--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: War's very object is victory, not…" description: "\"War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war there is no substitute for victory.\" — Douglas MacArthur" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/douglas-macarthur-2344_indecision_war-s-very-object-is-victory-not-prolong_1758958.png" --- # War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. In… ![“War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war there is no substitute for victory.” quote by Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/douglas-macarthur-2344_indecision_war-s-very-object-is-victory-not-prolong_1758958.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/douglas-macarthur-2344_indecision_war-s-very-object-is-victory-not-prolong_1758958.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/douglas-macarthur-2344_indecision_war-s-very-object-is-victory-not-prolong_1758958.png) > “War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war there is no substitute for victory.” [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War aims for decisive victory, not endless stalemate; success is the only acceptable outcome. **In simple terms:** War seeks victory, not endless indecision. Key Takeaway Prioritize decisive action. Themes war strategy leadership Mood determined serious Type strategic motivational When to use this quote - battlefield command - political negotiations - conflict resolution Key Concepts military doctrine decision theory Questions to Reflect On - Is endless conflict ever justified? - How to balance decisive action with ethical concerns? A Different Perspective Victory may demand high costs and collateral damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Indecision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indecision/) [Indecision War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indecision-war-1675370/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Substitutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substitutes/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Victory Prolonged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory-prolonged-1318387/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Object](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-object-1073443/) [War Substitute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-substitute-1675371/) ## Related quotes > [Once war is forced upon us, there is no alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/once-war-is-forced-upon-us-there-is-no-alternative-than-to-apply/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [In war, indeed, there can be no substitute for victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-indeed-there-can-be-no-substitute-for-victory/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [In war there is no substitute for victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-there-is-no-substitute-for-victory/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [We accepted this war for an object, a worthy object, and the war will end when that object is attained. Under God, I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-accepted-this-war-for-an-object-a-worthy-object-and-the-war-will/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“General Douglas MacArthur said, “In war there is no substitute for victory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/general-douglas-macarthur-said-in-war-there-is-no-substitute-for/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/what-is-essential-in-war-is-victory-not-prolonged-operations/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited . . . What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/there-has-never-been-a-protracted-war-from-which-a-country-has-2/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [For those to whom much is given, much is required. It is not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/for-those-to-whom-much-is-given-much-is-required-it-is-not-whether/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Indecision is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-is-a-decision/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only thing we don't do together is get in front of an actor and show any indecision at all about what we think.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-farrelly/the-only-thing-we-don-t-do-together-is-get-in-front-of-an-actor-and/) [Bobby Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-farrelly/) > [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Follow your heart, but don't leave your brain behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-van-zyl/follow-your-heart-but-don-t-leave-your-brain-behind/) [Matthew Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-van-zyl/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) ## More by Douglas MacArthur > [Men since the beginning of time have sought peace...military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn have failed, leaving the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/men-since-the-beginning-of-time-have-sought-peace-military-alliances/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/people-of-the-philippines-i-have-returned-by-the-grace-of-almighty/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [I stand on this rostrum with a sense of deep humility and great pride - humility in the weight of those great American architects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-stand-on-this-rostrum-with-a-sense-of-deep-humility-and-great-pride/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/our-country-is-now-geared-to-an-arms-economy-bred-in-an-artificially/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [If I had one more division like this First Marine Division I could win this war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/if-i-had-one-more-division-like-this-first-marine-division-i-could/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [However horrible the incidents of war may be, the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life for his country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/however-horrible-the-incidents-of-war-may-be-the-soldier-who-is/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [While Asia is commonly referred to as the Gateway to Europe, it is no less true that Europe is the Gateway to Asia, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/while-asia-is-commonly-referred-to-as-the-gateway-to-europe-it-is-no/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [I believe that the entire effort of modern society should be concentrated on the endeavor to outlaw war as a method of the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-believe-that-the-entire-effort-of-modern-society-should-be/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [In war, as it is waged now, with the enormous losses on both sides, both sides will lose. It is a form of mutual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-as-it-is-waged-now-with-the-enormous-losses-on-both-sides-both/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-am-concerned-for-the-security-of-our-great-nation-not-so-much/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [I've looked that old scoundrel death in the eye many times but this time I think he has me on the ropes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-ve-looked-that-old-scoundrel-death-in-the-eye-many-times-but-this/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/age-wrinkles-the-body-quitting-wrinkles-the-soul/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [For those to whom much is given, much is required. It is not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/for-those-to-whom-much-is-given-much-is-required-it-is-not-whether/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [In war, you win or lose, live or die - and the difference is just an eyelash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-you-win-or-lose-live-or-die-and-the-difference-is-just-an/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Beware not the enemy from 'without' but the enemy from 'within'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/beware-not-the-enemy-from-without-but-the-enemy-from-within/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) [Explore all 171 Douglas MacArthur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) ## More Indecision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Follow your heart, but don't leave your brain behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-van-zyl/follow-your-heart-but-don-t-leave-your-brain-behind/) [Matthew Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-van-zyl/) > [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [The only thing we don't do together is get in front of an actor and show any indecision at all about what we think.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-farrelly/the-only-thing-we-don-t-do-together-is-get-in-front-of-an-actor-and/) [Bobby Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-farrelly/) > [Indecision is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-is-a-decision/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The past tense of regret is indecision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/welcome-to-nightvale-podcast/the-past-tense-of-regret-is-indecision/) [Welcome to Nightvale Podcast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/welcome-to-nightvale-podcast/) > [“To him, a stilted geometric love of arrangement was “system,” and indefatigable and feverish interest in the pettiest facets of day-to-day bureaucracy was “industry”,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/to-him-a-stilted-geometric-love-of-arrangement-was-system-and/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Luckily, even as a young man not yet become himself, John Bridgens had two things besides indecision that kept him from self-destruction - books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/luckily-even-as-a-young-man-not-yet-become-himself-john-bridgens-had/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“Sounds like a great place to get killed. Hard pass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-lanzing/sounds-like-a-great-place-to-get-killed-hard-pass/) [Jackson Lanzing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-lanzing/) > [Indecision is the most unsexy thing on the planet. I dont know if Im sexy but I think decisiveness is sexy. I also lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/indecision-is-the-most-unsexy-thing-on-the-planet-i-dont-know-if-im/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [“Fear, indecision, not knowing—these are the obstacles that keep you from moving forward. And they never go away. But if you are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/fear-indecision-not-knowing-these-are-the-obstacles-that-keep-you/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“ 'We cannot decide,' the Witness for the Treasury said. 'We are sorry, but it is the truth.' 'May we suggest that indecisiveness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-addison/we-cannot-decide-the-witness-for-the-treasury-said-we-are-sorry-but/) [Katherine Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-addison/) > [“Was it a moment of indecision or was it a moment of redemption. Redemption long overdue and long unacknowledged? They didn’t know. He suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-pande/was-it-a-moment-of-indecision-or-was-it-a-moment-of-redemption/) [Vinod Pande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-pande/) [Browse all 266 Indecision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indecision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. 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