walter-jon-williams-11442_war_after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-thoug_2164903.jpg) > ““After a few generations of warfare, though, the fanatics were either killed along with their backups, or were persuaded to modify their positions.  Most of the religious pockets had evolved into low-density lands devoted to agriculture, abundance, popular piety, and toleration. ”” [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War eliminates fanatics; religious groups evolve into peaceful, agricultural societies with tolerance. **In simple terms:** War ends fanaticism; societies become tolerant agrarian communities. Key Takeaway Promote tolerance and sustainable living. Themes war religion societal change agriculture Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - post‑war reconstruction - community building - policy planning Key Concepts tolerance sustainability population dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies encourage tolerance after conflict? - What role does agriculture play in peacebuilding? A Different Perspective Transition may face resistance from entrenched ideologies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fanatics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanatics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The history of the world is like: He kills me, I kill him, only with different cosmetics and different castings. So in 2001, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-history-of-the-world-is-like-he-kills-me-i-kill-him-only-with/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Wherever Christianity has produced what historians call a 'popular piety' claiming to be part of the national heritage, anti-Christian reaction among the intelligentsia has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/wherever-christianity-has-produced-what-historians-call-a-popular/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Popular piety is one of our strengths because it consists of prayers deeply rooted in people's hearts. These prayers even move the hearts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/popular-piety-is-one-of-our-strengths-because-it-consists-of-prayers/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The emphasis on the "peripheries" is also a distinctively "Franciscan" way of expressing the pope's respect for untutored popular piety - a respect, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weigel/the-emphasis-on-the-peripheries-is-also-a-distinctively-franciscan/) [George Weigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weigel/) > [“The rising influence of lay piety is particularly marked upon the Mariological controversies of the late medieval period. Two rival positions developed: the maculist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-rising-influence-of-lay-piety-is-particularly-marked-upon-the/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [“Don't assume you understand Naskar, unless you've left your seat to the elderly on a bus, joined the religious festivities of a neighbor from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/don-t-assume-you-understand-naskar-unless-you-ve-left-your-seat-to/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Fanatics are those who, when following a doctrine becomes inconvenient, make up rules of their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathryn-louis/fanatics-are-those-who-when-following-a-doctrine-becomes-inconvenient/) [Cathryn Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathryn-louis/) > [I'm a London fanatic. That's my city. I love being from there, you don't appreciate it until you go out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/i-m-a-london-fanatic-that-s-my-city-i-love-being-from-there-you-don-t/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [“Fanatics don't wanna see anything from another standpoints.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/fanatics-don-t-wanna-see-anything-from-another-standpoints/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Fanatics are picturesque, mankind would rather see gestures than listen to reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/fanatics-are-picturesque-mankind-would-rather-see-gestures-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Very few minds are strictly normal, and all religious fanatics are marked with abnormalities of various sorts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/very-few-minds-are-strictly-normal-and-all-religious-fanatics-are/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [ Harvey \[Weinstein\] didn't want to release \[MY SON THE FANATIC\]; he held it for two years because he wanted a happy ending, although I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/harvey-weinstein-didn-t-want-to-release-my-son-the-fanatic-he-held-it/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [I'm pretty much an open book. I am a fanatic golfer and golf nut. If I have three free hours any day, my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-m-pretty-much-an-open-book-i-am-a-fanatic-golfer-and-golf-nut-if-i/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [“Don't assume you understand Naskar (Sonnet 2972) Naskar Science is Naskar Theology is Naskar Poetry is Naskar Philosophy - and do not even dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/don-t-assume-you-understand-naskar-sonnet-2972-naskar-science-is/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Walter Jon Williams > [“I don’t believe the rogue has freedom.  I think it is following the direction of humans.” “Why do you think so?” “Because I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/i-don-t-believe-the-rogue-has-freedom-i-think-it-is-following-the/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [Everything that you read is an influence on everything you write, and you want to draw as many elements into your work as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/everything-that-you-read-is-an-influence-on-everything-you-write-and/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [That's why editors and publishers will never be obsolete: a reader wants someone with taste and authority to point them in the direction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/that-s-why-editors-and-publishers-will-never-be-obsolete-a-reader/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [I've experienced writer's block, but never for more than a few days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/i-ve-experienced-writer-s-block-but-never-for-more-than-a-few-days/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [“Gabriel flashed him the one-fingered Mudra of Contempt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/gabriel-flashed-him-the-one-fingered-mudra-of-contempt/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [“When you revealed that the Rani was in fact the Nagi," Charlie said, "the players collectively pissed their pants." "I'd rather they creamed their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/when-you-revealed-that-the-rani-was-in-fact-the-nagi-charlie-said-the/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [The Internet offers an interesting combination of advertising and community - by participating in the community you can become an advertisement for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/the-internet-offers-an-interesting-combination-of-advertising-and/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [I'm not afraid of werewolves or vampires or haunted hotels, I'm afraid of what real human beings to do other real human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/i-m-not-afraid-of-werewolves-or-vampires-or-haunted-hotels-i-m-afraid/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [The