A well-known American actor with a wide range of roles in television and movies, Charles Durning, once voiced strong opinions about the nature of war. Durning was raised in a working-class household during the Great Depression, and his personal encounters with adversity and strife influenced his outlook on life.

Durning's statement expresses his conviction that fighting a war destroys people's emotional and mental well-being rather than elevating or ennobling them. He compares war to a raging fire that consumes everything in its path, leaving only ashes and hopelessness in its wake. War deprives people and communities of their dignity and hope, much like a forest fire can destroy acres of land and the homes of generations of residents.

He believed that anyone could see the true destructiveness of war after just one hour of real-world experience. The ensuing frustration, resentment, and rage are the inevitable results of such destruction rather than indications of selfless sacrifice. Durning's statement is an appeal for compassion and understanding, urging people to see the full cost of war beyond appearances.

Charles Durning frequently emphasized the value of compassion and peace throughout his life and career, using his acting career to oppose violence and favor interpersonal relationships over conflict. His observations on the nature of war are all the more poignant and significant because they are based on experience and understanding.