--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is well known that in war, the first…" description: "\"It is well known that in war, the first casualty is truth - that during any war truth is forsaken for propaganda.\" — Harry Browne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/harry-browne-3285_casualties_it-is-well-known-that-in-war-the-first-c_1475106.jpg" --- # It is well known that in war, the first casualty is truth… ![“It is well known that in war, the first casualty is truth - that during any war truth is forsaken for propaganda.” quote by Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/harry-browne-3285_casualties_it-is-well-known-that-in-war-the-first-c_1475106.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/harry-browne-3285_casualties_it-is-well-known-that-in-war-the-first-c_1475106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/harry-browne-3285_casualties_it-is-well-known-that-in-war-the-first-c_1475106.jpg) > “It is well known that in war, the first casualty is truth - that during any war truth is forsaken for propaganda.” [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War inevitably distorts truth, turning facts into propaganda. **In simple terms:** War corrupts truth. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant against misinformation in conflict. Themes war truth propaganda Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical warning When to use this quote - political campaigns - military reporting - social media Key Concepts media analysis public opinion ethical journalism Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect truth during war? - What role does media play in shaping narratives? A Different Perspective Truth can sometimes be strategically concealed for safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forsaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forsaken/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“the first casualty of war was the truth, and oftentimes, the second casualty was the truth teller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-akart/the-first-casualty-of-war-was-the-truth-and-oftentimes-the-second/) [Bobby Akart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-akart/) > [“The first casualty of war is truth, and the war on drugs is no different”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-milton-trott/the-first-casualty-of-war-is-truth-and-the-war-on-drugs-is-no/) Dominic Milton Trott > [In time of war the first casualty is truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boake-carter/in-time-of-war-the-first-casualty-is-truth/) Boake Carter > [In war the first casualty is the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/in-war-the-first-casualty-is-the-truth/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Truth is always the first war casualty. The emotional disturbances and distortions in historical writing are greatest in wartime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-elmer-barnes/truth-is-always-the-first-war-casualty-the-emotional-disturbances-and/) Harry Elmer Barnes > [It's often been observed that the first casualty of war is the truth. But that's a lie, too, in its way. The reality is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/it-s-often-been-observed-that-the-first-casualty-of-war-is-the-truth/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [In war, truth is often the first casualty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/in-war-truth-is-often-the-first-casualty/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The first casualty in every war is truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-lester/the-first-casualty-in-every-war-is-truth/) [Muriel Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-lester/) > [Well, politics is war, and in war, truth is the first casualty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-greenfield/well-politics-is-war-and-in-war-truth-is-the-first-casualty/) [Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/) > [In war, truth is the first casualty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-war-truth-is-the-first-casualty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In war, the first casualty is truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-hayes/in-war-the-first-casualty-is-truth/) [Terry Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-hayes/) > [“Regardless of sex, everyone loses something in a war... but the first casualty is always the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/regardless-of-sex-everyone-loses-something-in-a-war-but-the-first/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [Wut 's words to them whose faith an' truth On war's red techstone rang true metal; Who ventered life an' love an' youth For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/wut-s-words-to-them-whose-faith-an-truth-on-war-s-red-techstone-rang/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [There's only one truth about war: people die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/there-s-only-one-truth-about-war-people-die/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [“The truth of war is not always easy. 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Heavy doesn't accurately describe the level of casualties we have inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/we-re-giving-them-a-real-lesson-today-heavy-doesn-t-accurately/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [I wanted people who wouldn't become too worried about casualties. One always should be concerned about casualties, but the risk of incurring casualties can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-vokes/i-wanted-people-who-wouldn-t-become-too-worried-about-casualties-one/) [Christopher Vokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-vokes/) > [WikiLeaks exposed corruption, war crimes, torture and cover-ups. 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