All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones.

"All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones." These words, spoken by the wise and sagacious Benjamin Franklin, capture the essence of the futility and cost of war. Franklin, a man whose intellect spanned across diplomacy, science, and philosophy, understood that while war might appear to be a solution to certain conflicts, it is ultimately a destructive force that offers no lasting peace. In these simple words, Franklin points to the true nature of war—not as a noble pursuit, but as an expensive and mischievous folly that harms both the victors and the vanquished. The lesson embedded within these words is timeless: the price of war, in human life, in resources, and in moral integrity, is far greater than any imagined gain.

Consider, for a moment, the ancient world, where wars were fought not just for survival, but for honor, glory, and territory. The Trojan War, as recounted in the Iliad, is a shining example of Franklin’s wisdom. The war, which was sparked by a simple dispute over love, consumed the might of Greece and Troy for a decade, leading to the death of countless warriors and the destruction of two great cities. In the end, after all the bloodshed, the Greeks achieved their goal—victory—but what did they gain? The victory was hollow, for the destruction wrought upon Troy was so complete that nothing of value remained. The war was a mischievous folly, causing immense suffering without any true benefit. In this tale, we see that the cost of war often far exceeds the rewards, a lesson that Franklin understood well.

Moving from the ancient to the modern world, the First World War serves as another grim reminder of Franklin's truth. The war, which began as a political dispute among the powers of Europe, became an unmitigated disaster, costing millions of lives and reshaping the world in ways no one had foreseen. The trenches of France, where soldiers lived in mud and despair, became the ultimate symbol of the futility of war. The war achieved little in terms of lasting peace, and the Treaty of Versailles, which was supposed to bring resolution, instead sowed the seeds of further conflict, leading to the Second World War just two decades later. The grand ambitions of the combatants—whether for territory, prestige, or national superiority—were ultimately exposed as mere illusions. The war was not a glorious pursuit but a folly of unimaginable scale, leaving behind only destruction and resentment.

The Second World War offers an even more stark example of how war escalates the cost of folly. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which brought a swift end to the war in the Pacific, demonstrated the ultimate expense of war—nuclear devastation. The bombings killed thousands of civilians, created lasting radiation effects, and left psychological scars on generations. The victory gained through this act was empty, for the destruction wrought was so total that the entire world was forever altered by the specter of nuclear weapons. In the years following, arms races, fear of nuclear annihilation, and the Cold War became the new global conflicts. Franklin’s words ring true: war, even when it seems to bring victory, is ultimately a mischievous folly, creating new problems that far exceed the original cause of conflict.

In our own time, the lesson of Franklin’s insight is ever more urgent. Consider the wars in the Middle East, where Iraq, Afghanistan, and other nations have been ravaged by endless conflict in recent decades. The cost of these wars has been astronomical—not only in the lives lost but in the resources drained, the displacement of peoples, and the long-lasting instability they have caused. Political leaders may point to these wars as necessary actions in the name of freedom or security, but the long-term consequences paint a far bleaker picture. What is gained by military action is often lost in the costs of rebuilding, in the human toll, and in the continued suffering of those caught in the crossfire. These conflicts are, as Franklin foresaw, expensive and mischievous, leaving behind no lasting peace, only new divisions and new scars.

Franklin’s wisdom speaks not just to the cost of war, but to the moral responsibility of those who would lead nations into battle. War is not something to be entered lightly; it is a grave undertaking, one that carries with it consequences far beyond the battlefield. To truly lead, one must seek out peace and diplomacy, not war and destruction. As leaders, we must learn to resolve conflicts through dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. The true strength of a nation lies not in its ability to wage war, but in its ability to foster peace and maintain human dignity without resorting to violence.

The practical lesson for us today is clear: we must seek to understand the cost of war—not just in terms of soldiers and weapons, but in the long-lasting effects on families, communities, and entire nations. The true strength lies in our ability to avoid war, to negotiate, and to work toward peaceful solutions, no matter how difficult the path may seem. In our personal lives, we can apply this lesson by seeking peace in our own conflicts, using understanding and compassion rather than resorting to anger and hostility. War, in all its forms, is a folly, and the key to a lasting world of peace lies not in victory by force, but in victory through wisdom, restraint, and collaboration. Let us carry Franklin’s wisdom forward, teaching future generations the value of peace, and ensuring that the mischief of war never touches our hearts again.