Grain spills from a burlap sack beside a small shield on a dark teal surface.

Original artwork, not a still

Douglas MacArthur

Wars are caused by undefended wealth.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

MacArthur, in this attributed line, blames war on wealth left unprotected. Riches without defence become tempting targets. It's his view that weakness invites aggression, a blunt cause-and-effect claim rather than an established fact about why wars start.

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