--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wars are just to those to whom they are…" description: "\"Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary.\" — Edmund Burke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/edmund-burke-400_funny_wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are_2452296.jpg" --- # Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary. ![“Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary.” quote by Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/edmund-burke-400_funny_wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are_2452296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/edmund-burke-400_funny_wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are_2452296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/edmund-burke-400_funny_wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are_2452296.jpg) > “Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary.” [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. War is justified only for those who deem it essential, implying moral subjectivity in conflict. **In simple terms:** War is seen as necessary only by those who need it. Key Takeaway Question necessity before supporting war. Themes morality conflict subjectivity Mood serious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - military decision - public opinion Key Concepts Just war theory ethical relativism Questions to Reflect On - Who decides when war is necessary? - What alternatives exist to war? A Different Perspective War may be misused to rationalize aggression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Total war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/total-war/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not going to marry a third time. It is just not necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robinson/i-m-not-going-to-marry-a-third-time-it-is-just-not-necessary/) [Anne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robinson/) > [I'm not involved in too many wars, where I'm just constantly getting hit, hit, hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-masvidal/i-m-not-involved-in-too-many-wars-where-i-m-just-constantly-getting/) [Jorge Masvidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-masvidal/) > [If women ruled the world, there would be no wars. Just a bunch of jealous countries not talking to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-women-ruled-the-world-there-would-be-no-wars-just-a-bunch-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All wars, whether just or unjust, disastrous or victorious, are waged against the child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eglantyne-jebb/all-wars-whether-just-or-unjust-disastrous-or-victorious-are-waged/) [Eglantyne Jebb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eglantyne-jebb/) > [The morning paper is just as necessary for an American as dew is to the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-morning-paper-is-just-as-necessary-for-an-american-as-dew-is-to/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [...war is just to those for whom it is necessary, and arms are clear of impiety for those who have no hope left but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/war-is-just-to-those-for-whom-it-is-necessary-and-arms-are-clear-of/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [When all beliefs are challenged together, the just and necessary ones have a chance to step forward and re-establish themselves alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/when-all-beliefs-are-challenged-together-the-just-and-necessary-ones/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Man needs colour to live; it's just as necessary an element as fire and water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernand-leger/man-needs-colour-to-live-it-s-just-as-necessary-an-element-as-fire/) [Fernand Leger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernand-leger/) > [War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/war-is-just-when-it-is-necessary-arms-are-permissible-when-there-is/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I was concerned about filling my life up with something important to me. To me, it was just necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-harris/i-was-concerned-about-filling-my-life-up-with-something-important-to/) [Ed Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-harris/) > [Man needs color to live; it's just as necessary an element as fire and water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernand-leger/man-needs-color-to-live-it-s-just-as-necessary-an-element-as-fire-and/) [Fernand Leger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernand-leger/) > [No two wars are ever the same. Some are just, some are unjust, but the basic commonality shared between them all is that young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-riley/no-two-wars-are-ever-the-same-some-are-just-some-are-unjust-but-the/) [Bob Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-riley/) > [I don't get 'Star Wars.' I just don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/i-don-t-get-star-wars-i-just-don-t/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [Take away the robots and the special effects, and Star Wars is just the simple story of a group of friends planning a terrorist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/take-away-the-robots-and-the-special-effects-and-star-wars-is-just/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [We have to have wars now and then just to prove we're top dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-berkeley/we-have-to-have-wars-now-and-then-just-to-prove-we-re-top-dog/) Reginald Berkeley ## 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. But the truth is, this unnatural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/many-of-the-greatest-tyrants-on-the-records-of-history-have-begun/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Wise men will apply their remedies to vices, not to names; to the causes of evil which are permanent, not to the occasional organs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/wise-men-will-apply-their-remedies-to-vices-not-to-names-to-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [My vigour relents. I pardon something to the spirit of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/my-vigour-relents-i-pardon-something-to-the-spirit-of-liberty/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The great must submit to the dominion of prudence and of virtue, or none will long submit to the dominion of thegreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-must-submit-to-the-dominion-of-prudence-and-of-virtue-or/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/those-who-have-been-once-intoxicated-with-power-and-have-derived-any/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [What is it we all seek for in an election? To answer its real purposes, you must first possess the means of knowing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/what-is-it-we-all-seek-for-in-an-election-to-answer-its-real-purposes/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Society is indeed a contract. It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/society-is-indeed-a-contract-it-is-a-partnership-in-all-science-a/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [You can never plan the future by the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/you-can-never-plan-the-future-by-the-past/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The great inlet by which a colour for oppression has entered into the world is by one man's pretending to determine concerning the happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-inlet-by-which-a-colour-for-oppression-has-entered-into-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [By the disposition of a stupendous wisdom, moulding together the great mysterious incorporation of the human race, the whole, at one time, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/by-the-disposition-of-a-stupendous-wisdom-moulding-together-the-great/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Religion, to have any force upon men's understandings,--indeed, to exist at all,--must be supposed paramount to law, and independent for its substance upon any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/religion-to-have-any-force-upon-men-s-understandings-indeed-to-exist/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Explore all 595 Edmund Burke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## More Funny quotes > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers & think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Congratulations to Facebook on going public with all my private information...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-facebook-on-going-public-with-all-my-private/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/) [Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Penis goes in , sperms cums out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/penis-goes-in-sperms-cums-out/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/) [Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/) [Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/) > [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/) Michael Fishman [Browse all 39,858 Funny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Burke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are-necessary/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Funny" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are-necessary/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/edmund-burke-400_funny_wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are_2452296.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/edmund-burke-400_funny_wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are_2452296.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/edmund-burke-400_funny_wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are_2452296.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary.” — Edmund Burke", "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": "Edmund Burke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wars are just to those to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are-necessary/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/wars-are-just-to-those-to-whom-they-are-necessary/#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 } } ] } ```