--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I speak of the war as fruitless; for it…" description: "\"I speak of the war as fruitless; for it is clear that, prosecuted upon the basis of the proclamations of September 22d and September 24th, 1862, prosec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/franklin-pierce-24059_bases_i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-i_525706.jpg" --- # I speak of the war as fruitless; for it is clear that… ![“I speak of the war as fruitless; for it is clear that, prosecuted upon the basis of the proclamations of September 22d and September 24th, 1862, prosecuted, as I must understand these proclamations, to say nothing of the kindred blood which has followed, upon the theory of emancipation…” quote by Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/franklin-pierce-24059_bases_i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-i_525706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/franklin-pierce-24059_bases_i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-i_525706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/franklin-pierce-24059_bases_i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-i_525706.jpg) > “I speak of the war as fruitless; for it is clear that, prosecuted upon the basis of the proclamations of September 22d and September 24th, 1862, prosecuted, as I must understand these proclamations, to say nothing of the kindred blood which has followed, upon the theory of emancipation, devastation, subjugation, it cannot fail to be fruitless in every thing except the harvest of woe which it is ripening for what was once the peerless republic.” [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. The speaker argues that the war, driven by emancipation, is ultimately futile, causing only suffering and loss for the nation. **In simple terms:** War brings only suffering and loss. Key Takeaway Recognize the human cost of conflict. Themes war emancipation human cost politics futility Mood somber reflective Type historical political ethical When to use this quote - policy debate - military strategy - public opinion - peace negotiations Key Concepts political theory ethical dilemma historical analysis Questions to Reflect On - Is war ever justified for a moral cause? - How can societies balance ideals with human cost? A Different Perspective The argument may overlook strategic necessities or moral imperatives that justify war. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devastation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devastation/) [Emancipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emancipation/) [Fruitless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruitless/) [Harvest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvest/) [Kindred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindred/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) [September](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september/) [Subjugation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjugation/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Woe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woe/) ## Related quotes > [“If you waste time watering a fruitless tree, fruitful ones may die of thirst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-waste-time-watering-a-fruitless-tree-fruitful-ones-may-die-of/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [The omnipotence of evil has never resulted in anything but fruitless efforts. Our thoughts always escape from whoever tries to smother them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-omnipotence-of-evil-has-never-resulted-in-anything-but-fruitless/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [To exist in an echo chamber and only talk to people with whom we agree is fruitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/to-exist-in-an-echo-chamber-and-only-talk-to-people-with-whom-we/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [Never think of any right effort as being fruitless. All right effort bears fruit, whether we see the results or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/never-think-of-any-right-effort-as-being-fruitless-all-right-effort/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [“You just cannot reason with a turnip. It's fruitless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hays/you-just-cannot-reason-with-a-turnip-it-s-fruitless/) Gary Hays > [“How weak and fruitless must be any word of mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/how-weak-and-fruitless-must-be-any-word-of-mine/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Think of the 40 years of confrontation. What is it we gained?...The old style has exposed itself: it is fruitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergey-akhromeyev/think-of-the-40-years-of-confrontation-what-is-it-we-gained-the-old/) [Sergey Akhromeyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergey-akhromeyev/) > [The prayer that is faithless is fruitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-prayer-that-is-faithless-is-fruitless/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [“But to this Orc-work such a life as we lead has brought us. 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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/) > [I never justify, sustain, or in any way or to any extent uphold this cruel, heartless, aimless unnecessary war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-never-justify-sustain-or-in-any-way-or-to-any-extent-uphold-this/) [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 Bases quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . 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Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. 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That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I speak of the war as fruitless; for it is clear that, prosecuted upon the basis of the proclamations of September 22d and September 24th, 1862, prosecuted, as I must understand these proclamations, to say nothing of the kindred blood which has followed, upon the theory of emancipation, devastation, subjugation, it cannot fail to be fruitless in every thing except the harvest of woe which it is ripening for what was once the peerless republic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin Pierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-is-clear-that-prosecuted-upon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bases" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-is-clear-that-prosecuted-upon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/franklin-pierce-24059_bases_i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-i_525706.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/franklin-pierce-24059_bases_i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-i_525706.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/franklin-pierce-24059_bases_i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-i_525706.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I speak of the war as fruitless; for it is clear that, prosecuted upon the basis of the proclamations of…” — 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 speak of the war as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-is-clear-that-prosecuted-upon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-is-clear-that-prosecuted-upon/#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 } } ] } ```