--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time that we've ever fought, we…" description: "\"Every time that we've ever fought, we fought to keep from bein' destroyed. We've never started a war.\" — Howard Finster" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/howard-finster-33649_destroyed_every-time-that-we-ve-ever-fought-we-fou_3176305.jpg" --- # Every time that we've ever fought, we fought to keep from… ![“Every time that we've ever fought, we fought to keep from bein' destroyed. We've never started a war.” quote by Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/howard-finster-33649_destroyed_every-time-that-we-ve-ever-fought-we-fou_3176305.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/howard-finster-33649_destroyed_every-time-that-we-ve-ever-fought-we-fou_3176305.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/howard-finster-33649_destroyed_every-time-that-we-ve-ever-fought-we-fou_3176305.jpg) > “Every time that we've ever fought, we fought to keep from bein' destroyed. We've never started a war.” [Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conflict arises from a desire to avoid loss, yet societies rarely initiate war, highlighting a paradox of defensive aggression. **In simple terms:** People fight to avoid being destroyed, but rarely start wars. Key Takeaway Recognize the paradox of defensive aggression. Themes peace defense paradox Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - diplomacy - military strategy - conflict resolution - public policy Key Concepts political science human nature Questions to Reflect On - Why do we equate defense with aggression? - Can we prevent wars by changing defensive mindsets? A Different Perspective Defensive motives can still cause harm; peace requires proactive effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyed/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [Every time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-time/) [Fought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fought/) [Fought Bein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fought-bein-5802032/) [Fought Fought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fought-fought-754616/) [Keep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-war-2147871/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Ve Fought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-fought/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Who I have fought and how I have fought, it says something about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cormier/who-i-have-fought-and-how-i-have-fought-it-says-something-about-me/) [Daniel Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cormier/) > [I fought to have you. I fought to hold but to find out in the end you never loved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-castillo/i-fought-to-have-you-i-fought-to-hold-but-to-find-out-in-the-end-you/) [Christopher Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-castillo/) > [Every cause that ever I fought, I fought it full without regret or shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/every-cause-that-ever-i-fought-i-fought-it-full-without-regret-or/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“I fought and fought until I lost the battle, then I fought some more until I lost the war”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-mackin/i-fought-and-fought-until-i-lost-the-battle-then-i-fought-some-more/) [Dean Mackin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-mackin/) > [I've fought a lot of good girls and I think Valentina is one level above any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-andrade/i-ve-fought-a-lot-of-good-girls-and-i-think-valentina-is-one-level/) [Jessica Andrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-andrade/) > [I've fought a lot of prospects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermell-charlo/i-ve-fought-a-lot-of-prospects/) [Jermell Charlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermell-charlo/) > [I've never fought with anyone. 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I don't work submissions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/my-hands-are-heavy-and-most-importantly-they-are-very-fast-i-have/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [From our music in general, we've always fought the idea that we had to fit into a box or fit into a certain category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-costanza/from-our-music-in-general-we-ve-always-fought-the-idea-that-we-had-to/) [Chrissy Costanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-costanza/) > [The more dangerous the opponent, the better fight I've fought. 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I'm sent here on a mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-finster/well-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-i-m-not-here-to-live-a-normal-life-i-m/) [Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) > [As for me, I'm just passin' through this planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-finster/as-for-me-i-m-just-passin-through-this-planet/) [Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) > [I took the pieces you threw away, put them together by night and day. Washed by the rain. Dried by the sun. 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And calls to the universities begun to take me out of my garden, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-finster/my-work-begun-to-spread-out-and-calls-to-the-universities-begun-to/) [Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) > [I came here as a man of visions. I was sent here as a man of visions, like a second Noah. I'm not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-finster/i-came-here-as-a-man-of-visions-i-was-sent-here-as-a-man-of-visions/) [Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) > [I never met someone I did not love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-finster/i-never-met-someone-i-did-not-love/) [Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) > [But, when I had this feeling and started painting sacred art, as I had this feeling to do, then it come to me: my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-finster/but-when-i-had-this-feeling-and-started-painting-sacred-art-as-i-had/) [Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) > [Sometimes I don't even pull my shoes off for six weeks at a time, except, you know, just to take a shower. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-finster/sometimes-i-don-t-even-pull-my-shoes-off-for-six-weeks-at-a-time/) [Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) [Explore all 14 Howard Finster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) ## More Destroyed quotes > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Browse all 1,587 Destroyed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every time that we've ever fought, we fought to keep from bein' destroyed. 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