--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are going to use military force…" description: "\"If you are going to use military force, then you ought to use overwhelming military force. Use too much and deliberately use too much; you'll save live..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/curtis-lemay-23330_enemy_if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-t_2614803.png" --- # If you are going to use military force, then you ought to… ![“If you are going to use military force, then you ought to use overwhelming military force. Use too much and deliberately use too much; you'll save lives, not only your own, but the enemy's too.” quote by Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/curtis-lemay-23330_enemy_if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-t_2614803.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/curtis-lemay-23330_enemy_if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-t_2614803.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/curtis-lemay-23330_enemy_if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-t_2614803.png) > “If you are going to use military force, then you ought to use overwhelming military force. Use too much and deliberately use too much; you'll save lives, not only your own, but the enemy's too.” [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates using decisive, overwhelming force to minimize overall casualties, including those of the enemy. **In simple terms:** Overwhelming force saves lives. Key Takeaway Apply decisive force to reduce prolonged conflict. Themes military strategy ethics conflict resolution Mood serious pragmatic Type strategic policy When to use this quote - war planning - peace negotiations - humanitarian interventions Key Concepts deterrence proportionality casualty reduction Questions to Reflect On - Is overwhelming force always morally justified? - How to balance force with diplomatic solutions? A Different Perspective May not account for political fallout or escalation risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-force/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Save a life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-a-life/) ## Related quotes > [So long as nuclear weapons continue to exist, so will the temptation to threaten others with overwhelming military force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/so-long-as-nuclear-weapons-continue-to-exist-so-will-the-temptation/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [We should never hesitate to use military force, and I will not, as president, in order to keep the American people safe. But we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-should-never-hesitate-to-use-military-force-and-i-will-not-as/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We can no longer apply the classic criteria to clearly determine whether and when we should use military force. We are waging war in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/we-can-no-longer-apply-the-classic-criteria-to-clearly-determine/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [I don't think we need to have an either/or debate about the use of military force - I think you can be both tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-don-t-think-we-need-to-have-an-either-or-debate-about-the-use-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We need, from time to time, to use military force or all of the resources at our command in order to defend the nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-need-from-time-to-time-to-use-military-force-or-all-of-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think most Americans believe that although it's better not to use military force if you can avoid it, that the world simply doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kagan/i-think-most-americans-believe-that-although-it-s-better-not-to-use/) [Robert Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kagan/) > [We have an authorization to use military force against terrorists. We passed it after 9/11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-have-an-authorization-to-use-military-force-against-terrorists-we/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Any time you use military force, you have got to have a clear purpose that military forces can achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/any-time-you-use-military-force-you-have-got-to-have-a-clear-purpose/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [For interests that are vital to the U.S. - that is, essential for our survival and wellbeing - the U.S. should be prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-t-allison/for-interests-that-are-vital-to-the-u-s-that-is-essential-for-our/) [Graham T. Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-t-allison/) > [My advice is: 1. Be judicious in the use of military force. 2. When military force is required, use overwhelming force. 3. Do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stivers/my-advice-is-1-be-judicious-in-the-use-of-military-force-2-when/) [Steve Stivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stivers/) > [We don't have any intention whatsoever to use military force to solve the Palestinian problem. But when it comes to terror - when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/we-don-t-have-any-intention-whatsoever-to-use-military-force-to-solve/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [You possess a potent force that you either use, or misuse, hundreds of times every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-martin-kohe/you-possess-a-potent-force-that-you-either-use-or-misuse-hundreds-of/) [J. Martin Kohe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-martin-kohe/) > [I am impressed with the belief that our naval force ought not to cost more in proportion than the British. In some things they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-calhoun/i-am-impressed-with-the-belief-that-our-naval-force-ought-not-to-cost/) [John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-calhoun/) > [Force ought to follow justice and not to precede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/force-ought-to-follow-justice-and-not-to-precede/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [I am the most militaristic person but you have to know when to use the military. Or have it so strong that