Here, Nobel presents a paradoxical view: that the invention of powerful weapons could deter war rather than incite it. He believed that the sheer destructive capability of dynamite would make nations reconsider the futility of conflict. This perspective foreshadows the concept of deterrence that later defined much of the 20th century's geopolitical landscape. Nobel's hope was that the fear of mutual annihilation would usher in an era of peace. It's a sobering reflection on human nature and the lengths to which we must go to avoid our self-destruction. Yet, history has shown that the proliferation of weapons often escalates tensions. Nobel's idealism in this quote invites us to consider whether peace can truly be achieved through the threat of overwhelming force.