Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Churchill labels World War I as unnecessary, highlighting its avoidable nature.
In plain terms
He called the war unnecessary.
What can you take from it?
Question if conflicts are truly needed.

Where it applies

  • historical review
  • policy analysis
  • public discourse

Putting it to work

  • critique policy
  • analyze causes

Questions to consider

  • How do you judge a war?
  • Who decides necessity?

Another view

Some wars are deemed necessary for other reasons.

More from Winston Churchill

  1. Many forms of Government have been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has …

    Permalink to quote #75
  2. Their horse cavalry, of which they had twelve brigades, charged valiantly against the swarming tanks and armoured cars but could not harm them with their sword…

    Permalink to quote #77
  3. Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues and freebooters. All Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw.

    Permalink to quote #74

Related quotes

  1. Moreover, there is this completely false trial. I would participate wholeheartedly in a trial if it were to determine the guilt for 5 million murdered people a…

    Hans FritzscheHans Fritzsche quote #1
  2. [T]he Jewish people were driven by their drunkenness and plumpness to the ultimate evil; they kicked about, they failed to accept the yoke of Christ, nor did t…

    John ChrysostomJohn Chrysostom quote #1
  3. There's a great deal of criticism about the United States, but there is one thing that nobody criticizes the United States. Nobody thinks the United States wen…

    Shimon PeresShimon Peres quote #1