Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die. And it is youth who must inherit the tribulation, the sorrow, and the triumphs that are the aftermath of war.

Hoover contrasts the decision-makers who initiate wars with the young people who bear the physical and moral costs. The quote emphasizes an intergenerational injustice: those with the authority and experience to choose war are often insulated from its direct dangers, while youth supply the soldiers and suffer the long-term consequences. By adding that youth must also “inherit” the aftermath—tribulation, sorrow, and even triumph—Hoover frames war as a legacy imposed on the next generation, shaping their lives long after the fighting ends. The passage functions as both a warning against casual militarism and a plea to weigh war’s human costs beyond immediate political aims.