mass-market paperback, for one, is too expensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/the-mass-market-paperback-for-one-is-too-expensive/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [Try to meet as many authors, agents, and editors as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/try-to-meet-as-many-authors-agents-and-editors-as-you-can/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [I want a platform that, like a book or a magazine, I can carry into the bath or leave at the beach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/i-want-a-platform-that-like-a-book-or-a-magazine-i-can-carry-into-the/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [“I can't help but wonder how the old Empire would have handled the crisis. I hope you will forgive my partisan attitude but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/i-can-t-help-but-wonder-how-the-old-empire-would-have-handled-the/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [I wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/i-wanted-to-be-an-author-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [Working within the limitations of the shared world generally made the writing easier, because I didn't have to invent any of the characters or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/working-within-the-limitations-of-the-shared-world-generally-made-the/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [Being a writer was never a choice, it was an irresistible compulsion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/being-a-writer-was-never-a-choice-it-was-an-irresistible-compulsion/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) [Explore all 60 Walter Jon Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) ## More Fanatics quotes > [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [I'm pretty much an open book. I am a fanatic golfer and golf nut. If I have three free hours any day, my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-m-pretty-much-an-open-book-i-am-a-fanatic-golfer-and-golf-nut-if-i/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [ Harvey \[Weinstein\] didn't want to release \[MY SON THE FANATIC\]; he held it for two years because he wanted a happy ending, although I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/harvey-weinstein-didn-t-want-to-release-my-son-the-fanatic-he-held-it/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [Very few minds are strictly normal, and all religious fanatics are marked with abnormalities of various sorts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/very-few-minds-are-strictly-normal-and-all-religious-fanatics-are/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [Fanatics are picturesque, mankind would rather see gestures than listen to reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/fanatics-are-picturesque-mankind-would-rather-see-gestures-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Fanatics are those who, when following a doctrine becomes inconvenient, make up rules of their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathryn-louis/fanatics-are-those-who-when-following-a-doctrine-becomes-inconvenient/) [Cathryn Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathryn-louis/) > [“Don't assume you understand Naskar, unless you've left your seat to the elderly on a bus, joined the religious festivities of a neighbor from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/don-t-assume-you-understand-naskar-unless-you-ve-left-your-seat-to/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Don't assume you understand Naskar (Sonnet 2972) Naskar Science is Naskar Theology is Naskar Poetry is Naskar Philosophy - and do not even dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/don-t-assume-you-understand-naskar-sonnet-2972-naskar-science-is/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I'm a London fanatic. That's my city. I love being from there, you don't appreciate it until you go out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/i-m-a-london-fanatic-that-s-my-city-i-love-being-from-there-you-don-t/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [“Fanatics don't wanna see anything from another standpoints.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/fanatics-don-t-wanna-see-anything-from-another-standpoints/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [One thing is clear, the president of North Vietnam is not a fanatic. He is a very strong and determined man, but capable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-niemoller/one-thing-is-clear-the-president-of-north-vietnam-is-not-a-fanatic-he/) [Martin Niemoller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-niemoller/) > [Fanatics can justify practically any atrocity to themselves. The more untenable their position becomes, the harder they hold to it, and the worse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/fanatics-can-justify-practically-any-atrocity-to-themselves-the-more/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [How do we deal with not just the acts of violence, but the extremist ideology that lies behind them? Because though the numbers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/how-do-we-deal-with-not-just-the-acts-of-violence-but-the-extremist/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Living more lives than one, knowing people of all classes, all shades of opinion, monarchists, republicans, socialists, anarchists, has had a salutary effect on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rheta-childe-dorr/living-more-lives-than-one-knowing-people-of-all-classes-all-shades/) [Rheta Childe Dorr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rheta-childe-dorr/) > [If you go looking for loonies and religious fanatics and dropouts and freaks, I dare say you'll find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/if-you-go-looking-for-loonies-and-religious-fanatics-and-dropouts-and/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) [Browse all 294 Fanatics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanatics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“After a few generations of warfare, though, the fanatics were either killed along with their backups, or were persuaded to modify their positions.  Most of the religious pockets had evolved into low-density lands devoted to agriculture, abundance, popular piety, and toleration. ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Jon Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-though-the-fanatics-were-either/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fanatics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-though-the-fanatics-were-either/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/walter-jon-williams-11442_war_after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-thoug_2164903.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/walter-jon-williams-11442_war_after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-thoug_2164903.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/walter-jon-williams-11442_war_after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-thoug_2164903.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After a few generations of warfare, though, the fanatics were either killed along with their backups, or…” — Walter Jon Williams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Walter Jon Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“After a few generations of warfare,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-though-the-fanatics-were-either/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/after-a-few-generations-of-warfare-though-the-fanatics-were-either/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```