Then what explains war among states? Rousseau's answer is really that war occurs because there is nothing to prevent it.

In a zero-sum game, the problem is entirely one of distribution, not at all one of production.

External pressure seems to produce internal unity.

The transitory interests of royal houses may be advanced in war; the real interests of all people are furthered by the peace.

Each man does seek his own interest, but, unfortunately, not according to the dictates of reason.

Asking who won a given war, someone has said, is like asking who won the San Francisco earthquake. That in war there is no victory but only varying degrees of defeat is a proposition that has gained increasing acceptance in the twentieth century.

It is not true that were the Soviet Union to disappear the remaining states could easily live in peace.