--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need a war every 10 years, so we can…" description: "\"We need a war every 10 years, so we can stay match fit in case the Germans try again.\" — Al Murray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/al-murray-28519_cases_we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-s_267569.jpg" --- # We need a war every 10 years, so we can stay match fit in… ![“We need a war every 10 years, so we can stay match fit in case the Germans try again.” quote by Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/al-murray-28519_cases_we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-s_267569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/al-murray-28519_cases_we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-s_267569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/al-murray-28519_cases_we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-s_267569.jpg) > “We need a war every 10 years, so we can stay match fit in case the Germans try again.” [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War is suggested as a periodic reset to maintain readiness against a perceived recurring threat. **In simple terms:** War as a fitness test. Key Takeaway Consider non‑violent ways to stay prepared. Themes military readiness history politics Mood skeptical critical reflective Type advice political When to use this quote - defense planning - public policy - military training - strategic exercises Key Concepts deterrence national security cyclical conflict Questions to Reflect On - Is perpetual conflict necessary for security? - What alternatives exist to maintain readiness? A Different Perspective War causes massive human and economic costs; peacebuilding may be more sustainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [10 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/10-years/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Germans Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/germans-try-2622804/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Match Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/match-fit-2622805/) [Need War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-war-581578/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Stay Match](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-match-2622803/) [Try again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-again/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Some people can get there in three or four games, some need eight or nine, but after 11 games, if you've been playing regularly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/some-people-can-get-there-in-three-or-four-games-some-need-eight-or/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [“It oughtn't to need a war to make us talk to each other in buses, and invent our own amusements in the evenings, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/it-oughtn-t-to-need-a-war-to-make-us-talk-to-each-other-in-buses-and-2/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [There are plenty of reasons for hope. There need be no war with Russia, and those who would fight her now, on the theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-w-dodds/there-are-plenty-of-reasons-for-hope-there-need-be-no-war-with-russia/) [Harold W. Dodds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-w-dodds/) > [“There isn’t a good side and a bad side of you or of anybody, so there’s no need to be at war with yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/there-isn-t-a-good-side-and-a-bad-side-of-you-or-of-anybody-so-there/) [Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/) > [At least we're getting the kind of experience we need for the next war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-dulles/at-least-we-re-getting-the-kind-of-experience-we-need-for-the-next-war/) [Allen Dulles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-dulles/) > [The foes from whom we pray to be delivered are our own passions, appetites, and follies; and against these there is always need that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-foes-from-whom-we-pray-to-be-delivered-are-our-own-passions/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“We wouldn't have much need of a war if people stopped using drugs. It's like taking up a fight against the use of headache…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/we-wouldn-t-have-much-need-of-a-war-if-people-stopped-using-drugs-it/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [I hear people saying we don't need this war, I say there's some things worth fighting for. What about our freedom and this piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-worley/i-hear-people-saying-we-don-t-need-this-war-i-say-there-s-some-things/) [Darryl Worley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-worley/) > [What kind of people are these with such low self-esteem that they need a war to feel better about themselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/what-kind-of-people-are-these-with-such-low-self-esteem-that-they/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [It oughtn't to need a war to make us talk to each other in buses, and invent our own amusements in the evenings, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/it-oughtn-t-to-need-a-war-to-make-us-talk-to-each-other-in-buses-and/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [We should lay up in peace what we shall need in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/we-should-lay-up-in-peace-what-we-shall-need-in-war/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [“The fact that we are now crusaders needn't blind us to the fact that for a very long time we have been, as Badger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/the-fact-that-we-are-now-crusaders-needn-t-blind-us-to-the-fact-that/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [I think the majority of the British people are still sanguine about the need for war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-the-majority-of-the-british-people-are-still-sanguine-about/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [We need to be on a war footing. We need to understand that our nation is in grave danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/we-need-to-be-on-a-war-footing-we-need-to-understand-that-our-nation/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [It may be that at some time in the dim future of the race the need for war will vanish: but that time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-may-be-that-at-some-time-in-the-dim-future-of-the-race-the-need/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More by Al Murray > [“I'm not an alcoholic, I am freedom fighter against the teetotal taliban.