To deal with the true causes of war one must begin by recognizing as of prime relevancy to the solution of the problem the familiar fact that civilization is a partial, incomplete, and, to a great extent, superficial modification of barbarism.
Interpretation
Civilization is merely an advanced form of human behavior that still contains underlying primitive instincts.
Elihu Root’s quote suggests that in order to truly address the root causes of war, one must understand that civilization is not fundamentally different from barbarism; rather, it is an alteration of it. He emphasizes that the complexities of human society can often mask deeper, inherent tendencies towards conflict and primal behavior, which must be acknowledged to find viable solutions to war.
In practice
During a lecture on international relations, one might use this quote to highlight the historical roots of conflict.
The methods of peace propaganda which aim at establishing peace doctrine by argument and by creating a feeling favorable to peace in general seem to fall short of reaching the springs of human action and of dealing with the causes of the conduct which they seek to modify.
It is not uncommon in modern times to see governments straining every nerve to keep the peace, and the people whom they represent, with patriotic enthusiasm and resentment over real or fancied wrongs, urging them forward to war.
If there is any principle of the Constitution that more imperatively calls for attachment than any other it is the principle of free thought, not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought that we hate.
Seeing the lightest and gayest purple was then most in fashion, he would always wear that which was the nearest black; and he would often go out of doors, after his morning meal, without either shoes or tunic; not that he sought vain-glory from such novelties, but he would accustom himself to be ashamed only of what deserves shame, and to despise all other sorts of disgrace.
Food prices are often kept artificially high. The result is that the Millennium Development Goals set out by the United Nations at the start of the new millennium are not being reached. Fine words have not yet been turned into deeds.
One should never put on one's best trousers to go out to fight for freedom.
He wanted to be where no one would know who he was. He wanted to escape from himself.
Every nation has the right to demand proper treatment and no country should violate the territory of any other country.
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