Quote by Andreas Gryphius: “We sigh for peace, and yet we prepare for war.”

Gryphius observes a tragic human paradox: despite yearning for tranquility, people perpetually engage in conflict. This highlights the deep-seated contradiction in human nature, leading to unending cycles of violence and desire for peace.

From his tragedy 'Leo Armenius,' this quote reflects the grim reality of Europe after the Thirty Years' War. Despite the continent's exhaustion from decades of conflict, the seeds of new wars were already being sown, a testament to enduring human folly.

German Baroque poet and playwright whose work was shaped by the devastation of the Thirty Years' War. His sonnets are among the finest in the German language, combining intense religious feeling with a preoccupation with transience, death, and the futility of earthly ambition.