--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Preparing for war, as was well known in…" description: "\"“Preparing for war, as was well known in other lands but perhaps not then in that one, is usually a self-fulfilling precaution.”\" — Dave Duncan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/dave-duncan-24914_preparing-for-war_preparing-for-war-as-was-well-known-in-o_1662827.jpg" --- # Preparing for war, as was well known in other lands but… ![“Preparing for war, as was well known in other lands but perhaps not then in that one, is usually a self-fulfilling precaution.” quote by Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/dave-duncan-24914_preparing-for-war_preparing-for-war-as-was-well-known-in-o_1662827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/dave-duncan-24914_preparing-for-war_preparing-for-war-as-was-well-known-in-o_1662827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/dave-duncan-24914_preparing-for-war_preparing-for-war-as-was-well-known-in-o_1662827.jpg) > ““Preparing for war, as was well known in other lands but perhaps not then in that one, is usually a self-fulfilling precaution.”” [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preparing for war can become a self‑fulfilling prophecy, as the act of preparation itself may cause the conflict. **In simple terms:** War prep can cause the war. Key Takeaway Avoid creating the problem you fear. Themes war preparation self‑fulfilling prophecy Mood cautionary reflective Type narrative thematic When to use this quote - military planning - political tension - personal stress management Key Concepts strategic anxiety psychology of conflict preventive measures Questions to Reflect On - How does preparation influence outcomes? - When does caution become paranoia? A Different Perspective Over‑preparing can waste resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Precaution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precaution/) [Preparing for war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparing-for-war/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [He would see civilization in danger of perishing under the oppression of a gigantic paradox: he would see multitudes of people starving in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-henderson/he-would-see-civilization-in-danger-of-perishing-under-the-oppression/) [Arthur Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-henderson/) > [Isn't it strange how the leaders of nations can talk so eloquently about peace while they prepare for war? ... 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Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [When they are preparing for war, those who rule by force speak most copiously about peace until they have completed the mobilization process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/when-they-are-preparing-for-war-those-who-rule-by-force-speak-most/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [Striving for peace and preparing for war are incompatible with each other, and in our time more so than ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/striving-for-peace-and-preparing-for-war-are-incompatible-with-each/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Our modern states are preparing for war without even knowing the future enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/our-modern-states-are-preparing-for-war-without-even-knowing-the/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [All patriarchal societies are either preparing for war, at war, or recovering from war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/all-patriarchal-societies-are-either-preparing-for-war-at-war-or/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“Sometimes the women much resent the men who call for war and have been known to rush upon them and beat them severely about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/sometimes-the-women-much-resent-the-men-who-call-for-war-and-have/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [“He who has not known war has not known God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-willocks/he-who-has-not-known-war-has-not-known-god/) [Tim Willocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-willocks/) > [Hate was just a legend and war was never known. The people worked together and they lifted many stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/hate-was-just-a-legend-and-war-was-never-known-the-people-worked-2/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [“Hate was just a legend And war was never known The people worked together And they lifted many stones. They carried them to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/hate-was-just-a-legend-and-war-was-never-known-the-people-worked/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/rely-not-on-the-likelihood-of-the-enemy-s-not-coming-but-on-our-own/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Rogers held that there is not one fact or piece of data that will ever make war (or even preparing for war) morally permissible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-long/rogers-held-that-there-is-not-one-fact-or-piece-of-data-that-will/) [Michael G. Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-long/) ## More by Dave Duncan > [“But not all its avenues were paved with marble nor all its denizens dwellers in palaces. 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In the darkness of the womb a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/what-was-wrong-with-darkness-in-the-darkness-of-the-earth-the-mother/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“ first reaction to the indescribable, stupid, and undignified procedure required for procreation had been disappointment...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/first-reaction-to-the-indescribable-stupid-and-undignified-procedure/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) [Explore all 23 Dave Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) ## 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. 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