--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't ever go to war. Even if you win…" description: "\"Don't ever go to war. Even if you win, the battle is never over inside you.\" — Jack Gantos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/jack-gantos-14183_battle_don-t-ever-go-to-war-even-if-you-win-the_130661.png" --- # Don't ever go to war. Even if you win, the battle is never… ![“Don't ever go to war. Even if you win, the battle is never over inside you.” quote by Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/jack-gantos-14183_battle_don-t-ever-go-to-war-even-if-you-win-the_130661.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/jack-gantos-14183_battle_don-t-ever-go-to-war-even-if-you-win-the_130661.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/jack-gantos-14183_battle_don-t-ever-go-to-war-even-if-you-win-the_130661.png) > “Don't ever go to war. Even if you win, the battle is never over inside you.” [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that war leaves lasting inner wounds, even if externally victorious, suggesting ongoing psychological conflict. **In simple terms:** War causes lasting inner conflict despite external victory. Key Takeaway Address inner trauma after conflict. Themes war psychological trauma inner conflict Mood somber reflective Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - veteran reintegration - civil conflict Key Concepts post‑war adjustment mental health Questions to Reflect On - How do you cope with internal battles? - What support helps after conflict? A Different Perspective Healing may be a lifelong process. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [“The letter came at a time in his life when the battle inside his soul could have tipped either way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lora-leigh/the-letter-came-at-a-time-in-his-life-when-the-battle-inside-his-soul/) [Lora Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lora-leigh/) > [If the battle is inside of you, fight it with yourself and not with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshy-crazyness/if-the-battle-is-inside-of-you-fight-it-with-yourself-and-not-with/) Ewshy Crazyness > [“One of these days I’d really like to win a battle, rather than just stand quiet while they lose it at me. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-parker/one-of-these-days-i-d-really-like-to-win-a-battle-rather-than-just/) [K.J. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-parker/) > [We've got to win this battle, and we will. We have to win the peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-d-amato/we-ve-got-to-win-this-battle-and-we-will-we-have-to-win-the-peace/) [Al D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-d-amato/) > [You can't win every battle! You must have the word Defeat in your dictionary; if not, defeat will triumph even more strongly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-t-win-every-battle-you-must-have-the-word-defeat-in-your/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Stupid cancer... Some of us want a new house... A new car... A new mobile phone... To lose weight... But someone battling cancer wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stupid-cancer-some-of-us-want-a-new-house-a-new-car-a-new-mobile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No one will win the battle of the sexes, there is too much flirting with the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kissinger/no-one-will-win-the-battle-of-the-sexes-there-is-too-much-flirting/) [Henry Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kissinger/) > [The only battle to win is the battle within, that place where we realize that we deserve to have and create all that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-vincent/the-only-battle-to-win-is-the-battle-within-that-place-where-we/) [Ali Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-vincent/) > [U cant win a battle unless u chose to pick up the weapon . Similarly u cant achieve unless have a burning desire for it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knight/u-cant-win-a-battle-unless-u-chose-to-pick-up-the-weapon-similarly-u/) [Kevin Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knight/) > [I don't expect to win every battle but I think Fred Pierce has enough respect for me that I can go fight my battles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roone-arledge/i-don-t-expect-to-win-every-battle-but-i-think-fred-pierce-has-enough/) [Roone Arledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roone-arledge/) > [Even if you win the battle, you need to bend your neck to receive the medal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-parasar/even-if-you-win-the-battle-you-need-to-bend-your-neck-to-receive-the/) Vivek Parasar > [“We don’t have to win the war today, sir,” Heather said. She hoped she looked braver than she felt. “We only have to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-d-smith/we-don-t-have-to-win-the-war-today-sir-heather-said-she-hoped-she/) [S.D. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-d-smith/) > [“I can win you this battle. But if you want Ravenel . . .’ said Damen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-can-win-you-this-battle-but-if-you-want-ravenel-said-damen/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [Hey, we're like soldiers. Would you go to the Roman army and ask them if they thought they were going to win the battle?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-simonton/hey-we-re-like-soldiers-would-you-go-to-the-roman-army-and-ask-them/) Ken Simonton > [This is where you will win the battle - in the playhouse of your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/this-is-where-you-will-win-the-battle-in-the-playhouse-of-your-mind/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## More by Jack Gantos > [It wasn't that I hated being asked a bunch of questions. I had nothing against questions. I just didn't like listening to them, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/it-wasn-t-that-i-hated-being-asked-a-bunch-of-questions-i-had-nothing/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“School was finally out and I was standing on a picnic table in our backyard getting ready for a great summer vacation when my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/school-was-finally-out-and-i-was-standing-on-a-picnic-table-in-our/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [Don't ever forget your history," she sang, "or any wicked soul can lie to you and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/don-t-ever-forget-your-history-she-sang-or-any-wicked-soul-can-lie-to/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“My youthful dream of becoming a writer has been realized. I am so pleased I did not let my young self down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/my-youthful-dream-of-becoming-a-writer-has-been-realized-i-am-so/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“Be suspicious of history that is written by the conquerors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/be-suspicious-of-history-that-is-written-by-the-conquerors/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“Money is just a way of measuring work, but you don’t need money if everyone agrees that trading one kind of work for another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/money-is-just-a-way-of-measuring-work-but-you-don-t-need-money-if/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [You know, Joey, the medication has helped settle you down, but you have been a good kid all along. You are naturally good. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/you-know-joey-the-medication-has-helped-settle-you-down-but-you-have/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“Not romantic," she disagreed. "To me it would be romantic if Antony properly fell on his sword and kicked the bucket and Cleopatra escaped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/not-romantic-she-disagreed-to-me-it-would-be-romantic-if-antony/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [When Patti Fox broke up with me, I typed her name over a thousand times on my manual Olivetti until the entire page was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/when-patti-fox-broke-up-with-me-i-typed-her-name-over-a-thousand/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“chair wouldn’t rock. So I heaved myself from side to side. It still didn’t move. I gripped the arms and jerked myself around and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/chair-wouldn-t-rock-so-i-heaved-myself-from-side-to-side-it-still/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“Granny was right,' I said. 'When you forgive someone it does make you stronger. It makes your heart bigger than your hate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/granny-was-right-i-said-when-you-forgive-someone-it-does-make-you/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [If you have an orderly mind, you'll be a winner no matter where you end up. If your mind is a jumble of junk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/if-you-have-an-orderly-mind-you-ll-be-a-winner-no-matter-where-you/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“You’re a fast learner,” she remarked. “You’ve gone from slowpoke to safety hazard in one day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/you-re-a-fast-learner-she-remarked-you-ve-gone-from-slowpoke-to/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [It's like when you read a book and you know that the words are important, but the images blossoming in your imagination are even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/it-s-like-when-you-read-a-book-and-you-know-that-the-words-are/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“You're supposed to feel sorry for me," I said. "What I feel for you and what I can afford are two different things," she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/you-re-supposed-to-feel-sorry-for-me-i-said-what-i-feel-for-you-and/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) [Explore all 47 Jack Gantos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't ever go to war. 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