An apology offered and, equally important, received is a step towards reconciliation and, sometimes, recompense. Without that process, hurts can rankle and fester and erupt into their own hatreds and wrongdoings.
Margaret MacmillanRead
It is true that large parts of the world have not had to endure state-to-state wars for decades. The majority of the world's nations have also been spared the scourge of civil wars, although many have known violence from revolutionary insurrection.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how many nations have experienced a long period without major wars, suggesting a relative era of peace despite ongoing violence in some areas.
In this quote, Margaret Macmillan reflects on the global context of peace, noting that while major state-to-state wars and civil wars have significantly decreased in various parts of the world, violence still exists through insurrections and revolutionary struggles. This observation invites a recognition of the complexities of peace, implying that while absence of large-scale conflicts is notable, there remain underlying tensions and issues that require attention.
Themes
PeaceViolenceInsurrectionWarNations
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about global stability, one might use this quote to illustrate how nations are finding alternatives to warfare.
More from Margaret Macmillan
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War is a crucial, deeply ingrained part of human history. It has to be understood.
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There was that argument that if we had more women in positions of authority, the world would be a nicer place. And then we got Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Indira Gandhi. When women become acclimatised to war, they can become every bit as ruthless as men.
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Theodore Roosevelt's policy to build a two-ocean navy confirmed that the old-style isolationism of the founders had not survived the modern, increasingly globalized world.
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If we don't take responsibility for each other, it seems to me the future is going to be even bleaker.
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