--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The use of force alone is but temporary…" description: "\"The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment; but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again; and a nation is not govern..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/edmund-burke-400_doe_the-use-of-force-alone-is-but-temporary_2044026.jpg" --- # The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for… ![“The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment; but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again; and a nation is not governed, which is perpetually to be conquered.” quote by Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/edmund-burke-400_doe_the-use-of-force-alone-is-but-temporary_2044026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/edmund-burke-400_doe_the-use-of-force-alone-is-but-temporary_2044026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/edmund-burke-400_doe_the-use-of-force-alone-is-but-temporary_2044026.jpg) > “The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment; but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again; and a nation is not governed, which is perpetually to be conquered.” [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Force alone provides only temporary control; lasting governance requires deeper, ongoing authority. **In simple terms:** Force is temporary; lasting rule needs deeper control. Key Takeaway Build lasting legitimacy beyond force. Themes politics power governance Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - statecraft - revolution - colonial rule - policy making Key Concepts social contract legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - What sustainable structures replace force in governance? - How does legitimacy affect long‑term stability? A Different Perspective Relying on force can breed resistance and instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Use of force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-of-force/) ## Related quotes > [“The excessive use of force creates legitimacy problems, and force without legitimacy leads to defiance, not submission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-excessive-use-of-force-creates-legitimacy-problems-and-force/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I'm not opposed to the use of force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-m-not-opposed-to-the-use-of-force/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Men in Government monopolize the necessary use of force; they are not using their energies productively; they are not milking cows. To get butter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-wilder-lane/men-in-government-monopolize-the-necessary-use-of-force-they-are-not/) [Rose Wilder Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-wilder-lane/) > [The use of force is easy to rationalize in terms of basic economics. 'We should make them PAY for what they've done!' It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-caplan/the-use-of-force-is-easy-to-rationalize-in-terms-of-basic-economics/) [Bryan Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-caplan/) > [I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-can-t-tell-you-if-the-use-of-force-in-iraq-today-will-last-five/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [The use of force is always an answer to problems. Whether or not it's a satisfactory answer depends on a number of things, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-drake/the-use-of-force-is-always-an-answer-to-problems-whether-or-not-it-s/) [David Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-drake/) > [The only justification in the use of force is to reduce the amount of force necessary to be used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-only-justification-in-the-use-of-force-is-to-reduce-the-amount-of/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-friedman/the-direct-use-of-force-is-such-a-poor-solution-to-any-problem-it-is/) [David Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-friedman/) > [The intention behind the protective use of force is to prevent injury, never to punish or to cause individuals to suffer, repent or change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/the-intention-behind-the-protective-use-of-force-is-to-prevent-injury/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Force rules the world-not opinion; but it is opinion that makes use of force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/force-rules-the-world-not-opinion-but-it-is-opinion-that-makes-use-of/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [In some cases, the measured use of force is all that protects us from a chaotic world ruled by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/in-some-cases-the-measured-use-of-force-is-all-that-protects-us-from/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Although violence and the use of force may appear powerful and decisive, their benefits are short-lived. Violence can never bring a lasting and long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-violence-and-the-use-of-force-may-appear-powerful-and/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Civilization is nothing more than the effort to reduce the use of force to the last resort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/civilization-is-nothing-more-than-the-effort-to-reduce-the-use-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [Force rules the world, and not opinion; but opinion is that which makes use of force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/force-rules-the-world-and-not-opinion-but-opinion-is-that-which-makes/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Evil must be confronted in its womb, and, if it can't be done otherwise, then it has to be dealt with by the use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/evil-must-be-confronted-in-its-womb-and-if-it-can-t-be-done-otherwise/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) ## More by Edmund Burke > [It is the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/it-is-the-interest-of-the-commercial-world-that-wealth-should-be/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. 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