Generals aren't in the business of commenting on the correctness or incorrectness of the President's decisions. Anybody who thinks he should be able to do that ought to be fired on the spot.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
War's a profanity because, let's face it, you've got two opposing sides trying to settle their differences by killing as many of each other as they can.
Interpretation
What this quote means
War is a violent and terrible way to resolve conflicts between groups.
In this quote, Norman Schwarzkopf emphasizes the tragic nature of war, describing it as a profanity. He points out that the essence of war is rooted in the conflict between two opposing sides who resort to extreme violence, with the goal of defeating each other through death and destruction. This perspective highlights the futility and moral implications of using war as a means of resolving disputes.
Themes
WarConflictViolencePhilosophyMorality
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the consequences of global conflict, one might say, 'As Norman Schwarzkopf once stated, war's a profanity.'
More from Norman Schwarzkopf
All quotes βAs far as Saddam Hussein being a great military strategist, he is neither a strategist, nor is he schooled in the operational arts, nor is he a tactician, nor is he a general, nor is he a soldier. Other than that, he's a great military man, I want you to know that.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
All you have to do is hold your first soldier who is dying in your arms, and have that terribly futile feeling that I can't do anything about it... Then you understand the horror of war.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
I am living proof that if you catch prostate cancer early, it can be reduced to a temporary inconvenience, and you can go back to a normal life.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
Good generalship is a realization that... you've got to try and figure out how to accomplish your mission with a minimum loss of human life.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
I'm not proud of killing, of being responsible for the death of a single person. I never will be.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
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