He said that war had destroyed the country and that men believe the cure for war is war as the curandero prescribes the serpent's flesh for its bite. He spoke of his campaigns in the deserts of Mexico and he told them of horses killed under him and he said that the souls of horses mirror the souls of men more closely than men suppose and that horses also love war. Men say they only learn this but he said that no creature can learn that which his heart has no shape to hold.
The speaker reflects on the devastation caused by war, expressing a poignant view that men mistakenly believe the solution to conflict lies in more violence, similar to a curandero's treatment of a serpent bite with its own flesh. His experiences in the Mexican deserts highlight the brutal reality of warfare, where he recounts the loss of horses under his command, suggesting a deeper connection between the spirits of horses and humanity than commonly recognized.
He argues that both men and horses have an affinity for war, but emphasizes that genuine understanding cannot be achieved without a heartfelt connection. He claims that true learning requires a heart capable of holding such experiences, indicating that many creatures are unable to truly grasp the nature of conflict if their emotional capacity is limited.
