--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we go to war, our politicians will…" description: "\"When we go to war, our politicians will be guided by our popular will. And if we believe that torture 'got' bin Laden, then we will be more prone to ac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/alex-gibney-7495_accept_when-we-go-to-war-our-politicians-will-b_2039705.jpg" --- # When we go to war, our politicians will be guided by our… ![“When we go to war, our politicians will be guided by our popular will. And if we believe that torture 'got' bin Laden, then we will be more prone to accept the view that a good 'end' can justify brutal 'means.'” quote by Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/alex-gibney-7495_accept_when-we-go-to-war-our-politicians-will-b_2039705.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/alex-gibney-7495_accept_when-we-go-to-war-our-politicians-will-b_2039705.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/alex-gibney-7495_accept_when-we-go-to-war-our-politicians-will-b_2039705.jpg) > “When we go to war, our politicians will be guided by our popular will. And if we believe that torture 'got' bin Laden, then we will be more prone to accept the view that a good 'end' can justify brutal 'means.'” [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that public opinion can be manipulated to justify war and torture, suggesting moral shortcuts are dangerous. **In simple terms:** Public opinion can be twisted to excuse war and cruelty. Key Takeaway Question moral costs before supporting extreme measures. Themes politics war ethics public opinion Mood cautious critical Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - media analysis - human rights advocacy - military decisions Key Concepts utilitarianism propaganda human rights Questions to Reflect On - How does media shape our view of war? - Can ends ever justify means? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize public sentiment, ignoring nuanced views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [World War II has always been of great interest to me. 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If their efficacy becomes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kiriakou/even-if-torture-works-it-cannot-be-tolerated-not-in-one-case-or-a/) [John Kiriakou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kiriakou/) > [I truly believe that if torture had worked and there was a case to be made for it, we would see that on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-baer/i-truly-believe-that-if-torture-had-worked-and-there-was-a-case-to-be/) [Robert Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-baer/) > [“There is a kind of coldness that allows interrogators to put cloth over the mouths of men and pour water into their lungs, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-macdonald/there-is-a-kind-of-coldness-that-allows-interrogators-to-put-cloth/) [Helen Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-macdonald/) > [“Torture when inflicted on children becomes indefensible. 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