In a world with no systems, with chaos, everything becomes a guerilla struggle, and predictability is not there. It becomes almost impossible to save lives, educate kids, develop economies.

Clinton contrasts functioning “systems” (institutions, rules, and predictable governance) with social and political breakdown. In his view, when order collapses, daily life turns into a zero-sum contest for security and resources—“a guerrilla struggle”—where long-term planning becomes futile. The quote links stability to humanitarian and developmental outcomes: saving lives requires reliable logistics and public health capacity; educating children depends on safe schools and administrative continuity; and economic development needs enforceable contracts, infrastructure, and confidence in the future. The underlying claim is that institution-building and the rule of law are not abstract ideals but prerequisites for basic human welfare and sustained prosperity.