---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wars are fought on objectives, not on…"
description: "\"Wars are fought on objectives, not on timetable, and that's why I've been so insistent upon not allowing ourselves to have policy driven by time table,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/george-w-bush-64_allowing_wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-tim_2938949.jpg"
---

#  Wars are fought on objectives, not on timetable, and…

![“Wars are fought on objectives, not on timetable, and that's why I've been so insistent upon not allowing ourselves to have policy driven by time table, but by objective.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/george-w-bush-64_allowing_wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-tim_2938949.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/george-w-bush-64_allowing_wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-tim_2938949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/george-w-bush-64_allowing_wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-tim_2938949.jpg)

> “Wars are fought on objectives, not on timetable, and that's why I've been so insistent upon not allowing ourselves to have policy driven by time table, but by objective.”

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

An argument that objectives, not schedules, should drive policy, emphasizing purpose over arbitrary timelines.

**In simple terms:** Focus on goals, not deadlines.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize objectives.

Themes

policy objectives time management

Mood

strategic practical

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- government decision making
- project management
- resource allocation

Key Concepts

strategic planning goal orientation

Questions to Reflect On

- What objectives guide your decisions?
- How do you balance urgency with purpose?

A Different Perspective

Time constraints can be necessary.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/)

## Related quotes

> [Through a policy driven approach we have wage a war against poverty and we are confident we will win this war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/through-a-policy-driven-approach-we-have-wage-a-war-against-poverty/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [You know policy is driven purely in self interest. The Federal Reserve Bank and the commercial banks and the Wall Street banks are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-keiser/you-know-policy-is-driven-purely-in-self-interest-the-federal-reserve/)

[Max Keiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-keiser/)

> [Policy is driven by more than politics, however. It is equally driven by ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/policy-is-driven-by-more-than-politics-however-it-is-equally-driven/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [Energy Policy will be and should be driven by environmental policy in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wirth/energy-policy-will-be-and-should-be-driven-by-environmental-policy-in/)

[Tim Wirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wirth/)

> [We will stay the course until the job is done, Steve. And the temptation is to try to get the President or somebody to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-stay-the-course-until-the-job-is-done-steve-and-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [As Iraqi forces gain experience and the political process advances, we will be able to decrease our troop level in Iraq without losing our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-iraqi-forces-gain-experience-and-the-political-process-advances-we/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I don't mind people trying to pick apart my policies, and that's fine and that's fair game. But, you know, I don't think we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-don-t-mind-people-trying-to-pick-apart-my-policies-and-that-s-fine/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [...By allowing businesses to expense up to $75,000, it means somebody is more likely to buy a copying machine, or in this case, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/by-allowing-businesses-to-expense-up-to-75-000-it-means-somebody-is/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“And yet, even though we know wars have been fought over Love, even though we know it is that powerful a force, when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-tarr/and-yet-even-though-we-know-wars-have-been-fought-over-love-even/)

Jeremy Tarr

> [Ever since wars have been fought, guys have been writing their stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-webb/ever-since-wars-have-been-fought-guys-have-been-writing-their-stories/)

[Brandon Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-webb/)

> [Most wars are fought for greed, but we are luckier here we fight for our lives and the lives of the people we love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/most-wars-are-fought-for-greed-but-we-are-luckier-here-we-fight-for/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [Wars are indeed fought by children, by young people who have little to say in where they are sent to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-shaara/wars-are-indeed-fought-by-children-by-young-people-who-have-little-to/)

[Jeff Shaara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-shaara/)

> [The biggest farce of man's history has been the argument that wars are fought to save civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-mckenzie/the-biggest-farce-of-man-s-history-has-been-the-argument-that-wars/)

[Charles E. McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-mckenzie/)

> [Wars are fought for the benefit of oligarchs, triumphs bought with the blood of peons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/wars-are-fought-for-the-benefit-of-oligarchs-triumphs-bought-with-the/)

[Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/)

> [Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/wars-may-be-fought-with-weapons-but-they-are-won-by-men-it-is-the/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

## More by George W. Bush

> [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

[Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## More Allowing quotes

> [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Is the minor convenience of allowing the present generation the luxury of doubling its energy consumption every 10 years worth the major hazard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/is-the-minor-convenience-of-allowing-the-present-generation-the/)

[David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/)

> [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [“Once again I was shamelessly allowing myself to be defined by another person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginny-babcock-kinflicks/once-again-i-was-shamelessly-allowing-myself-to-be-defined-by-another/)

Ginny Babcock Kinflicks

> [Even when I was saying I was Agnostic and trying to figure out my thoughts, I felt God was allowing me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/even-when-i-was-saying-i-was-agnostic-and-trying-to-figure-out-my/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [By allowing multiple partners to contribute, an open platform can nurture an entire ecosystem of developers and apps. Good products integrate and become great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/by-allowing-multiple-partners-to-contribute-an-open-platform-can/)

[Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/)

> [When you ask for patience, what you get is a line at the bank. In other words, life gives you the people, places, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/when-you-ask-for-patience-what-you-get-is-a-line-at-the-bank-in-other/)

[Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/)

> [Sometimes, I get afraid it has defined me, that sense of grief, loss and illness. But actually, it is about allowing myself to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-afraid-it-has-defined-me-that-sense-of-grief-loss-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Meditation is actually a very simple exercise in resting in the natural state of your present mind, and allowing yourself to be simply and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/meditation-is-actually-a-very-simple-exercise-in-resting-in-the/)

[Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/)

> [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/)

[Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/)

> [The only reason I would write a break-up song is because my own problem of allowing myself to relate to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zola-jesus/the-only-reason-i-would-write-a-break-up-song-is-because-my-own/)

[Zola Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zola-jesus/)

> [I just think fashion is about enjoying yourself and being comfortable in your skin and allowing you to be you - all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-just-think-fashion-is-about-enjoying-yourself-and-being-comfortable/)

[Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/)

> [I don't think there's any harm at all in allowing a kid to fantasize. In fact, I think to stop people from fantasizing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-harm-at-all-in-allowing-a-kid-to-fantasize/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [All I wanted to do was put together one of the best home maths systems in the world, and that's what we've done. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-vorderman/all-i-wanted-to-do-was-put-together-one-of-the-best-home-maths/)

[Carol Vorderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-vorderman/)

> [I want to deal with the homeless situation here in Washington, D.C. I think it is a travesty that we've got men - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-deal-with-the-homeless-situation-here-in-washington-d-c-i/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

Browse all 916 Allowing quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Wars are fought on objectives, not on timetable, and that's why I've been so insistent upon not allowing ourselves to have policy driven by time table, but by objective.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George W. Bush"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-timetable-and-that-s-why-i-ve/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Allowing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-timetable-and-that-s-why-i-ve/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/george-w-bush-64_allowing_wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-tim_2938949.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/george-w-bush-64_allowing_wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-tim_2938949.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/george-w-bush-64_allowing_wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-tim_2938949.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Wars are fought on objectives, not on timetable, and that's why I've been so insistent upon not allowing…” — George W. Bush",
                "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": "George W. Bush",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Wars are fought on objectives, not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-timetable-and-that-s-why-i-ve/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/wars-are-fought-on-objectives-not-on-timetable-and-that-s-why-i-ve/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
