How then to enforce peace? Not by reason, certainly, nor by education. If a man could not look at the fact of peace and the fact of war and choose the former in preference to the latter, what additional argument could persuade him? What could be more eloquent as a condemnation of war than war itself? What tremendous feat of dialectic could carry with it a tenth the power of a single gutted ship with its ghastly cargo?
Interpretation
The quote suggests that personal choice for peace cannot be swayed by reasoning or education alone, as the stark realities of war speak for themselves.
Isaac Asimov emphasizes the futility of trying to convince someone to choose peace over war through reason or education, arguing that the brutal realities of conflict, such as the devastation left behind, hold more persuasive power. He questions the effectiveness of dialectical arguments when faced with the irrefutable evidence of war's consequences, suggesting that one's personal experiences and observations are far more impactful than any philosophical discussion.
In practice
In a speech advocating for anti-war measures, one might refer to this quote to highlight the futility of conflict.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
The individual is not only best qualified to provide his own personal defense, he is the only one qualified to do so: and his right to do so is guaranteed by the Constitution.
The more we can give in our silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.
I believe that we must maintain pride in the knowledge that the actions we take, based on our own decisions and choices as individuals, link directly to the magnificent challenge of transforming human history.
One should absorb the colour of life, but one should never remember its details. Details are always vulgar.
Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.
The only journey is the one within.
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