--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: World wars have been fought and lost; for…" description: "\"“World wars have been fought and lost; for every war is against the world and every war against the world is lost.”\" — Alice Walker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/alice-walker-347_peace_world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for_2331784.png" --- # World wars have been fought and lost; for every war is… ![“World wars have been fought and lost; for every war is against the world and every war against the world is lost.” quote by Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/alice-walker-347_peace_world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for_2331784.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/alice-walker-347_peace_world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for_2331784.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/alice-walker-347_peace_world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for_2331784.png) > ““World wars have been fought and lost; for every war is against the world and every war against the world is lost.”” [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## 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 portrayed as a futile conflict that ultimately harms humanity as a whole. **In simple terms:** War loses against humanity. Key Takeaway Advocate for peace and cooperation. Themes peace war humanity Mood somber hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - international relations - education - activism - media narratives Key Concepts Conflict theory global solidarity Questions to Reflect On - Is all war inherently destructive? - How can we transform conflict into constructive dialogue? A Different Perspective Some wars may be justified for self‑defense or liberation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) ## Related quotes > [“People should be changed by world wars," I said, "else what are world wars for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-should-be-changed-by-world-wars-i-said-else-what-are-world/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [That whole generation that's gone now, that lived through the two world wars, is a great example to all of us. They knew how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigourney-weaver/that-whole-generation-that-s-gone-now-that-lived-through-the-two/) [Sigourney Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigourney-weaver/) > [We are living in a world in which all wars are wars of defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/we-are-living-in-a-world-in-which-all-wars-are-wars-of-defense/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [Time and distance from the first and second world wars doesn't seem to lessen their horrors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/time-and-distance-from-the-first-and-second-world-wars-doesn-t-seem/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [The two World Wars came in part, like much modern literature and art, because men, whose nature is to tire of everything in turn...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-l-lucas/the-two-world-wars-came-in-part-like-much-modern-literature-and-art/) [F. L. Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-l-lucas/) > [The two world wars boosted American power and devastated potential rivals to an extent that could not have lasted more than a few decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/the-two-world-wars-boosted-american-power-and-devastated-potential/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [We've been there on World Wars, it's time for World Party I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/we-ve-been-there-on-world-wars-it-s-time-for-world-party-i/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [We must never again let America be led into a fratricidal war like the last two world wars, for the sake of alien, minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lincoln-rockwell/we-must-never-again-let-america-be-led-into-a-fratricidal-war-like/) [George Lincoln Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lincoln-rockwell/) > [In the 20th century, the United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts; the Depression; a dozen or so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/in-the-20th-century-the-united-states-endured-two-world-wars-and/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [It's not greed and ambition that makes wars--it's goodness. Wars are always fought for the best of reasons, for liberation or manifest destiny, always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/it-s-not-greed-and-ambition-that-makes-wars-it-s-goodness-wars-are/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [“Even when the British took part in these wars, they fought on other people's territory or at sea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/even-when-the-british-took-part-in-these-wars-they-fought-on-other/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“War is ever the folly of the ignorant. But I have seen much to convince me some wars must be fought, to the bitterest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/war-is-ever-the-folly-of-the-ignorant-but-i-have-seen-much-to/) [Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/) > [The bloodiest, most brutal wars fought, all based on religious hatred. Which is fine with me! Any time a bunch of holy people want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-bloodiest-most-brutal-wars-fought-all-based-on-religious-hatred/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Ever since wars have been fought, guys have been writing their stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-webb/ever-since-wars-have-been-fought-guys-have-been-writing-their-stories/) [Brandon Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-webb/) > [Most wars are fought for greed, but we are luckier here we fight for our lives and the lives of the people we love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/most-wars-are-fought-for-greed-but-we-are-luckier-here-we-fight-for/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) ## More by Alice Walker > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Just be what it is that you are, and that is just fine. You don't have to be what you're not in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/just-be-what-it-is-that-you-are-and-that-is-just-fine-you-don-t-have/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Remember this-- say it & know it is true: Alice loves me Alice loves me and I am not blamed for this. ... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/remember-this-say-it-know-it-is-true-alice-loves-me-alice-loves-me/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Only the sky above us do we hold in common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/only-the-sky-above-us-do-we-hold-in-common/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Why aren't you happy in America, if everyone there drives motorcars?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/why-aren-t-you-happy-in-america-if-everyone-there-drives-motorcars/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“She saw poetry where other writers merely saw failure to cope with English.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/she-saw-poetry-where-other-writers-merely-saw-failure-to-cope-with/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [My mother had handed down respect for the possibilities...and the will to grasp them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-mother-had-handed-down-respect-for-the-possibilities-and-the-will/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Helped are those who are content to be themselves; they will never lack mystery in their lives and the joys of self-discovery will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/helped-are-those-who-are-content-to-be-themselves-they-will-never/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“As others might prepare for an exam whose subject matter is unknown to them, so I must study, cram, for every conversation with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/as-others-might-prepare-for-an-exam-whose-subject-matter-is-unknown/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The original crime of niggers and lesbians is that they prefer themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-original-crime-of-niggers-and-lesbians-is-that-they-prefer/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut and smashed it against my father's head. It taught me about women defending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-mother-was-very-strong-once-she-picked-up-a-coconut-and-smashed-it/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Many readers fail to realize this, but 'The Color Purple' is a theological text. It is about the reclamation of one's original God: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/many-readers-fail-to-realize-this-but-the-color-purple-is-a/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The good news may be that Nature is phasing out the white man, but the bad news is that's who She thinks we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-good-news-may-be-that-nature-is-phasing-out-the-white-man-but-the/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Humans - whatever billions we are - we don't have the control. We are considered expendable, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/humans-whatever-billions-we-are-we-don-t-have-the-control-we-are/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/all-my-life-i-had-to-fight-i-had-to-fight-my-daddy-i-had-to-fight-my/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) [Explore all 654 Alice Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## More Peace quotes > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) W.J. Turner > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [“There is no fortune greater than peace; there is no force greater than peace; there is no excellent tapas greater than peace; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muruganar/there-is-no-fortune-greater-than-peace-there-is-no-force-greater-than/) [Muruganar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muruganar/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,655 Peace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“World wars have been fought and lost; for every war is against the world and every war against the world is lost.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alice Walker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for-every-war-is-against-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Peace" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for-every-war-is-against-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/alice-walker-347_peace_world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for_2331784.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/alice-walker-347_peace_world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for_2331784.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/alice-walker-347_peace_world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for_2331784.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“World wars have been fought and lost; for every war is against the world and every war against the world is…” — Alice Walker", "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": "Alice Walker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“World wars have been fought and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for-every-war-is-against-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/world-wars-have-been-fought-and-lost-for-every-war-is-against-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 } } ] } ```