--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: so few people realize that preparedness…" description: "\"so few people realize that preparedness never leads to peace, but that it is indeed the road to universal slaughter.\" — Emma Goldman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/emma-goldman-774_militarism_so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness_2827709.png" --- # so few people realize that preparedness never leads to… ![“so few people realize that preparedness never leads to peace, but that it is indeed the road to universal slaughter.” quote by Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/emma-goldman-774_militarism_so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness_2827709.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/emma-goldman-774_militarism_so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness_2827709.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/emma-goldman-774_militarism_so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness_2827709.png) > “so few people realize that preparedness never leads to peace, but that it is indeed the road to universal slaughter.” [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Readiness for war does not bring peace; it leads to universal slaughter. **In simple terms:** Preparing for war breeds more violence. Key Takeaway Prioritize peace over militarization. Themes peace war preparation violence slaughter Mood urgent critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - activist movements - education programs Key Concepts deterrence theory ethical pacifism political strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies maintain peace without arms? - What alternatives to militarism exist? A Different Perspective Peace can be fragile without enforcement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Militarism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militarism/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-road-3635808/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Realize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-realize/) [Preparedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparedness/) [Realize Preparedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-preparedness-3635807/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaughter/) [Universal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal/) [Universal Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-slaughter-3635806/) ## Related quotes > [There is no road towards peace; peace is the road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/there-is-no-road-towards-peace-peace-is-the-road/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“All my work and all my dealings with people feel very easy. Actually, everything is simple. There is one straight road - if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/all-my-work-and-all-my-dealings-with-people-feel-very-easy-actually/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [If you are losing your peace in your quest for peace, you are not on the road to peace. The road to peace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/if-you-are-losing-your-peace-in-your-quest-for-peace-you-are-not-on/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [You cannot build up a standing army and then throw it back into a box like tin soldiers. Armies equipped to the teeth with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/you-cannot-build-up-a-standing-army-and-then-throw-it-back-into-a-box/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The spirit of militarism has already permeated all walks of life. Indeed, I am convinced that militarism is a greater danger here than anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-spirit-of-militarism-has-already-permeated-all-walks-of-life/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The pathos of it all is that the America which is to be protected by a huge military force is not the America of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-pathos-of-it-all-is-that-the-america-which-is-to-be-protected-by/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [the function of militarism is to kill. It cannot live except through murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-function-of-militarism-is-to-kill-it-cannot-live-except-through/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [readiness,' far far from assuring peace, has at all times and in all countries been instrumental in precipitating armed conflicts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/readiness-far-far-from-assuring-peace-has-at-all-times-and-in-all/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Militarism consumes the strongest and most productive elements of each nation. Militarism swallows the largest part of the national revenue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/militarism-consumes-the-strongest-and-most-productive-elements-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [...The greatest bulwark of capitalism is militarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-greatest-bulwark-of-capitalism-is-militarism/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Very few people realize that the U.S. government does not have the power to order the recall of contaminated meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/very-few-people-realize-that-the-u-s-government-does-not-have-the/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [Some people say we have this inequality because some people have been contributing much more to our society, and so it's fair that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/some-people-say-we-have-this-inequality-because-some-people-have-been/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [“I believe in love but I do not believe in people. And it is people who realize me. to Do not believe in People”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/i-believe-in-love-but-i-do-not-believe-in-people-and-it-is-people-who/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [If Only People REALIZE How Short Life Time Is Maybe. They Are Going To MAXIMIZE Every Fraction Of A Second To Be Happy Whenever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-only-people-realize-how-short-life-time-is-maybe-they-are-going-to/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [I'm a big game show fan. When you're a poor person, you watch game shows. I don't think people realize that. Maybe everybody watches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-anderson/i-m-a-big-game-show-fan-when-you-re-a-poor-person-you-watch-game/) [Louie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-anderson/) ## More by Emma Goldman > [Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name! All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Lack of fairness to an opponent is essentially a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/lack-of-fairness-to-an-opponent-is-essentially-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested - for a while at least. