What vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility; what an extension of agriculture even to the tops of our mountains; what rivers rendered navigable, or joined by canals; what bridges, aqueducts, new roads, and other public works, edifices, and improvements might not have been obtained by spending those millions in doing good, which in the last war have been spent in doing mischief.

Summary

This quote highlights the opportunity cost of spending money on wars instead of investing it in public welfare. It suggests that if the vast sums of money allocated to wars were instead used for works of public utility, society would have experienced immense advancements in conveniences and comforts of living. The quote envisions the potential expansion of agriculture, the creation of navigable waterways, the construction of new infrastructure, and various improvements that could have been made for the collective benefit rather than being wasted on destructive conflicts. It serves as a reminder of the lost potential resulting from prioritizing war over societal progress.