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About this quote

What does it mean?
War involves immense destruction and tragedy, even when it ends with a declared winner.
In plain terms
Even winning a war comes at a huge cost of disaster and suffering.
What can you take from it?
Victory in war does not erase the catastrophic human cost incurred.

Where it applies

  • political discourse
  • historical analysis
  • peace advocacy

Putting it to work

  • evaluate costs of conflict
  • prioritize diplomacy

Questions to consider

  • What defines a just victory?
  • Can victory ever be total?

Another view

The quote does not address strategic necessity or defense against aggression.

More from Georges Clemenceau

  1. Politique interieure, je fais la guerre; politique exterieure, je fais la guerre. Je fais toujours la guerre.

    Permalink to quote #3
  2. His poor marksmanship must be taken into account. We have just won the most terrible war in history, yet here is a Frenchman who misses his target 6 out of 7 t…

    Permalink to quote #5
  3. In the distance huge trees were still blazing, around us was a waste of ashes and of half-consumed boughs, and the falling rain seemed only to quicken the dyin…

    Permalink to quote #2

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