I have tried at all times to slaughter as few civilians as possible.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- LeMay claims to have tried minimizing civilian slaughter despite his controversial stance.
- In plain terms
- LeMay says he tried to avoid killing civilians even while advocating harsh tactics.
- What can you take from it?
- Intentions may not align with outcomes in war.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does trying to reduce harm suffice?
- How to judge military leaders?
Another view
Claims of trying may not offset harm caused.
More from Curtis LeMay
There are no innocent civilians.
Permalink to quote #1 My solution to the problem would be to tell [the North Vietnamese Communists] frankly that they've got to draw in their horns and stop their aggression or we'r…
Permalink to quote #3 Killing Japanese didn't bother me very much at that time... I suppose if I had lost the war, I would have been tried as a war criminal.... Every soldier thinks…
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as …
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman quote #35 No attempt of any kind must be made at rescuing members of ships sunk, and this includes picking up persons in the water and putting them in lifeboats, rightin…
Karl DonitzKarl Donitz quote #1 Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription.
William Lyon Mackenzie KingWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King quote #1