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Whence comes war and fighting, and factions? Whence but from the body and the lust of the body? Wars are occasioned by the love of money, and money has to be acquired for the same and service of the body.
Plato
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that wars and conflicts arise from human desires and materialism.

Plato highlights the underlying motivations behind war and strife, pointing to the base desires of the human body, particularly the lust for physical pleasure and wealth. He argues that these desires compel individuals and factions to engage in conflict, as they pursue the acquisition of money which is deemed necessary for satisfying their bodily needs. This observation serves as a critique of how materialism and physical desires can lead to societal discord and violence.

Themes

WarConflictMoneyDesireMaterialism

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about the impact of greed on society, one might use this quote to illustrate how material desires lead to conflict.

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