---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The military struggle may frankly be…"
description: "\"The military struggle may frankly be regarded for what it actually was, namely a war for independence, an armed attempt to imposethe views of the revol..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_british_the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-reg_635495.png"
---

#  The military struggle may frankly be regarded for what it…

![“The military struggle may frankly be regarded for what it actually was, namely a war for independence, an armed attempt to imposethe views of the revolutionists upon the British government and large sections of the colonial population at whatever cost to freedom of opinion or the sanctity of life…” quote by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_british_the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-reg_635495.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_british_the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-reg_635495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_british_the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-reg_635495.png)

> “The military struggle may frankly be regarded for what it actually was, namely a war for independence, an armed attempt to imposethe views of the revolutionists upon the British government and large sections of the colonial population at whatever cost to freedom of opinion or the sanctity of life and property.”

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

## About This Quote

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

The passage frames the military conflict as a fight for independence, emphasizing the costs to liberty, life, and property.

**In simple terms:** War for independence sacrifices freedom and lives.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the high stakes of revolutionary wars.

Themes

war independence colonialism freedom ethics

Mood

serious analytical

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- academic study
- policy making
- humanitarian advocacy
- educational curriculum
- media reporting

Key Concepts

history political science human rights

Questions to Reflect On

- What are the moral limits of fighting for independence?
- How do we balance liberty with human cost?

A Different Perspective

It may simplify complex historical motives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-government/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Of Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-opinion/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Sanctity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctity/) [Sanctity of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctity-of-life/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/)

[Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/)

> [Freedom in education has many aspects. There is first of all freedom to learn or not to learn. Then there is freedom as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/freedom-in-education-has-many-aspects-there-is-first-of-all-freedom/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-nations/everyone-has-the-right-to-freedom-of-opinion-and-expression-this/)

United Nations

> [“Freedom of opinion! Where is it? I see a press more mean and paltry and silly and disgraceful than any country ever knew, -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/freedom-of-opinion-where-is-it-i-see-a-press-more-mean-and-paltry-and/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth; and I am sure...we both value too much the freedom of opinion sanctioned by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/difference-of-opinion-leads-to-enquiry-and-enquiry-to-truth-and-i-am/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Freedom of opinion is a valuable asset in a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/freedom-of-opinion-is-a-valuable-asset-in-a-democracy/)

[Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/)

> [Is it not strange that the descendants of those Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own freedom of opinion have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/is-it-not-strange-that-the-descendants-of-those-pilgrim-fathers-who/)

[William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/)

> [“We must insist that free oratory is only the beginning of free speech; it is not the end, but a means to an end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/we-must-insist-that-free-oratory-is-only-the-beginning-of-free-speech/)

[Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/)

> [ “May it \[American independence\] be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/may-it-american-independence-be-to-the-world-what-i-believe-it-will/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Of course, there are dangers in religious freedom and freedom of opinion. But to deny these rights is worse than dangerous, it is absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/of-course-there-are-dangers-in-religious-freedom-and-freedom-of-2/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [Freedom of opinion can only exist when the government thinks itself secure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/freedom-of-opinion-can-only-exist-when-the-government-thinks-itself/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [Freedom of opinion is like health; both are individual, and no good general conception can be set up of either of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/freedom-of-opinion-is-like-health-both-are-individual-and-no-good/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [It is not in the interest of the German people or in the interest of world peace that Germany should become a pawn or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-byrnes/it-is-not-in-the-interest-of-the-german-people-or-in-the-interest-of/)

[James F. Byrnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-byrnes/)

> [The worst thing that can happen to the New Left in this country is to turn the struggle into a military struggle against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dellinger/the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-to-the-new-left-in-this-country-is-to/)

[David Dellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dellinger/)

> [There were various aspects of Sun Tzu's approach that appealed to Ho Chi Minh: a) to learn to understand both the enemy and yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/there-were-various-aspects-of-sun-tzu-s-approach-that-appealed-to-ho/)

[William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/)

## More by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr

> [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [History is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/history-is-full-of-surprises/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [The genius of impeachment lay in the fact that it could punish the man without punishing the office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-genius-of-impeachment-lay-in-the-fact-that-it-could-punish-the/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Every President reconstructs the Presidency to meet his own psychological needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/every-president-reconstructs-the-presidency-to-meet-his-own/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [The only President who clearly died of overwork was Polk, and that was a long time ago. Hoover, who worked intensely and humorlessly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-only-president-who-clearly-died-of-overwork-was-polk-and-that-was/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Righteousness is easy in retrospect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/righteousness-is-easy-in-retrospect/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [The first rule of democracy is to distrust all leaders who begin to believe their own publicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-first-rule-of-democracy-is-to-distrust-all-leaders-who-begin-to/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Few secret undertakings ever did any nation any good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nation-any-good/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [In Defense of the World Order . . . U.S. soldiers would have to kill and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/in-defense-of-the-world-order-u-s-soldiers-would-have-to-kill-and-die/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [In view of the tide of religiosity engulfing a once secular republic it is refreshing to be reminded by Freethinkers that free thought and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/in-view-of-the-tide-of-religiosity-engulfing-a-once-secular-republic/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [There is no more dangerous thing for a democracy than a foreign policy based on presidential preventive war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/there-is-no-more-dangerous-thing-for-a-democracy-than-a-foreign/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [If we are to survive, we must have ideas, vision, and courage. These things are rarely produced by committees. Everything that matters in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/if-we-are-to-survive-we-must-have-ideas-vision-and-courage-these/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Those who are convinced they have a monopoly on The Truth always feel that they are only saving the world when they slaughter the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/those-who-are-convinced-they-have-a-monopoly-on-the-truth-always-feel/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [There is far less to the Presidency, in terms of essential activity, than meets the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/there-is-far-less-to-the-presidency-in-terms-of-essential-activity/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [All wars are popular for the first 30 days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/all-wars-are-popular-for-the-first-30-days/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

[Explore all 48 Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

## More British quotes

> [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/)

[Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/)

> [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/)

[Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/)

> [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/)

[Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/)

> [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/)

[Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/)

> [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/)

[Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/)

> [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/)

[Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/)

> [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/)

[Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/)

> [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/)

[Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/)

> [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/)

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

> [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/)

[Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/)

> [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/)

[Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/)

> [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/)

[Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/)

> [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/)

[Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/)

[Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The military struggle may frankly be regarded for what it actually was, namely a war for independence, an armed attempt to imposethe views of the revolutionists upon the British government and large sections of the colonial population at whatever cost to freedom of opinion or the sanctity of life and property.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-regarded-for-what-it-actually/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "British"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-regarded-for-what-it-actually/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_british_the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-reg_635495.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_british_the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-reg_635495.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_british_the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-reg_635495.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The military struggle may frankly be regarded for what it actually was, namely a war for independence, an…” — Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr",
                "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": "Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The military struggle may frankly be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-regarded-for-what-it-actually/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-regarded-for-what-it-actually/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
