Two great and terrible truths of war are these: War is easy to

In the vast span of human history, where the tide of war has shaped the fates of nations, there exist certain truths that are eternal—truths that echo through the ages, passed down from the ruins of battlefields to the hearts of those who live to remember. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, in her reflection, brings us face to face with these truths: "Two great and terrible truths of war are these: War is easy to enter into, but difficult to end. And ultimately, in war there are no winners." These words resonate with the painful reality that war, though often ignited by a swift spark of anger or fear, is a force that proves far harder to extinguish once set into motion. It is a beast that demands sacrifices, devours its children, and leaves nothing but sorrow in its wake.

The first truth Divakaruni shares with us speaks to the ease with which nations and leaders can be swept into war. War, like a storm, often begins with a single act, a moment of provocation, or a shift in the winds of power. It is easy to enter into war, for the initial call to arms is often seductive. Throughout history, empires have risen on the backs of war, from the Romans who expanded their territories through conquest, to the Napoleonic Wars that reshaped the map of Europe. Each of these conflicts began with bold declarations of glory and victory, with leaders rallying their people to a common cause. But as the ancient Greek historian Thucydides so wisely noted in his account of the Peloponnesian War, the cycle of war is like a relentless current—once it begins, it sweeps all into its grasp, and few can control its course.

The truth that war is easy to enter into is evident in countless historical examples. Take, for instance, the First World War—a war sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, a single tragic event that set off a chain reaction of alliances, entanglements, and mobilizations. Within weeks, much of Europe was plunged into one of the deadliest conflicts the world had ever known. Nations rushed to war, believing they would achieve glory and honor, yet the human cost was unimaginable. Generals, once celebrated for their victories, became the faces of tragedy. The soldiers who fought in the trenches found themselves not as heroes, but as pawns in a senseless game, their lives extinguished in the muck and blood of war. This is the tragedy of war—it begins with zeal, but it always ends in anguish.

Yet, Divakaruni also speaks of the second truth: that once the storm of war has been unleashed, it is far harder to bring it to an end. This is the terrible reality that every warrior—ancient or modern—comes to learn: the cost of peace is often greater than the cost of war. In the ancient world, after years of fighting in the Trojan War, the Greeks found that they could not easily return to their homes. Odysseus, the great hero of the war, was forced to wander for years before he could return to his family. Similarly, in the modern era, the Vietnam War lasted for nearly two decades, and its scars are still felt today. The U.S., despite its superior military strength, could not win the war. Peace was elusive, and the toll on both soldiers and civilians was immeasurable.

In the end, Divakaruni’s second truth rings loud and clear: there are no winners in war. The very nature of war is such that no one emerges unscathed. In the ancient Roman Empire, generals who returned victorious from war were celebrated with grand triumphs, yet the true cost of these victories was the destruction of the lives of the conquered, the collapse of families, and the erosion of the very values they fought to protect. The victories that were celebrated in Rome were built on the bones of those who had been crushed beneath the weight of empire. In the modern world, this truth holds as well. The Cold War, fought with nuclear threats and ideological struggles, left both the Soviet Union and the United States in psychological ruin, their people haunted by the tension and fear of mutual destruction.

The lesson we must take from these truths is one of profound sobriety and reflection. War, in its momentary clarity, may seem like the solution to our problems, a way to settle conflicts and assert our will. But history teaches us that war is never the final solution—it is merely the beginning of a longer struggle. The ancient wisdom of Sun Tzu, in The Art of War, reminds us that the greatest victory is the one won without battle, the peace achieved through diplomacy, understanding, and mutual respect. This wisdom has never been more relevant than in our modern age, where the tools of destruction are more deadly than ever before.

In our own lives, we must strive to be the keepers of peace, the advocates of understanding, and the champions of diplomacy. War may be easy to start, but the real victory lies in our ability to avoid it—to find common ground, to listen with empathy, and to seek solutions that do not involve the shedding of blood. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s words should serve as a guiding light for future generations, teaching them that the true strength of humanity lies not in our ability to fight, but in our ability to come together, to heal, and to create a world where war is but a memory—one we never have to repeat. May we all honor this wisdom, taking action in our daily lives to build the peace we so desperately need.