--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: War is no picnic. Wars should be…" description: "\"War is no picnic. Wars should be prevented, and if you can't prevent them, you have to put them off.\" — Ehud Barak" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/ehud-barak-4791_peace_war-is-no-picnic-wars-should-be-prevente_1493717.png" --- # War is no picnic. Wars should be prevented, and if you… ![“War is no picnic. Wars should be prevented, and if you can't prevent them, you have to put them off.” quote by Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/ehud-barak-4791_peace_war-is-no-picnic-wars-should-be-prevente_1493717.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/ehud-barak-4791_peace_war-is-no-picnic-wars-should-be-prevente_1493717.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/ehud-barak-4791_peace_war-is-no-picnic-wars-should-be-prevente_1493717.png) > “War is no picnic. Wars should be prevented, and if you can't prevent them, you have to put them off.” [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War causes immense suffering; preventing it is ideal, otherwise delaying conflict reduces harm. **In simple terms:** War is terrible; avoid it, or postpone if unavoidable. Key Takeaway Seek peace, prepare for conflict mitigation. Themes peace conflict prevention policy Mood serious concerned Type political strategic When to use this quote - government negotiations - military planning - diplomacy - crisis management Key Concepts deterrence strategic delay human cost Questions to Reflect On - What measures can truly prevent war? - How can societies balance deterrence and diplomacy? A Different Perspective Delaying war may still cause casualties and instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Picnic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picnic/) [Picnic Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picnic-wars-5461240/) [Prevented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevented-237138/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Picnic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-picnic-2432646/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) [Wars Prevented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars-prevented-3758081/) ## Related quotes > [Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked, and we who fail to prevent them, must share the guilt for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/wars-can-be-prevented-just-as-surely-as-they-can-be-provoked-and-we/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [“War's never a picnic. Although obviously soldiers do end up eating outdoors quite a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/war-s-never-a-picnic-although-obviously-soldiers-do-end-up-eating/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [If governments were kind, they'd realize that conficts are resolved and wars prevented not by armies but by ordinary people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scilla-elworthy/if-governments-were-kind-they-d-realize-that-conficts-are-resolved/) [Scilla Elworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scilla-elworthy/) > [“Honestly, being in hiding during the fourth year of the war is no picnic. If only the whole stinking mess were over! To”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/honestly-being-in-hiding-during-the-fourth-year-of-the-war-is-no/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [There was no silver bullet that could have prevented the 11 September attacks. There was nothing demonstrating or showing that something was coming in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/there-was-no-silver-bullet-that-could-have-prevented-the-11-september/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/i-saw-that-the-war-could-not-be-prevented-the-time-had-passed/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [There must have been something in my nature - I believe, with all my heart, that I have conquered it now - which prevented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-veidt/there-must-have-been-something-in-my-nature-i-believe-with-all-my/) [Conrad Veidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-veidt/) > [“I believe we have this idea that bad things ought to be prevented from happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/i-believe-we-have-this-idea-that-bad-things-ought-to-be-prevented/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“There lies the whole crux of the matter; what cannot be prevented must be borne”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-lofts/there-lies-the-whole-crux-of-the-matter-what-cannot-be-prevented-must/) [Norah Lofts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-lofts/) > [“Two types of prophecies exist. Those that will happen no matter what, and those that can be prevented. We can't know which is which.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emlyn-chand/two-types-of-prophecies-exist-those-that-will-happen-no-matter-what/) [Emlyn Chand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emlyn-chand/) > [“Nothing could have been prevented. But still you know that somehow something wasn't watching. Something let attention lapse, releasing everything that follows, as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-smartt-bell/nothing-could-have-been-prevented-but-still-you-know-that-somehow/) [Madison Smartt Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-smartt-bell/) > [Climate change is not going to be prevented. It's not even going to be mitigated to the degree a rational person would want. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-jamieson/climate-change-is-not-going-to-be-prevented-it-s-not-even-going-to-be/) [Dale Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-jamieson/) > [Impossibility never prevented anything from happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/impossibility-never-prevented-anything-from-happening/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [A man can be prevented from breaking into other persons' houses by shutting him up, but shutting him up may not alter his disposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-man-can-be-prevented-from-breaking-into-other-persons-houses-by/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The events which can not be prevented, must be directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/the-events-which-can-not-be-prevented-must-be-directed/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) ## More by Ehud Barak > [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [There is a thin line between peace of the brave and peace of the hostage... between compromise - even calculated risk - and irresponsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/there-is-a-thin-line-between-peace-of-the-brave-and-peace-of-the/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The Middle East is a region where predictions go to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/the-middle-east-is-a-region-where-predictions-go-to-die/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The Israel legendary foreign minister, Abba Eban, used to say that the Palestinians had never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/the-israel-legendary-foreign-minister-abba-eban-used-to-say-that-the/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [With the globalization, it's difficult for governments to impose decisions on private companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/with-the-globalization-it-s-difficult-for-governments-to-impose/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I delivered lectures, and I was also a consultant for international companies in finance, both private equity and big venture capital funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-delivered-lectures-and-i-was-also-a-consultant-for-international/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The aim of the Palestinian terror is not just to kill Israelis but also to break the will of Israeli society in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/the-aim-of-the-palestinian-terror-is-not-just-to-kill-israelis-but/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I will not discuss future hypothetical situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-will-not-discuss-future-hypothetical-situations/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I am the Israeli leader who met most with Arafat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-am-the-israeli-leader-who-met-most-with-arafat/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [At this place, Jews have prayed throughout the generations, and it is fitting that the message of brotherhood should go out from here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/at-this-place-jews-have-prayed-throughout-the-generations-and-it-is/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [Hezbollah will support Assad to the end because his continuing hold on power is critical to its own survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/hezbollah-will-support-assad-to-the-end-because-his-continuing-hold/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I know Fiat plans to start manufacturing cars in Iran. This is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-know-fiat-plans-to-start-manufacturing-cars-in-iran-this-is-wrong/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I remember my days as a graduate student at Stanford, within any leading university, a very active Israeli support, for Israel, Jews fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-remember-my-days-as-a-graduate-student-at-stanford-within-any/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The Left is acting like a young child, saying 'I want peace'... A child says 'I want candy right away,' an adult takes all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/the-left-is-acting-like-a-young-child-saying-i-want-peace-a-child/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [As prime minister, I was the Israeli leader who walked the greatest distance in his offers to the Palestinians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/as-prime-minister-i-was-the-israeli-leader-who-walked-the-greatest/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) [Explore all 106 Ehud Barak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) ## 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. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) [W.J. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-turner/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [“There is no fortune greater than peace; there is no force greater than peace; there is no excellent tapas greater than peace; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muruganar/there-is-no-fortune-greater-than-peace-there-is-no-force-greater-than/) [Muruganar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muruganar/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,655 Peace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "War is no picnic. 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