--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every government has as much of a duty to…" description: "\"Every government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck.\" — Guy De Maupassant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/guy-de-maupassant-1364_government_every-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-t_1168037.jpg" --- # Every government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a… ![“Every government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck.” quote by Guy De Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/guy-de-maupassant-1364_government_every-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-t_1168037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/guy-de-maupassant-1364_government_every-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-t_1168037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/guy-de-maupassant-1364_government_every-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-t_1168037.jpg) > “Every government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck.” [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 must avoid war just as captains must avoid shipwrecks; both have a duty to protect. **In simple terms:** Governments must prevent war like captains avoid wrecks. Key Takeaway Prioritize peace and safety in policy. Themes politics responsibility war navigation Mood serious concerned Type political ethical When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - military strategy - public safety planning Key Concepts risk management ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can enforce peace? - How do leaders balance security and aggression? A Different Perspective War may be seen as inevitable by some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [ “Any government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck." \[ On Water \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to-avoid-war-as-a-ship-s-captain/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [No man ever properly calculates from time to time what it is his duty to avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/no-man-ever-properly-calculates-from-time-to-time-what-it-is-his-duty/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [My great wish is to go on in a strict but silent performance of my duty; to avoid attracting notice, and to keep my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-great-wish-is-to-go-on-in-a-strict-but-silent-performance-of-my/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is better to meet danger than to wait for it. 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