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/i-m-not-an-alcoholic-i-am-freedom-fighter-against-the-teetotal-taliban/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > ["The harder you work, the luckier you get" is true in all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/the-harder-you-work-the-luckier-you-get-is-true-in-all-things/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [Louis Pasteur, the great scientist, said "chance favours the prepared mind", which is a posh way of saying 'do your homework', but it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/louis-pasteur-the-great-scientist-said-chance-favours-the-prepared/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [Seriously, if you want to get inside the head of a stand-up comic, you could do a lot worse than reading Steve Martin's Born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/seriously-if-you-want-to-get-inside-the-head-of-a-stand-up-comic-you/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [I love playing. In lots of ways, I think having been able to carry on playing purely out of love rather than having to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/i-love-playing-in-lots-of-ways-i-think-having-been-able-to-carry-on/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [Actually, when you're doing something you love, even when you're busy and it's hectic you don't feel the need to relax. I never used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/actually-when-you-re-doing-something-you-love-even-when-you-re-busy/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [In the world of comedy, there's this: "If it's going badly, get off. If it's going well, get off". You can't argue with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/in-the-world-of-comedy-there-s-this-if-it-s-going-badly-get-off-if-it/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [Things inspiring me - good melody, a great bass line, a fabulous voice... by which I mean someone who sounds great, rather than does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/things-inspiring-me-good-melody-a-great-bass-line-a-fabulous-voice-by/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [The American dream? We don't have a dream in Britain because we're bloody awake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/the-american-dream-we-don-t-have-a-dream-in-britain-because-we-re/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [I read a lot. I spend of lot time thinking. It actually looks like I'm doing nothing, but... hanging out with clever and interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/i-read-a-lot-i-spend-of-lot-time-thinking-it-actually-looks-like-i-m/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [My mum had a cousin that had played when he was younger. When I showed an interest in drumming, he showed me how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/my-mum-had-a-cousin-that-had-played-when-he-was-younger-when-i-showed/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [PimpCo is a little business I've got, which basically offers drummers the affordable opportunity to make their drums that little bit more bespoke. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/pimpco-is-a-little-business-i-ve-got-which-basically-offers-drummers/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [The thing that interests me far more than anything is creating music, songwriting and arranging, and in that context drumming itself is a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/the-thing-that-interests-me-far-more-than-anything-is-creating-music/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [It's a weight problem isn't it; you can't wait for lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/it-s-a-weight-problem-isn-t-it-you-can-t-wait-for-lunch/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [Thanks to the internet, I buy lots of music, but thanks to my easily distracted nature, I forget about half of it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/thanks-to-the-internet-i-buy-lots-of-music-but-thanks-to-my-easily/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) [Explore all 19 Al Murray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) ## More Cases quotes > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I think we've all had enough of Coltrane saxophonists. There's a case of someone ruining a generation of saxophonists, as Louis Armstrong may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/i-think-we-ve-all-had-enough-of-coltrane-saxophonists-there-s-a-case/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [The world around us is an increasingly hostile and sinful place. Occasionally that splashes onto us, and perhaps, in the case of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-world-around-us-is-an-increasingly-hostile-and-sinful-place/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/) [Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [The Cheney team had, for example, technological supremacy over the National Security Council staff. That is to say, they could read their e-mails. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wilkerson/the-cheney-team-had-for-example-technological-supremacy-over-the/) [Lawrence Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wilkerson/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 6,420 Cases quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We need a war every 10 years, so we can stay match fit in case the Germans try again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Murray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-stay-match-fit-in-case-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cases" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-stay-match-fit-in-case-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/al-murray-28519_cases_we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-s_267569.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/al-murray-28519_cases_we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-s_267569.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/al-murray-28519_cases_we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-s_267569.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We need a war every 10 years, so we can stay match fit in case the Germans try again.” — Al Murray", "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": "Al Murray", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We need a war every 10...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-stay-match-fit-in-case-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/we-need-a-war-every-10-years-so-we-can-stay-match-fit-in-case-the/#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 } } ] } ```