What’s going on outside, Ravic?” “Nothing new, Kate. The world goes on eagerly preparing for suicide and at the same time deluding itself about what it’s doing.” “Will there be war?” “Everyone knows that there will be war. What one does not yet know is when. Everyone expects a miracle.” Ravic smiled. “Never before have I seen so many politicians who believe in miracles as at present in France and England. And never so few as in Germany.” She remained lying silent for a while. “To think that it should be possible–” she said then. “Yes– it seems so impossible that it will happen some day. Just because one considers it so impossible and doesn’t protect oneself against it. Erich Maria Remarque
About This Quote

Rudyard Kipling, in this quote, is warning the reader about the dangers of war. And he is also advocating for preparedness, or prevention, of conflict. He is saying that it is so easy to believe that war is inevitable that we don't take any precautions to prevent it. Rather than taking precautions now by learning how to live with war, we hope for a miracle that will prevent war.

This suggests that just because you think something is impossible doesn't mean that it can't happen. If you are not prepared for war, then it will happen to you. And if you are not prepared for war, then you will be the one who suffers the consequences of the war.

Source: Arch Of Triumph: A Novel Of A Man Without A Country

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  1. A crude age. Peace is stabilized with cannon and bombers, humanity with concentration camps and pogroms. We're living in a time when all standards are turned upside-down, Kern. Today the aggressor is the shepherd of peace, and the beaten and hunted are the troublemakers of...
  2. Today the aggressor is the shepherd of peace, and the beaten and hunted are the troublemakers of the world. What's more, there are whole races who believe it!
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