Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Suggests military readiness can be necessary to achieve peace with dictators.
In plain terms
Being ready for war sometimes prevents war and keeps peace.
What can you take from it?
Strength can be a deterrent to conflict.

Where it applies

  • international negotiations
  • defense policy
  • crisis management

Putting it to work

  • negotiating with adversaries
  • planning defense strategy
  • assessing threats

Questions to consider

  • Does peace require the threat of force?
  • When is war preparation justified?

Another view

Readiness for war can escalate tensions rather than reduce them.

More from Tony Blair

  1. [The Joint Intelligence Committee] concludes that Iraq has chemical and biological weapons, that Saddam has continued to produce them, that he has existing and…

    Permalink to quote #28
  2. The intelligence is clear: [Saddam Hussein] continues to believe that his weapons of mass destruction programme is essential both for internal repression and f…

    Permalink to quote #30
  3. Look, I'm a person, an individual with a character and part of my character is about what I believe in and part of my beliefs obviously is a religious convicti…

    Permalink to quote #27

Related quotes

  1. I think we need to continue working hard on developing a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East... unfortunately things are not going in the right direct…

    Mohamed ElBaradeiMohamed ElBaradei quote #3
  2. India wants to avoid a war at all costs but it is not a one-sided affair, you cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.

    Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi quote #3
  3. I believe with all my heart that our first priority must be world peace, and that use of force is always and only a last resort, when everything else has faile…

    Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan quote #21