--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been at war from the beginning…" description: "\"I have been at war from the beginning. I've never looked back before. I've never had the time and it has always seemed so dangerous. To look back is to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/bette-davis-2218_dangerous_i-have-been-at-war-from-the-beginning-i_1116481.jpg" --- # I have been at war from the beginning. I've never looked… ![“I have been at war from the beginning. I've never looked back before. I've never had the time and it has always seemed so dangerous. To look back is to relax one's vigil.” quote by Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/bette-davis-2218_dangerous_i-have-been-at-war-from-the-beginning-i_1116481.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/bette-davis-2218_dangerous_i-have-been-at-war-from-the-beginning-i_1116481.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/bette-davis-2218_dangerous_i-have-been-at-war-from-the-beginning-i_1116481.jpg) > “I have been at war from the beginning. I've never looked back before. I've never had the time and it has always seemed so dangerous. To look back is to relax one's vigil.” [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes war as a constant, relentless state where pausing feels risky, emphasizing relentless vigilance. **In simple terms:** War feels endless and pausing seems dangerous. Key Takeaway Stay alert, avoid complacency. Themes war vigilance danger relentless Mood tense urgent Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - military service - emergency response - high‑stress jobs - personal crises Key Concepts conflict psychology survival Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance vigilance with necessary rest? - When is it safe to let down your guard? A Different Perspective Relaxation can reduce alertness, leading to missed threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [To look back is to relax one's vigil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/to-look-back-is-to-relax-one-s-vigil/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Every great war beginning on is a very tiny reasons\_](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/every-great-war-beginning-on-is-a-very-tiny-reasons/) Mak\_786 > [ It was rather a cessation of war than a beginning of peace. \[Lat., Bellum magis desierat, quam pax coeperat.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-was-rather-a-cessation-of-war-than-a-beginning-of-peace-lat-bellum/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [I wanted to apprentice myself to the dailiness of the war's beginning phase. It's truer and more frightening that way - when you're afloat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-wanted-to-apprentice-myself-to-the-dailiness-of-the-war-s-beginning/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [A person with idle time is dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-person-with-idle-time-is-dangerous/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Truth uttered before its time is always dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/truth-uttered-before-its-time-is-always-dangerous/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Truth, at the wrong time, can be dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/truth-at-the-wrong-time-can-be-dangerous/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Sometimes being too nice all the time is dangerous you have to show your hard side once in a while to avoid getting hurt...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/sometimes-being-too-nice-all-the-time-is-dangerous-you-have-to-show/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“People who steal your time are much more dangerous than people who steal your money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/people-who-steal-your-time-are-much-more-dangerous-than-people-who/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [“A truth spoken before its time is dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/a-truth-spoken-before-its-time-is-dangerous/) Greek Proverb > [Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/truth-uttered-before-its-time-is-dangerous/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Throughout my life, my mom has been the person that I've always looked up to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/throughout-my-life-my-mom-has-been-the-person-that-i-ve-always-looked/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Well, I've never looked upon myself as being a beauty, per se.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/well-i-ve-never-looked-upon-myself-as-being-a-beauty-per-se/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I've never looked through a keyhole without finding someone was looking back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-garland/i-ve-never-looked-through-a-keyhole-without-finding-someone-was/) [Judy Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-garland/) > [This is way more hlpuefl than anything else I've looked at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bardo/this-is-way-more-hlpuefl-than-anything-else-i-ve-looked-at/) Bardo ## More by Bette Davis > [In this business, until you're known as a monster you're not a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/in-this-business-until-you-re-known-as-a-monster-you-re-not-a-star/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [You will never be happier than you expect. To change your happiness, change your expectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/you-will-never-be-happier-than-you-expect-to-change-your-happiness/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [The male ego with few exceptions is elephantine to start with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/the-male-ego-with-few-exceptions-is-elephantine-to-start-with/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [“Oh Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars. - Now, Voyager”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/oh-jerry-don-t-let-s-ask-for-the-moon-we-have-the-stars-now-voyager/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Almost as many inhumanities are committed in the name of love as in the name of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/almost-as-many-inhumanities-are-committed-in-the-name-of-love-as-in/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I have eyes like a bullfrog, a neck like an ostrich and long, limp hair. You just have to be good to survive with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-have-eyes-like-a-bullfrog-a-neck-like-an-ostrich-and-long-limp-hair/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Dramatic art in her opinion is knowing how to fill a sweater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/dramatic-art-in-her-opinion-is-knowing-how-to-fill-a-sweater/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I do not regret one professional enemy I have made. Any actor who doesn't dare to make an enemy should get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-do-not-regret-one-professional-enemy-i-have-made-any-actor-who/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I never did pal around with actresses. Their talk usually bored me to tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-never-did-pal-around-with-actresses-their-talk-usually-bored-me-to/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [The secret of marriage is: separate bedrooms and separate bathrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/the-secret-of-marriage-is-separate-bedrooms-and-separate-bathrooms/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I was never very interested in boys - and there were plenty of them - vying with one another to see how many famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-was-never-very-interested-in-boys-and-there-were-plenty-of-them/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [The only way you can become a legend is in your coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/the-only-way-you-can-become-a-legend-is-in-your-coffin/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [If Hollywood didn't work out, I was prepared to be the best secretary in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/if-hollywood-didn-t-work-out-i-was-prepared-to-be-the-best-secretary/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Everybody has a heart. Except some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/everybody-has-a-heart-except-some-people/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I've been lucky. I'll be lucky again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-ve-been-lucky-i-ll-be-lucky-again/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) [Explore all 176 Bette Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) ## More Beginning quotes > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Every Finish Line is the beginning of a new race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-finish-line-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-race/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) Adam Imad > [We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-are-beginning-to-see-intimations-of-this-in-the-implantation-of/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [The only vocal training I had was playing with a tape recorder as a kid, and you know, doing the beginning of the 'Lone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/the-only-vocal-training-i-had-was-playing-with-a-tape-recorder-as-a/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [January is the beginning of a new year for us in the Western world. Let us give to God what belongs to him: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/january-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-year-for-us-in-the-western-world/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [When God made the world, all things began with him. Life, death, it all began when he said so. That includes you and me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manae-poet-of-carisis/when-god-made-the-world-all-things-began-with-him-life-death-it-all/) Manae Poet Of Carisis > [From the beginning at Intel, we planned on being big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-noyce/from-the-beginning-at-intel-we-planned-on-being-big/) [Robert Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-noyce/) > [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/in-the-very-beginning-yelp-started-as-a-service-where-we-really-didn/) [Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/) > [Some projects feel like the stars are aligning for them from the very beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-smith/some-projects-feel-like-the-stars-are-aligning-for-them-from-the-very/) [Gregory Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-smith/) > [Do not judge me by my beginning, Only by my end, Nor by the path I took, But where it led me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacklyn-h-lucas/do-not-judge-me-by-my-beginning-only-by-my-end-nor-by-the-path-i-took/) Jacklyn H Lucas [Browse all 3,566 Beginning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have been at war from the beginning. I've never looked back before. 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