--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any government has as much of a duty to…" description: "\"“Any government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck.\" [ On Water ]”\" — Guy de Maupassant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/guy-de-maupassant-1364_duties_any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to_1602735.jpg" --- # Any government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a… ![“Any government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck." [ On Water ]” quote by Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/guy-de-maupassant-1364_duties_any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to_1602735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/guy-de-maupassant-1364_duties_any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to_1602735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/guy-de-maupassant-1364_duties_any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to_1602735.jpg) > ““Any government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck." \[ On Water \]”” [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Governments should avoid war as captains avoid shipwrecks, emphasizing duty to prevent disaster **In simple terms:** Governments must prevent war like captains avoid wrecks Key Takeaway Prioritize prevention over reaction in leadership Themes leadership responsibility peace Mood serious concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - military strategy - public education - crisis planning Key Concepts ethical duty risk management statecraft Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do leaders have to prevent war? - How can governments balance security and peace? A Different Perspective May underestimate complexities of international conflicts ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duties/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Shipwreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shipwreck/) [Stewardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stewardship/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Every government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/every-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to-avoid-war-as-a-ship-s/) [Guy De Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [It is better to meet danger than to wait for it. He that is on a lee shore, and foresees a hurricane, stands out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-better-to-meet-danger-than-to-wait-for-it-he-that-is-on-a-lee/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“In order to avoid shipwreck, wise people usually appoint one captain to navigate the ship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moolesh-k-dindoyal/in-order-to-avoid-shipwreck-wise-people-usually-appoint-one-captain/) moolesh.k.dindoyal > [“The most impressive naval career of all the female sailors is that of William Brown, a black woman who spent at least twelve years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cordingly/the-most-impressive-naval-career-of-all-the-female-sailors-is-that-of/) David Cordingly > [Your life is your ship and you are the captain. Choose your course, take the wheel firmly and get on your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/your-life-is-your-ship-and-you-are-the-captain-choose-your-course/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [I'm like a ship captain: I have a woman in every port.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrique-capriles-radonski/i-m-like-a-ship-captain-i-have-a-woman-in-every-port/) [Henrique Capriles Radonski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrique-capriles-radonski/) > [It is the duty of the ship's captain to make port, cost what it may.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/it-is-the-duty-of-the-ship-s-captain-to-make-port-cost-what-it-may/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [The government's duty is to support basic sciences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasuku-honjo/the-government-s-duty-is-to-support-basic-sciences/) [Tasuku Honjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasuku-honjo/) > [No duty is more imperative for the government than the duty it ;owes the people to furnish them with a sound and uniform currency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/no-duty-is-more-imperative-for-the-government-than-the-duty-it-owes/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [When disaster strikes, our prime objective is to save the maximum number of people. As the person heading the government, my duty is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinarayi-vijayan/when-disaster-strikes-our-prime-objective-is-to-save-the-maximum/) [Pinarayi Vijayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pinarayi-vijayan/) > [We've gone astray from first principles. We've lost sight of the rule that individual freedom and ingenuity are at the very core of everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-ve-gone-astray-from-first-principles-we-ve-lost-sight-of-the-rule/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It is a sound principle of finance, and a still sounder principle of government, that those who have the duty of expending the revenue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-laurier/it-is-a-sound-principle-of-finance-and-a-still-sounder-principle-of/) [Wilfrid Laurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-laurier/) > [Every good government's duty is to do more for the regions that are underdeveloped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-shah/every-good-government-s-duty-is-to-do-more-for-the-regions-that-are/) [Amit Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-shah/) > [A good government is one with a duty to help everyone, to maximise his or her potential: Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mundine/a-good-government-is-one-with-a-duty-to-help-everyone-to-maximise-his/) [Warren Mundine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mundine/) > [Government's first duty and highest obligation is public safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/government-s-first-duty-and-highest-obligation-is-public-safety/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ## More by Guy de Maupassant > [“Because it is useless, and I tell them so at once. If you had confessed your fears to me sooner, I would have reassured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/because-it-is-useless-and-i-tell-them-so-at-once-if-you-had-confessed/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [A legal kiss is never as good as stolen one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/a-legal-kiss-is-never-as-good-as-stolen-one/) [Guy De Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [“Killing is decreed by law but nature loves eternal youth. Whatever she does, however unconscious and unfeeling the act, she seems to cry out:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/killing-is-decreed-by-law-but-nature-loves-eternal-youth-whatever-she/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [There are some delightful places in this world which have a sensual charm for the eyes. One loves them with a physical love. