Explanation:
Sometimes one prince quarrelleth with another for fear the other should quarrel with him. Sometimes a war is o entered upon, because the enemy is too strong and sometimes because he is too weak.
Answer: These lines are extracted from chapter 5 of Part 4 of Swift's Gulliver's Travels. This extract points out different causes of war worldwide with a special reference to Europe during his time. Swift's intention here is to satirise the political atmosphere of England in particular.
In the land of the Houyhnhnms Gulliver becomes very intimate with his Houyhnhnm master due to his long time mixing with him. He tells him about the customs and trends of England and at the same time learns about the cultures in the Houyhnhnm society. In one of his conversations with his Houyhnhnm master, Gulliver tells him about the trivial cause of war in his land. He tells him that sometimes one king fights with another on account of a fear that the other would fight with him first. Sometimes war begins because the enemy is too strong and sometimes because the enemy is too weak. Sometimes our neighbours want the things which we have or have the things which we want. Poor nations are hungry and rich nations are proud. Pride and hunger always come into conflict. Thus Swift gives a masterly analysis of the various causes behind the wars.
The line contains bitter satire on kings and polities. Swift is opposed to any kind of war. That is why Gulliver depicts war as something extremely ruinous. The causes of war as analysed by Gulliver exhibit how rulers are promoted to fight by ulterior motives.
He mocks the difference in opinion which leads to the conflict. Such differences are so trivial that the conflict which results from them is simply surprising. Wars lead to destruction and death. They do no good to mankind and the world. Fear and pride yield war and suffering for the people in general. War is not related to human welfare; so it is the high time we avoided war.
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