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War should be not a war of choice; it should be a war of necessity. And it should be a last resort.
John F. Kerry
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Interpretation

What this quote means

War is justifiable only when it is absolutely necessary and after all other options have been exhausted.

John F. Kerry emphasizes that war should not be initiated lightly or as a preference; rather, it must be seen as a last resort when all diplomatic avenues have failed and the necessity for conflict is undeniable. This perspective encourages a responsible approach to international relations and a commitment to peace whenever possible.

Themes

WarNecessityLast ResortPeaceDiplomacy

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about conflict resolution, one might quote, 'War should be not a war of choice; it should be a war of necessity.'

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Quote by John F. Kerry | QuoteProject