nobody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-am-the-most-militaristic-person-but-you-have-to-know-when-to-use/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Curtis LeMay > [I'd like to see a more aggressive attitude on the part of the United States. That doesn't mean launching an immediate preventive war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/i-d-like-to-see-a-more-aggressive-attitude-on-the-part-of-the-united/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [We went over there and fought the war and eventually burned down every town in North Korea anyway, someway or another, and some in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/we-went-over-there-and-fought-the-war-and-eventually-burned-down/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [If we maintain our faith in God, love of freedom, and superior global air power, the future looks good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/if-we-maintain-our-faith-in-god-love-of-freedom-and-superior-global/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [Native annalists may look sadly back from the future on that period when we had the atomic bomb and the Russians didn't. Or when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/native-annalists-may-look-sadly-back-from-the-future-on-that-period/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [My solution to the problem would be to tell the North Vietnamese Communists frankly that they've got to drawn in their horns and stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/my-solution-to-the-problem-would-be-to-tell-the-north-vietnamese/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [There are no innocent civilians, so it doesn't bother me so much to be killing innocent bystanders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/there-are-no-innocent-civilians-so-it-doesn-t-bother-me-so-much-to-be/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [Today, shooting wars are won or lost before they start. If they are fought at all, they would be fought principally to confirm which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/today-shooting-wars-are-won-or-lost-before-they-start-if-they-are/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [If we'd lost the war, we'd all have been prosecuted as war criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/if-we-d-lost-the-war-we-d-all-have-been-prosecuted-as-war-criminals/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [Don't like to do anything half-heartedly, even if it is a wicked and self-destructive avocation like smoking cigars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/don-t-like-to-do-anything-half-heartedly-even-if-it-is-a-wicked-and/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [I don't mind being called tough, since I find in this racket it's the tough guys who lead the survivors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/i-don-t-mind-being-called-tough-since-i-find-in-this-racket-it-s-the/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [Sometime in the future - 25, 50, 75 years hence - what will the situation be like then? By that time the Chinese will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/sometime-in-the-future-25-50-75-years-hence-what-will-the-situation/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [ My solution to the problem would be to tell \[the North Vietnamese Communists\] frankly that they've got to draw in their horns and stop… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/my-solution-to-the-problem-would-be-to-tell-the-north-vietnamese-2/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [Every soldier thinks something of the moral aspects of what he is doing. But all war is immoral and if you let that bother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/every-soldier-thinks-something-of-the-moral-aspects-of-what-he-is/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [That's the reason some schools of thinking don't rule out a destruction of the Chinese military potential before the situation grows worse than it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/that-s-the-reason-some-schools-of-thinking-don-t-rule-out-a/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [You've got to kill people, and when you've killed enough they stop fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/you-ve-got-to-kill-people-and-when-you-ve-killed-enough-they-stop/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) [Explore all 26 Curtis LeMay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Fear is a man's worst enemy, but love is a man's most powerful weapon against anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-a-man-s-worst-enemy-but-love-is-a-man-s-most-powerful-weapon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) A.K. Hasan > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/in-this-business-you-find-the-enemy-then-go-after-and-destroy-him/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) [Browse all 7,981 Enemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are going to use military force, then you ought to use overwhelming military force. Use too much and deliberately use too much; you'll save lives, not only your own, but the enemy's too.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Curtis LeMay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-then-you-ought-to-use/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-then-you-ought-to-use/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/curtis-lemay-23330_enemy_if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-t_2614803.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/curtis-lemay-23330_enemy_if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-t_2614803.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/curtis-lemay-23330_enemy_if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-t_2614803.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you are going to use military force, then you ought to use overwhelming military force. Use too much and…” — Curtis LeMay", "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": "Curtis LeMay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you are going to use...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-then-you-ought-to-use/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-then-you-ought-to-use/#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 } } ] } ```