--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never justify, sustain, or in any way…" description: "\"I never justify, sustain, or in any way or to any extent uphold this cruel, heartless, aimless unnecessary war.\" — Franklin Pierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/franklin-pierce-24059_heartless_i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or_1825328.jpg" --- # I never justify, sustain, or in any way or to any extent… ![“I never justify, sustain, or in any way or to any extent uphold this cruel, heartless, aimless unnecessary war.” quote by Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/franklin-pierce-24059_heartless_i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or_1825328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/franklin-pierce-24059_heartless_i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or_1825328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/franklin-pierce-24059_heartless_i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or_1825328.jpg) > “I never justify, sustain, or in any way or to any extent uphold this cruel, heartless, aimless unnecessary war.” [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rejecting all justification for a cruel, pointless war. **In simple terms:** War is unjust and senseless. Key Takeaway Condemn war and promote peace. Themes war morality peace Mood determined serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - activism - policy advocacy - education - peacebuilding Key Concepts ethics politics human rights Questions to Reflect On - How can we prevent such wars? - What alternatives exist to conflict? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics can complicate moral judgments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aimless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aimless/) [Heartless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartless/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Unnecessary war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnecessary-war/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [But insensate Time is nothing if not cruel and heartless. It corrodes then destroys, so that the man you literally and figuratively looked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-de-la-pava/but-insensate-time-is-nothing-if-not-cruel-and-heartless-it-corrodes-2/) [Sergio De La Pava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-de-la-pava/) > [It's a cruel, heartless world out there in commercial rock 'n' roll, and when you take as much time off as we did, eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-weymouth/it-s-a-cruel-heartless-world-out-there-in-commercial-rock-n-roll-and/) [Tina Weymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-weymouth/) > [What seems cruel and heartless to one is common sense for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/what-seems-cruel-and-heartless-to-one-is-common-sense-for-another/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [“As a man branded by society as a cruel and heartless prince himself, Kit saw so much of himself in Esme. Even though he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-stangl/as-a-man-branded-by-society-as-a-cruel-and-heartless-prince-himself/) [Kristina Stangl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-stangl/) > [“In other words, what looks like cruel and heartless from one angle might, from another, actually be the only way to protect your family.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/in-other-words-what-looks-like-cruel-and-heartless-from-one-angle/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [One day President Roosevelt told me that he was asking publicly for suggestions about what the war should be called. I said at once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-day-president-roosevelt-told-me-that-he-was-asking-publicly-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the American political lexicon, 'change' always means more of the same: more government, more looting of Americans, more inflation, more police-state measures, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/in-the-american-political-lexicon-change-always-means-more-of-the/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [It is now highly feasible to take care of everybody on Earth at a higher standard of living than any have ever known. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/it-is-now-highly-feasible-to-take-care-of-everybody-on-earth-at-a/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Tis a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/tis-a-common-observation-here-that-our-cause-is-the-cause-of-all/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [It's a sad day when the leaders of the free world engage in such deception and trickery. I voted against this unnecessary war and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/it-s-a-sad-day-when-the-leaders-of-the-free-world-engage-in-such/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [It is said by Bush men and women that we fought (the Iraq War) to strike against terrorism - except that Iraq had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-pitts/it-is-said-by-bush-men-and-women-that-we-fought-the-iraq-war-to/) [Leonard Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-pitts/) > [Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/great-is-the-guilt-of-an-unnecessary-war/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > ['The Underland Chronicles' is an unnecessary war for a very long time until it becomes a necessary war, because there have been all these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-underland-chronicles-is-an-unnecessary-war-for-a-very-long-time/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Selfishness is unnecessary. War is obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/selfishness-is-unnecessary-war-is-obsolete/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [America is constantly involved in unnecessary wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/america-is-constantly-involved-in-unnecessary-wars/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## More by Franklin Pierce > [“ouch, an egg!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/ouch-an-egg/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [I speak of the war as fruitless; for it is clear that, prosecuted upon the basis of the proclamations of September 22d and September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-is-clear-that-prosecuted-upon/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [Frequently the more trifling the subject, the more animated and protracted the discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/frequently-the-more-trifling-the-subject-the-more-animated-and/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [I cannot find any authority in the Constitution for public charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-cannot-find-any-authority-in-the-constitution-for-public-charity/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [A Republic without parties is a complete anomaly. The histories of all popular governments show absurd is the idea of their attempting to exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/a-republic-without-parties-is-a-complete-anomaly-the-histories-of-all/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [The founders of the Republic dealt with things as they were presented to them, in a spirit of self sacrificing Patriotism and as time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/the-founders-of-the-republic-dealt-with-things-as-they-were-presented/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [If your past is limited, your future is boundless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/if-your-past-is-limited-your-future-is-boundless/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [READILY