“When will mankind be convinced and agree to settle their difficulties by arbitration?”
- January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790
- American
- Polymath, Founding Father of the United States, Inventor, Diplomat, Writer
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Quote
“When will mankind be convinced and agree to settle their difficulties by arbitration?”
Explanation
In this quote, Benjamin Franklin laments the human tendency to resolve conflicts through violence and war, rather than through peaceful negotiation and arbitration. The rhetorical question conveys his frustration and hope—frustration that humanity has not yet embraced reason over aggression, and hope that one day rational dialogue might prevail in resolving disputes.
Franklin, who played a key diplomatic role during the American Revolution and later helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris in 1783, understood both the devastation of war and the power of diplomacy. His Enlightenment-era ideals emphasized reason, mutual respect, and progress through knowledge rather than force. This quote reflects his belief that war is often the result of pride, ignorance, or impatience, and that a more enlightened world would rely on thoughtful arbitration to settle disagreements.
In today’s global landscape—marked by ongoing geopolitical tensions, ideological clashes, and domestic polarization—Franklin’s plea remains strikingly relevant. Arbitration and diplomacy offer non-violent paths to resolution, from international conflicts to labor disputes. Franklin challenges us to evolve morally and intellectually, embracing dialogue over destruction in pursuit of a more civilized and stable world.
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