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I find war detestable but those who praise it without participating in it even more so.
Romain Rolland
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote criticizes those who glorify war without understanding its true horrors.

Romain Rolland expresses a strong disdain for war while emphasizing that the real issue lies with those who romanticize it without having experienced its brutal realities. He suggests that praising war is a shallow and irresponsible act, as only those who endure its consequences can truly grasp its detestable nature.

Themes

WarPraiseHorrorParticipationCriticism

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on military history, this quote can highlight the dangers of glorifying war.

More from Romain Rolland

One makes mistakes; that is life. But it is never a mistake to have loved.
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The greatest human ideal is the great cause of bringing together the thoughts of Europe and Asia; the great soul of India will topple our world.
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Discussion is impossible with someone who claims not to seek the truth, but already to possess it.
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Skepticism, riddling the faith of yesterday, prepared the way for the faith of tomorrow.
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Each man must learn his own ideal and try to accomplish it: that is a surer way of progress than to take the ideas of another.
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The true Vedantic spirit does not start out with a system of preconceived ideas. It possesses absolute liberty and unrivalled courage among religions with regard to the facts to be observed and the diverse hypotheses it has laid down for their coordination. Never having been hampered by a priestly order, each man has been entirely free to search wherever he pleased for the spiritual explanation of the spectacle of the universe.
Romain RollandRead

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