---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Force is all conquering, but it's…"
description: "\"Force is all conquering, but it's victories are short lived.\" — Abraham Lincoln"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-war_force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victori_1703794.png"
---

#  Force is all conquering, but it's victories are short lived.

![“Force is all conquering, but it's victories are short lived.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-war_force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victori_1703794.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-war_force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victori_1703794.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-war_force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victori_1703794.png)

> “Force is all conquering, but it's victories are short lived.”

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Force achieves conquest but its victories are fleeting and unsustainable.

**In simple terms:** Power wins battles but not lasting peace.

Key Takeaway

Seek lasting solutions beyond force.

Themes

war power impermanence

Mood

serious thoughtful

Type

philosophical strategic

When to use this quote

- military planning
- peace negotiations
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

military conquest short-term gains strategic sustainability

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives to force can secure lasting peace?
- How does short-term victory affect long-term stability?

A Different Perspective

Force can cause collateral damage and resentment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anti war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-war/) [Antiwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiwar/) [Conquer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer/) [Conquering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquering/) [Conquering Victories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquering-victories-1176031/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Force Conquering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-conquering-1176030/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-short/) [Victories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victories/) [Victories Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victories-short-1176032/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [Force is all-conquering, but its victories are short-lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/force-is-all-conquering-but-its-victories-are-short-lived/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Conquering others requires force. Conquering oneself requires strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/conquering-others-requires-force-conquering-oneself-requires-strength/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [Conquering others takes force, conquering yourself is true strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/conquering-others-takes-force-conquering-yourself-is-true-strength/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/kings-had-always-been-involving-and-impoverishing-their-people-in/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Conquering titles is not very easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-enrique/conquering-titles-is-not-very-easy/)

[Luis Enrique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-enrique/)

> [“Souls’ may be subjugated and regulated – for a time – but never terminated. They live!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/souls-may-be-subjugated-and-regulated-for-a-time-but-never-terminated/)

[T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/)

> [If the opponent is weak, victory can make you arrogant; but conquering over a powerful opponent not only shows your ability, but also gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-opponent-is-weak-victory-can-make-you-arrogant-but-conquering/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“If you aren't destroying your enemies, it's because you have been conquered and assimilated, you do not even have an idea of who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-aren-t-destroying-your-enemies-it-s-because-you-have-been/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“The cost–benefit ratio for conquering lands and people less advanced in technology and prosperity inhibited such conquest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prof-ajeet-n-mathur/the-cost-benefit-ratio-for-conquering-lands-and-people-less-advanced/)

[Prof. Ajeet N. Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prof-ajeet-n-mathur/)

> [Conquering something new becomes fun, even if that thing you're conquering isn't what you'd normally do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-clouser/conquering-something-new-becomes-fun-even-if-that-thing-you-re/)

[Charlie Clouser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-clouser/)

> [“Faith healers. God-loves-you religions. State-supported lotteries. All that enormous energy expended to conquer nothing at all, stadia full of people watching no conquering going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-s-tepper/faith-healers-god-loves-you-religions-state-supported-lotteries-all/)

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-s-tepper/)

> [“The greatest victory of all is conquering yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reese/the-greatest-victory-of-all-is-conquering-yourself/)

[Brian Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reese/)

> [“You see, that's the thing with conquerors, they cannot stop conquering, for then they would have to start ruling, and my guess is Jarasandh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gourav-mohanty/you-see-that-s-the-thing-with-conquerors-they-cannot-stop-conquering/)

[Gourav Mohanty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gourav-mohanty/)

> [“There is no success in this world without first conquering the battle within your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-ely/there-is-no-success-in-this-world-without-first-conquering-the-battle/)

[Preston Ely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-ely/)

> [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

## More by Abraham Lincoln

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

[Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

## More Anti war quotes

> [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/)

[Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/)

> [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [I was involved in the anti-war movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-was-involved-in-the-anti-war-movement/)

[Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/)

> [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [One reason the United States finds itself at the edge of a foreign policy disaster is its underinformed citizenry, a key weakness in democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-halper/one-reason-the-united-states-finds-itself-at-the-edge-of-a-foreign/)

[Stefan Halper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-halper/)

> [A good soldier is a blind, heartless, soulless, murderous machine. He is not a man. His is not a brute, for brutes kill only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/a-good-soldier-is-a-blind-heartless-soulless-murderous-machine-he-is/)

[Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/)

> [The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-moral-and-constitutional-obligations-of-our-representatives-in/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [The way I'm going now is to focus on peace, to create peace. As Sister Corita said, "I don't go to anti-war rallies. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-hong-kingston/the-way-i-m-going-now-is-to-focus-on-peace-to-create-peace-as-sister/)

[Maxine Hong Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-hong-kingston/)

> [Here's the thing. Just because you're pro-troops doesn't mean you're pro-war. And just because you're anti-war doesn't mean you're anti-troops. Just because you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/here-s-the-thing-just-because-you-re-pro-troops-doesn-t-mean-you-re/)

[Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/)

> [The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-worst-evils-which-mankind-has-ever-had-to-endure-were-inflicted/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/free-nations-don-t-develop-weapons-of-mass-destruction/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [...Uncalled-for aggression arouses the hatred of the civilian population...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/uncalled-for-aggression-arouses-the-hatred-of-the-civilian-population/)

[Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/)

> [Once conscription was introduced during the First World War, and once Britain's wars ceased being confined to the empire or to continental Europe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/once-conscription-was-introduced-during-the-first-world-war-and-once/)

[Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/)

[Browse all 486 Anti war quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-war/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Force is all conquering, but it's victories are short lived.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Abraham Lincoln"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victories-are-short-lived/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anti war"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victories-are-short-lived/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-war_force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victori_1703794.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-war_force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victori_1703794.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-war_force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victori_1703794.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Force is all conquering, but it's victories are short lived.” — Abraham Lincoln",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Abraham Lincoln",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Force is all conquering, but it's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victories-are-short-lived/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/force-is-all-conquering-but-it-s-victories-are-short-lived/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