and, I trust, feelingly acknowledge the duty incumbent on us all . . . to provide for those who, in the mysterious order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/readily-and-i-trust-feelingly-acknowledge-the-duty-incumbent-on-us/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [You have summoned me in my weakness. You must sustain me in your strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/you-have-summoned-me-in-my-weakness-you-must-sustain-me-in-your/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [While men inhabiting different parts of this vast continent cannot be expected to hold the same opinions, they can untie in a common objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/while-men-inhabiting-different-parts-of-this-vast-continent-cannot-be/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [It must be felt that there is no national security but in the nation's humble, acknowledged dependence upon God and His overruling providence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/it-must-be-felt-that-there-is-no-national-security-but-in-the-nation/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [I find the remark, "Tis distance lends enchantment to the view" is no less true of the political than of the natural world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-find-the-remark-tis-distance-lends-enchantment-to-the-view-is-no/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [With the Union my best and dearest earthly hopes are entwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/with-the-union-my-best-and-dearest-earthly-hopes-are-entwined/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [There's nothing left . . . but to get drunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/there-s-nothing-left-but-to-get-drunk/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [In expressing briefly my views upon an important subject which has recently agitated the nation..., I fervently hope that the question is at rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/in-expressing-briefly-my-views-upon-an-important-subject-which-has/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) [Explore all 25 Franklin Pierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) ## More Aimless quotes > [An objective is an ambition, and life without ambition is ... well, aimless wandering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-wainwright/an-objective-is-an-ambition-and-life-without-ambition-is-well-aimless/) [Alfred Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-wainwright/) > [The ellipse is as aimless as that, Stretching invisibly into the future so as to reappear In our present. Its flexing is its account,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashbery/the-ellipse-is-as-aimless-as-that-stretching-invisibly-into-the/) [John Ashbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashbery/) > [“As the crow flies. That’s how she liked to walk. So what if she had nowhere to go? So what if no one on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-pascal/as-the-crow-flies-that-s-how-she-liked-to-walk-so-what-if-she-had/) [Francine Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-pascal/) > [“To be useful was the best thing the old men ever hoped for themselves, and to be aimless was their worst fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/to-be-useful-was-the-best-thing-the-old-men-ever-hoped-for-themselves/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Aimless drifting also fulfills an intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/aimless-drifting-also-fulfills-an-intention/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I was going to say he's aimless," the witch replied. "I know he's a bit old to be old to living at home with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buckley/i-was-going-to-say-he-s-aimless-the-witch-replied-i-know-he-s-a-bit/) [Michael Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buckley/) > [To the Taoist mentality, the aimless, empty life does not suggest anything depressing. On the contrary, it suggests the freedom of clouds and mountain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/to-the-taoist-mentality-the-aimless-empty-life-does-not-suggest/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Even aimless journeys have a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-horwitz/even-aimless-journeys-have-a-purpose/) [Tony Horwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-horwitz/) > [We all know them — the unstructured person whose every action seems aimless and the totally organized person whose every action defeats some purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/we-all-know-them-the-unstructured-person-whose-every-action-seems/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“\[ Responding to the Bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce's question whether he traced his descent from an ape on his mother's or his father's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/responding-to-the-bishop-of-oxford-samuel-wilberforce-s-question/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Aimless person is a shameless person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/aimless-person-is-a-shameless-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's funny how aimless a person can feel at times, even when they know God is in control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fabry/it-s-funny-how-aimless-a-person-can-feel-at-times-even-when-they-know/) [Chris Fabry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fabry/) > [Intelligence in isolation turns to aimless marauding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/intelligence-in-isolation-turns-to-aimless-marauding/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The white people were as thick and numerous and aimless as grasshoppers, moving always in a hurry but never seeming to get to whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-brown/the-white-people-were-as-thick-and-numerous-and-aimless-as/) [Dee Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-brown/) > [Far away, our dreams have nothing to do with what we do. The wind carries the night, and passes on, aimless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/far-away-our-dreams-have-nothing-to-do-with-what-we-do-the-wind/) [Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/) [Browse all 49 Aimless quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aimless/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never justify, sustain, or in any way or to any extent uphold this cruel, heartless, aimless unnecessary war.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin Pierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or-to-any-extent-uphold-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aimless" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or-to-any-extent-uphold-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/franklin-pierce-24059_heartless_i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or_1825328.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/franklin-pierce-24059_heartless_i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or_1825328.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/franklin-pierce-24059_heartless_i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or_1825328.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never justify, sustain, or in any way or to any extent uphold this cruel, heartless, aimless unnecessary…” — Franklin Pierce", "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": "Franklin Pierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never justify, sustain, or in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or-to-any-extent-uphold-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or-to-any-extent-uphold-this/#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 } } ] } ```