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/there-are-some-delightful-places-in-this-world-which-have-a-sensual/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [A lawful kiss is never worth as much as a stolen one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/a-lawful-kiss-is-never-worth-as-much-as-a-stolen-one/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [“There were some children round him playing in the dust on the paths. They had long fair hair, and with very earnest faces and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/there-were-some-children-round-him-playing-in-the-dust-on-the-paths/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [“When we are young, our mornings are triumphant!” Then”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/when-we-are-young-our-mornings-are-triumphant-then/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [“She was simple, not being able to adorn herself, but she was unhappy, as one out of her class; for women belong to no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/she-was-simple-not-being-able-to-adorn-herself-but-she-was-unhappy-as/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [Whatever you want to say, there is only one word to express it, only one verb to give it movement, only one adjective to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/whatever-you-want-to-say-there-is-only-one-word-to-express-it-only/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [The great artists are those who impose their personal vision upon humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/the-great-artists-are-those-who-impose-their-personal-vision-upon/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [“How fathomless the mystery of the Unseen is! We cannot plumb its depths with our feeble senses - with eyes which cannot see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/how-fathomless-the-mystery-of-the-unseen-is-we-cannot-plumb-its/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [“‟Whatever we may do or attempt, despite the embrace and transports of love, the hunger of the lips, we are always alone. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/whatever-we-may-do-or-attempt-despite-the-embrace-and-transports-of/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [She was the temptress who had ensnared the first man, and who still continued her work at damnation; she was the being who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/she-was-the-temptress-who-had-ensnared-the-first-man-and-who-still/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [Since governments take the right of death over their people, it is not astonishing if the people should sometimes take the right of death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/since-governments-take-the-right-of-death-over-their-people-it-is-not/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [“For some years he had felt weighing on him the burden of loneliness which sometimes overwhelms old bachelors. He had been strong, active and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/for-some-years-he-had-felt-weighing-on-him-the-burden-of-loneliness/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) [Explore all 189 Guy de Maupassant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) ## More Duties quotes > [“You must not allow the hurt of the past to haunt or hinder you from fulfilling and performing your duties as one who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-must-not-allow-the-hurt-of-the-past-to-haunt-or-hinder-you-from/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [knowledge of our duties is the most useful part of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/knowledge-of-our-duties-is-the-most-useful-part-of-philosophy/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Medical physicists work in cooperation with doctors. A few medical physicists devote their time to research and teaching. A few get involved with administrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/medical-physicists-work-in-cooperation-with-doctors-a-few-medical/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [“I truly wanted to live a life in which I could make my own choices, independent of the 'duties' of my birth and position.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-truly-wanted-to-live-a-life-in-which-i-could-make-my-own-choices/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [I guess everybody has to pay duties at the Masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/i-guess-everybody-has-to-pay-duties-at-the-masters/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [Some duties exist simply because we are part of a larger family or community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/some-duties-exist-simply-because-we-are-part-of-a-larger-family-or/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [Duties are ours; events are God's. This removes an infinite burden from the shoulders of a miserable, tempted, dying creature. On this consideration only,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/duties-are-ours-events-are-god-s-this-removes-an-infinite-burden-from/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not-to-be-worried/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we cannot shirk either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-ourselves-and-we-cannot-shirk/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Irrespective of the tasks given to me, I have done my best to discharge my duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/irrespective-of-the-tasks-given-to-me-i-have-done-my-best-to/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [My husband is in charge of all phone, email and texting duties at home. He even has to turn on the TV and air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becki-newton/my-husband-is-in-charge-of-all-phone-email-and-texting-duties-at-home/) [Becki Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becki-newton/) > [I speak for all Malaysians in expressing my admiration for the Queen and the grace, poise and selflessness with which she has carried out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/i-speak-for-all-malaysians-in-expressing-my-admiration-for-the-queen/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [I spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison camp in the dark, fed with scraps. Do you think I want to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-spent-several-years-in-a-north-vietnamese-prison-camp-in-the-dark/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“And he is not at an age right for renunciation; he has not even entered the stage of the householder, as befits a well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-abha-a/and-he-is-not-at-an-age-right-for-renunciation-he-has-not-even/) Bāṇabhaṭṭa > [Where there are no rights, there are no duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/where-there-are-no-rights-there-are-no-duties/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 140 Duties quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duties/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Any government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck.\" [ On Water ]”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Guy de Maupassant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to-avoid-war-as-a-ship-s-captain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duties" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to-avoid-war-as-a-ship-s-captain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/guy-de-maupassant-1364_duties_any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to_1602735.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/guy-de-maupassant-1364_duties_any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to_1602735.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/guy-de-maupassant-1364_duties_any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to_1602735.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Any government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck.\" [ On Water ]” — Guy de Maupassant", "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": "Guy de Maupassant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Any government has as much of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to-avoid-war-as-a-ship-s-captain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to-avoid-war-as-a-ship-s-captain/#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 } } ] } ```