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/only-when-human-sorrows-are-turned-into-a-toy-with-glaring-colors/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [More pernicious than the power of a dictator is that of a class; the most terrible - the tyranny of a majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/more-pernicious-than-the-power-of-a-dictator-is-that-of-a-class-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Love, the strongest and deepest element in all life, the harbinger of hope, of joy, of ecstasy; love, the definer of all laws, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/love-the-strongest-and-deepest-element-in-all-life-the-harbinger-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Whether our reformers admit it or not, the economic and social inferiority of women is responsible for prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/whether-our-reformers-admit-it-or-not-the-economic-and-social/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The free expression of the hopes and aspirations of a people is the greatest and only safety in a sane society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-free-expression-of-the-hopes-and-aspirations-of-a-people-is-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Someone has said that it requires less mental effort to condemn than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/someone-has-said-that-it-requires-less-mental-effort-to-condemn-than/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The persecution of the innovator and protestant has always been inspired by fear on the part of constituted authority of having its infallibility questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-persecution-of-the-innovator-and-protestant-has-always-been/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Order derived through submission and maintained by terror is not much of a safe guaranty; yet that is the only "order" that governments have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/order-derived-through-submission-and-maintained-by-terror-is-not-much/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Today is the parent of tomorrow. The present casts its shadow far into the future. That is the law of life, individual and social.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/today-is-the-parent-of-tomorrow-the-present-casts-its-shadow-far-into/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Salvation lies in an energetic march onward towards a brighter and clearer future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/salvation-lies-in-an-energetic-march-onward-towards-a-brighter-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The more hideous the mental contortions, the greater the delight and bravos of the mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-more-hideous-the-mental-contortions-the-greater-the-delight-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) [Explore all 368 Emma Goldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## More Militarism quotes > [“Nationalism and jingoism—essential corollaries of militarism—are also systemic imperatives because they divide the global working classes, and bind them to the elites oppressing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-derber/nationalism-and-jingoism-essential-corollaries-of-militarism-are-also/) [Charles Derber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-derber/) > [Nationalism, on my opinion, is nothing more than an idealistic rationalization for militarism and aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nationalism-on-my-opinion-is-nothing-more-than-an-idealistic/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The experience of a lot of us women is that too much money is being spent on militarism and war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/the-experience-of-a-lot-of-us-women-is-that-too-much-money-is-being/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [Where else could one find such a perfect combination of American values -- racism, militarism, capitalism -- all packaged in one 'ideal' symbol, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/where-else-could-one-find-such-a-perfect-combination-of-american/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [“We have no managed to acquire bases all over the world—islands distant as the Australian Archipelago which President Roosevelt seized in 1938 without so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/we-have-no-managed-to-acquire-bases-all-over-the-world-islands/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [...The greatest bulwark of capitalism is militarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-greatest-bulwark-of-capitalism-is-militarism/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [We have a very large military community - veterans and others - who basically do believe in the militarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/we-have-a-very-large-military-community-veterans-and-others-who/) [Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/) > [We got a wonderful present from Stalin and Hitler that they never meant to give us. We were immune for 60 years or so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/we-got-a-wonderful-present-from-stalin-and-hitler-that-they-never/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/he-who-joyfully-marches-to-music-in-rank-and-file-has-already-earned/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The system of patriarchy is a historic construct; it has a beginning; it will have an end. Its time seems to have nearly run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/the-system-of-patriarchy-is-a-historic-construct-it-has-a-beginning/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [I think about the trends at the moment in the planet and how it looks for my grandchildren. I don't panic over it, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thurman/i-think-about-the-trends-at-the-moment-in-the-planet-and-how-it-looks/) [Robert Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-thurman/) > [Militarism. . . is the chief bulwark of capitalism. When it is that militarism is undermined, capitalism will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/militarism-is-the-chief-bulwark-of-capitalism-when-it-is-that/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Our young people will learn more about the cult of militarism in this short and accurate book by Joel Andreas than they might learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-bonpane/our-young-people-will-learn-more-about-the-cult-of-militarism-in-this/) [Blase Bonpane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-bonpane/) > [Public office is the last refuge of the scoundrel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boies-penrose/public-office-is-the-last-refuge-of-the-scoundrel/) [Boies Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boies-penrose/) > [The experience of a lot of us women is that too much money is being spent on militarism and war. We need human security:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/the-experience-of-a-lot-of-us-women-is-that-too-much-money-is-being-2/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) [Browse all 138 Militarism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militarism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "so few people realize that preparedness never leads to peace, but that it is indeed the road to universal slaughter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emma Goldman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness-never-leads-to-peace-but-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Militarism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness-never-leads-to-peace-but-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/emma-goldman-774_militarism_so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness_2827709.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/emma-goldman-774_militarism_so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness_2827709.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/emma-goldman-774_militarism_so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness_2827709.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“so few people realize that preparedness never leads to peace, but that it is indeed the road to universal…” — Emma Goldman", "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": "Emma Goldman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "so few people realize that preparedness...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness-never-leads-to-peace-but-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/so-few-people-realize-that-preparedness-never-leads-to-peace-but-that/#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 } } ] } ```