--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wars aren't stopped by fighting wars, any…" description: "\"Wars aren't stopped by fighting wars, any more than you can fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water. You fight violence with nonviolence.\" — Co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/colman-mccarthy-31775_fighting_wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any_1779092.jpg" --- # Wars aren't stopped by fighting wars, any more than you… ![“Wars aren't stopped by fighting wars, any more than you can fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water. You fight violence with nonviolence.” quote by Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/colman-mccarthy-31775_fighting_wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any_1779092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/colman-mccarthy-31775_fighting_wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any_1779092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/colman-mccarthy-31775_fighting_wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any_1779092.jpg) > “Wars aren't stopped by fighting wars, any more than you can fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water. You fight violence with nonviolence.” [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence cannot be ended by using more violence; instead, use nonviolent methods like water to extinguish fire. **In simple terms:** Stop fighting fire with fire; use water. Key Takeaway Choose nonviolence to resolve conflict. Themes peace nonviolence conflict resolution strategic thinking Mood inspirational thought‑provoking Type advice motivational When to use this quote - activism - community mediation - personal disputes - political protest Key Concepts ethics psychology social change Questions to Reflect On - What nonviolent tool can you apply now? - How do you stay patient when confronting aggression? A Different Perspective Nonviolence may be slower and face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Nonviolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolence/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peacebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacebuilding/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“Everybody thinks you should be happy just because you're young. They don't see the wars that we fight every single day. And one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-freedom-writers/everybody-thinks-you-should-be-happy-just-because-you-re-young-they/) The Freedom Writers > [People who stand up against wars aren't necessarily always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/people-who-stand-up-against-wars-aren-t-necessarily-always-wrong/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Government wars aren't my wars; they've got nowt to do with me, because my own war's all that I'll ever be bothered about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sillitoe/government-wars-aren-t-my-wars-they-ve-got-nowt-to-do-with-me-because/) [Alan Sillitoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sillitoe/) > [Those who start wars, never fight them, And those who fight wars, they never like them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/those-who-start-wars-never-fight-them-and-those-who-fight-wars-they/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [“Wars aren't fought in the trenches rather in the mind, body, and soul. For life is the battle field, society and emotions are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-reeves/wars-aren-t-fought-in-the-trenches-rather-in-the-mind-body-and-soul/) Curtis Reeves > [“I hope to God there are no wars for him or anyone to fight in after this one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ellis/i-hope-to-god-there-are-no-wars-for-him-or-anyone-to-fight-in-after/) [Mark Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ellis/) > [We need to fight violence and ignorance. It is true: when one strolls out, one sees women with scarves and men with beards. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-vi-of-morocco/we-need-to-fight-violence-and-ignorance-it-is-true-when-one-strolls/) [Mohammed VI of Morocco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-vi-of-morocco/) > [We have to bridge and join our struggles and understand how we can't fight violence against women without looking at racism, we can't fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/we-have-to-bridge-and-join-our-struggles-and-understand-how-we-can-t/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [To fight the violence we must be brave, hold on strong to the love God gave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/to-fight-the-violence-we-must-be-brave-hold-on-strong-to-the-love-god/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [You must also understand us - always undervalued, underestimated, not believed. Even when we believed, you didn't believe us. You said, 'How is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/you-must-also-understand-us-always-undervalued-underestimated-not/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [As soon as you choose to fight with violence you're choosing to fight against your opponents best weapons and you have to be smarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/as-soon-as-you-choose-to-fight-with-violence-you-re-choosing-to-fight/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nonviolence-is-a-weapon-of-the-strong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Nonviolence will empower and equip us to bring generations to the table and fuse our knowledge, gifts, and zeal together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/nonviolence-will-empower-and-equip-us-to-bring-generations-to-the/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) ## More by Colman McCarthy > [Peace is the result of love, and if love were easy we'd all be good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/peace-is-the-result-of-love-and-if-love-were-easy-we-d-all-be-good-at/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [It's better to build a peaceful child than re-build a violent adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/it-s-better-to-build-a-peaceful-child-than-re-build-a-violent-adult/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Forty-one rules aren't so many - St. Benedict had 73 to keep the brethren on the straight and narrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/forty-one-rules-aren-t-so-many-st-benedict-had-73-to-keep-the/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [The earth is too small a star and we too brief a visitor upon it for anything to matter more than the struggle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/the-earth-is-too-small-a-star-and-we-too-brief-a-visitor-upon-it-for/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [The students I've been with these twenty years are looking for a world where it becomes a little easier to love and a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/the-students-i-ve-been-with-these-twenty-years-are-looking-for-a/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [It's too easy only to blame the militarists, racists, sexists and other pushers of violence for the mess we're in. What is harder is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/it-s-too-easy-only-to-blame-the-militarists-racists-sexists-and-other/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [The failure of love, that's what all laws are really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/the-failure-of-love-that-s-what-all-laws-are-really/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Warmaking doesn't stop warmaking. If it did, our problems would have stopped millennia ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/warmaking-doesn-t-stop-warmaking-if-it-did-our-problems-would-have/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Unless we teach our children peace, somebody else will teach them violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/unless-we-teach-our-children-peace-somebody-else-will-teach-them/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Indeed, the highest pleasure of golf may be that on the fairways and far from all the pressures of commerce and rationality, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/indeed-the-highest-pleasure-of-golf-may-be-that-on-the-fairways-and/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Give peace a chance, yes, but why not get serious and give it a place in the curriculum: peace courses in every school, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/give-peace-a-chance-yes-but-why-not-get-serious-and-give-it-a-place/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Breaking America's oil addiction would not lead to a future of sackcloth and ashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/breaking-america-s-oil-addiction-would-not-lead-to-a-future-of/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Everyone's a pacifist between wars. It's like being a vegetarian between meals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/everyone-s-a-pacifist-between-wars-it-s-like-being-a-vegetarian/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [The most revolutionary thing anybody can do is to raise good, honest and generous children who will question the answers of people who say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/the-most-revolutionary-thing-anybody-can-do-is-to-raise-good-honest/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [I'd rather teach peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/i-d-rather-teach-peace/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) [Explore all 16 Colman McCarthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) ## More Fighting quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“I bet she thought she was getting into a fight with a vanilla wafer on roller skates but little did she know she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-bet-she-thought-she-was-getting-into-a-fight-with-a-vanilla-wafer/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [It is sort of interesting that in our society this days we are very quick to apply the term 'war' to places where thare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/it-is-sort-of-interesting-that-in-our-society-this-days-we-are-very/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [There comes a time when you're losing a fight that it just doesn't make sense to keep on fighting. It's not that you're being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paul-curtis/there-comes-a-time-when-you-re-losing-a-fight-that-it-just-doesn-t/) [Christopher Paul Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paul-curtis/) Browse all 13,685 Fighting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wars aren't stopped by fighting wars, any more than you can fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water. You fight violence with nonviolence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colman McCarthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any-more-than-you-can-fight-fire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fighting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any-more-than-you-can-fight-fire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/colman-mccarthy-31775_fighting_wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any_1779092.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/colman-mccarthy-31775_fighting_wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any_1779092.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/colman-mccarthy-31775_fighting_wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any_1779092.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wars aren't stopped by fighting wars, any more than you can fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water…” — Colman McCarthy", "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": "Colman McCarthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wars aren't stopped by fighting wars,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any-more-than-you-can-fight-fire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/wars-aren-t-stopped-by-fighting-wars-any-more-than-you-can-fight-fire/#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 } } ] } ```