These conflicts of interest can bring about gradually such a state of feeling that "even the most civilized nations may burn with passionate hatred of each other." It is an unpleasant fact for the philosopher, for the social reformer, to contemplate, but history repeats and repeats the lesson. Still more, "It is quite possible for such a state of feeling to exist between two States that a very trifling political motive for war may produce an effect quite disproportionate--in fact, a perfect explosion." "War is a wonderful trinity, composed of the original violence of its elements--hatred and animosity--which may be looked upon as blind instinct; of the play of probabilities and chance, which make it a free activity of the soul; and of the subordinate nature of a political instrument, by which it belongs purely to the reason. "The first of these three phases concerns more the people; the second, more the general and his army; the third more the Government. _The passions which break forth in war must already have a latent existence in the peoples._ "These three tendencies are deeply rooted in the nature of the subject. A theory which would leave any one of them out of account would immediately become involved in such a contradiction with the reality, that it might be regarded as destroyed at once by that alone."[14] Clausewitz is the great thinker, the great realist, the great philosopher of war. His aim was, free from all bias, to get at _the truth of things_. His view of war as a social act, as part of the intercourse of nations, so that occasional warlike struggles can no more be avoided than occasional commercial struggles, is a view which requires to be most carefully pondered over by every statesman. It is based upon the essential fundamental characteristics of human nature, which do not alter. It is not to be lightly set aside by declamation about the blessings of peace, the evils of war, the burden of armaments, and such-like sophistries. To submit without a struggle to injustice or to the destruction of one's vital interests is not in passionate human nature. Nor will it ever be in the nature of a virile people. It is indeed to be most sincerely hoped that _arbitration_ will be resorted to more and more as a means of peacefully settling all non-vital causes of dispute. But arbitration has its limits. For _no great nation will ever submit to arbitration any interest that it regards as absolutely vital_. The view of war, therefore, as a social act, as part of the intercourse of nations, with all that it implies, appears to be the only one which a statesman, however much he may regret the fact, can take. It has, therefore, been brought forward here at once, as it underlies the whole subject and is essential to all clear thought thereon. So much for the influence of Public Opinion in producing war. Now for its influence in and during war. "There are three principal objects in carrying on war," says Clausewitz.