The Ancient Wisdom of War and Peace: Why World Leaders Need a Lesson from Thucydides

In a world marred by conflict and divisiveness, it’s disheartening to note how little we've evolved when it comes to the wisdom of war and peace. One thing I love about writing, especially in the realm of historical fiction, is the ability to interweave ancient wisdom into modern narratives. Often, I find myself placing age-old truths in the mouths of my characters, in the hope that they resonate with readers today.

One ancient thinker whose wisdom always feels eerily relevant is Thucydides. He once pointed out that in war, action often precedes thought. It's a disturbing truth, confirmed over millennia, that we're quick to unleash violence and slow to consider the consequences.

...when people are entering upon a war they do things the wrong way round. Action comes first, and it is only when they have already suffered that they begin to think.

This sentiment finds an echo in the modern era through Robert McNamara, as captured in Errol Morris’s film "The Fog of War." McNamara urges us to think more about killing, echoing Thucydides in a way that drives home the timeless nature of this tragic human flaw. Both thinkers converge on a critical point: the need to put more thought into strategies that involve violence as a means to an end.

The paradox of violence is that even though it's often plotted by seemingly rational minds, it can quickly turn into an emotional and reflexive act. Those who orchestrate it often fail in a fundamental aspect: setting concrete, worthy goals that enable them to channel their power into long-lasting solutions. Instead, violence morphs into an end unto itself, a self-perpetuating cycle that brings more suffering than resolution.

This cycle isn't just a cautionary tale from ancient texts or the musings of historical figures; it’s a recurring problem we're grappling with today. In my writings, I often challenge my characters—and by extension, my readers—to think deeply about the choices they make, even if the "solution" seems obvious. Contrary to platitudes about the inability of violence to solve things, in international politics, it can, provided it is coupled with a great deal of strategic reasoning.

On the lighter side, I'm close to finishing Rings of Iron, the sequal to In the Shadow of the Furies. One of the parts of that book I loved the most were the maps, which were beautifully done by A.E. Charters. They exceeded my expectations, and I'm lucky that he was available to do them again. Here is one from the upcoming book.