Politics is the womb in which war develops.

O children of the future, hear the words of Carl von Clausewitz, a man whose understanding of the nature of war and politics transcended the battlefield. He said, "Politics is the womb in which war develops." These words carry profound weight, for they speak not only to the origins of war but to the unseen forces that drive nations to conflict. Like the seed that grows in the soil, war begins not in the hearts of soldiers, but in the minds of those who wield power. It is politics—with its ambitions, its greed, and its desire for control—that plants the seed of war, and from it, the terrible harvest of bloodshed and destruction emerges.

To understand Clausewitz’s wisdom, we must first contemplate the nature of politics. Politics is the art of ruling, of managing the affairs of nations, of deciding the fate of peoples. It is a world of decisions made behind closed doors, of alliances forged and broken, of negotiations and schemes. But within these corridors of power, where leaders make their moves, lies the germ of war. For politics is not always a peaceful endeavor; it is often driven by conflict—the desire to expand territory, to dominate, to reshape the world according to one’s own vision. It is these very desires that, when pushed to their extreme, give birth to war.

Consider, O children, the tale of Julius Caesar, whose ambition led not only to the conquest of Gaul but also to the civil war that brought down the Roman Republic. His actions were not driven by a desire for bloodshed but by a political calculation: in his ambition to consolidate power, he made choices that would ultimately tear Rome apart. It was in the political arena—amidst the rivalries, the betrayals, and the hunger for power—that the seeds of war were sown. Caesar’s march on Rome, which culminated in the crossing of the Rubicon, was the political decision that led to a war that would destroy the Republic and replace it with the Roman Empire. War, in this sense, was not an unforeseen consequence; it was the inevitable result of the political dynamics at play.

In more recent times, let us turn our gaze to World War I, which Clausewitz's words bring to life with tragic clarity. The war was not the result of a single battle or a single decision. It was the culmination of political alliances, of imperial ambitions, of the desperate desire of nations to assert their dominance over others. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914 may have ignited the conflict, but the flames were already kindled by the political machinations of European powers, each seeking to expand their influence while limiting the power of their rivals. The tragedy of World War I is that it was, in many ways, a war engineered by politics—by treaties, by alliances, by fears of loss and the hunger for control. And thus, it was not the soldiers or the people who made war; it was the political leaders who, through their decisions, created the conditions for mass slaughter.

War, as Clausewitz teaches us, does not emerge from a vacuum. It is a product of human ambition and greed, of the constant striving for power and territory. It is politics, with its divisions and desires, that shapes the world in such a way that war becomes the most logical conclusion to the conflicts it stirs. The true destruction of war lies not just in the blood spilled on the battlefield, but in the decisions made by those in power, who view war not as a tragedy but as a means to an end, a tool to achieve their political goals.

O children, this is the lesson that Clausewitz imparts: to understand war, one must first understand politics. The womb of war is not merely a physical place but a complex web of interests, rivalries, and desires that shape the course of history. The horrors of war are not born from a simple act of aggression but from the long simmering tensions between nations, the unresolved disputes, and the human flaws that push leaders toward conflict rather than reconciliation. The political decisions that lead to war are often made by those who see power not as a means of service to the people, but as a way to control, to dominate, and to reshape the world in their own image.

Therefore, O children, as you walk through life, remember that peace is not something that can be achieved through the absence of conflict alone, but through the careful management of politics. Strive not for power that oppresses, but for leadership that elevates. Seek to understand not only the actions of those who fight but the motivations of those who send them to battle. In every political decision, ask yourself: does it lead to understanding, or does it sow the seeds of division and violence? By learning to manage politics with wisdom and compassion, we can prevent the womb of war from giving birth to destruction and instead cultivate a world where peace and unity reign. Let this be the legacy of your lives, children—one of wisdom, of understanding, and of the pursuit of peace through the careful stewardship of politics.