The phrase "Humanizing war" evokes a strong reaction, likening the attempt to mitigate the horrors of war to trying to make Hell more humane. This perspective, attributed to Sir John Fisher, underscores the inherent brutality and chaos of warfare. It suggests that regardless of efforts to manage or soften the impact of war, the essential nature of conflict remains destructive and inhumane.

In Barbara W. Tuchman's "The Proud Tower," which explores the period leading up to World War I, this sentiment captures the futility of romanticizing or idealizing war. Instead of viewing conflict through a lens of valor and nobility, the quote emphasizes the grim reality that war, in its essence, is a profoundly tragic and brutal experience that resists any attempts at humanization or glorification.