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The question is very understandable, but no one has found a satisfactory answer to it so far. Yes, why do they make still more gigantic planes, still heavier bombs and, at the same time, prefabricated houses for reconstruction? Why should millions be spent daily on the war and yet there's not a penny available for medical services, artists, or for poor people? Why do some people have to starve, while there are surpluses rotting in other parts of the world? Oh, why are people so crazy?
Anne Frank
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote questions the priorities of society regarding war and human welfare.

Anne Frank raises profound ethical questions about societal values, highlighting the absurdity of prioritizing military spending over crucial human needs such as healthcare, poverty alleviation, and artistic contributions. She expresses her frustration with the stark disparities in resource allocation, questioning the rationale behind allowing human suffering to persist in the face of abundance.

Themes

WarSocietyHumanityResourcesEthics

In practice

Example use cases

During a speech on humanitarian aid, this quote can illustrate the urgent need to redirect funds from military budgets to health care.

More from Anne Frank

Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!
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I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that every-thing will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more.
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