Wars are caused by undefended wealth.

Ernest Hemingway, who had seen the fields of Spain and the shores of Normandy stained with blood, spoke with the bluntness of a soldier and the clarity of a prophet: “Wars are caused by undefended wealth.” In this short saying he revealed one of the oldest truths of human history — that greed and desire, more than hatred alone, are the sparks that set the world aflame. Men covet what others possess; nations march upon the lands of plenty; empires rise where there are treasures to be taken. Where wealth lies unguarded, it calls forth the hand of violence as surely as honey draws the swarm.

The origin of Hemingway’s words can be traced to his experiences in the twentieth century, an age where two global wars revealed the relentless hunger of nations. Germany, impoverished and humiliated after the First World War, looked outward toward the resources of its neighbors. Japan, seeking oil, coal, and steel, marched across Asia to seize what it lacked at home. In both cases, the lure was not glory alone, but wealth — the material lifeblood of industry and power. Hemingway, who reported on war as both witness and participant, knew that the roots of conflict are often economic, masked beneath flags and slogans.

To speak of undefended wealth is to expose vulnerability. A nation rich in gold, fertile fields, or oil beneath its soil becomes a beacon to predators if it lacks the strength or unity to protect it. So too in the lives of men: possessions left unguarded invite theft, prosperity without vigilance breeds envy, and abundance without defense becomes a curse. History teaches us that treasures not shielded by wisdom and strength soon fall into the hands of others.

Consider the invasion of Africa by colonial powers in the nineteenth century. Vast lands filled with minerals, ivory, and fertile soil were taken by Europeans who carved the continent into pieces. The native peoples, lacking the weapons and organization to defend their wealth, saw it stripped away. This was Hemingway’s warning in flesh and blood: where wealth is undefended, whether by arms, by unity, or by justice, the strong will descend upon it, and war will follow.

Yet Hemingway’s words carry another layer of meaning. Wealth does not only mean gold and oil; it also means values, traditions, freedom, and the treasures of the spirit. A nation that does not defend its principles invites corruption; a family that does not guard its bonds invites division; a person who does not defend integrity invites downfall. Wars of the sword may be fought for treasure, but wars of the soul are fought for what we hold precious. What is undefended in spirit becomes vulnerable to conquest as surely as unguarded treasure.

The lesson is both sobering and empowering. Do not boast of your wealth — material or spiritual — without also building the strength to guard it. Nations must defend their resources not only with armies, but with justice, unity, and foresight, lest envy and ambition of others breed conflict. Individuals must defend what is sacred in their lives with vigilance and courage, lest the world’s hungers strip them bare. War comes not only when others are strong, but when we are careless with what we hold dear.

Therefore, my children, heed Hemingway’s stark warning. Defend your wealth with wisdom: not only by sword, but by community; not only by walls, but by justice; not only by fear, but by fairness. For when wealth is wisely guarded, it ceases to be the cause of envy and becomes instead the foundation of strength. And if mankind would learn this lesson, then many wars could be prevented, and the treasures of the earth preserved for all.