--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is inconceivable that even the gang…" description: "\"It is inconceivable that even the gang who runs Russia would be willing to take on war, but one always has to remember that there seemed to be no reaso..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47e/james-forrestal-34465_always_it-is-inconceivable-that-even-the-gang-w_2948474.jpg" --- # It is inconceivable that even the gang who runs Russia… ![“It is inconceivable that even the gang who runs Russia would be willing to take on war, but one always has to remember that there seemed to be no reason in 1939 for Hitler to start war, and yet he did, and he started it with a world practically unprepared.” quote by James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47e/james-forrestal-34465_always_it-is-inconceivable-that-even-the-gang-w_2948474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47e/james-forrestal-34465_always_it-is-inconceivable-that-even-the-gang-w_2948474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47e/james-forrestal-34465_always_it-is-inconceivable-that-even-the-gang-w_2948474.jpg) > “It is inconceivable that even the gang who runs Russia would be willing to take on war, but one always has to remember that there seemed to be no reason in 1939 for Hitler to start war, and yet he did, and he started it with a world practically unprepared.” [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) ## 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 reflects on the unexpected nature of war decisions, noting that even unlikely actors can initiate conflict despite apparent lack of reason. **In simple terms:** War can start without clear reason. Key Takeaway Study historical motives of conflict. Themes war history politics Mood analytical cautious Type historical political When to use this quote - political analysis Key Concepts strategic surprise unpredictability Questions to Reflect On - Why do leaders choose war despite no clear cause? - How can societies anticipate unexpected aggression? A Different Perspective War motives are often complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1939 Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1939-hitler-4431004/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Hitler Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitler-start-461932/) [Inconceivable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconceivable/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [No reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-reason/) [Practically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practically/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Runs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/runs/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Russia Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia-willing-1509500/) [Seemed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seemed/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Start War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-war-568482/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Unprepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unprepared/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willing War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-war-2630460/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [You know, Hitler wanted to be an artist. 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Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Once you start a war, you have to win,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-gordon-liddy/once-you-start-a-war-you-have-to-win/) [G. Gordon Liddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-gordon-liddy/) > [Religion, ideology, resources, land, spite, love or just because¦ No matter how pathetic the reason, its enough to start war. War will never cease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/religion-ideology-resources-land-spite-love-or-just-because-no-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You can't hammer in a nail with words..." "No, but you can start a war with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-galley/you-can-t-hammer-in-a-nail-with-words-no-but-you-can-start-a-war-with/) [Ben Galley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-galley/) > [If a king tries to start a war, a mother should go to him and forbid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/if-a-king-tries-to-start-a-war-a-mother-should-go-to-him-and-forbid-it/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [The world knows that America will never start a war. This generation of Americans has had enough of war and hate... we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-world-knows-that-america-will-never-start-a-war-this-generation/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-united-states-as-the-world-knows-will-never-start-a-war/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“Because the Indians are planning to start war now, the common people want all of them destroyed so that they can live in peace;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/because-the-indians-are-planning-to-start-war-now-the-common-people/) [Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/) ## More by James Forrestal > [By providing outstanding economic leadership, this country can wage its attack successfully - and can thereby build the foundations of a peaceful world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/by-providing-outstanding-economic-leadership-this-country-can-wage/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [As in the war of 1941-45, our victory and our survival depend on how and where we attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/as-in-the-war-of-1941-45-our-victory-and-our-survival-depend-on-how/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [If all Europe lies flat while the Russian mob tramps over it, we will then be faced with a war under difficult circumstances, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/if-all-europe-lies-flat-while-the-russian-mob-tramps-over-it-we-will/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [Moreover, the accomplishment of Russia's aims has been greatly simplified by the fact that we have heretofore offered the world no practical antidote for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/moreover-the-accomplishment-of-russia-s-aims-has-been-greatly/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [There is a serious, immediate and extraordinarily grave threat to the continued existence of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/there-is-a-serious-immediate-and-extraordinarily-grave-threat-to-the/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [Courage is the capacity to conduct oneself with restraint in times of prosperity and with courage and tenacity when things do not go well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/courage-is-the-capacity-to-conduct-oneself-with-restraint-in-times-of/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [From 1941 to 1945 we won a war by enlisting the whole-hearted support of all our people and all our resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/from-1941-to-1945-we-won-a-war-by-enlisting-the-whole-hearted-support/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [This country cannot afford the deceptive luxury of waging defensive warfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/this-country-cannot-afford-the-deceptive-luxury-of-waging-defensive/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/the-raising-of-that-flag-on-suribachi-means-a-marine-corps-for-the/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [For the only way in which a durable peace can be created is by world-wide restoration of economic activity and international trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/for-the-only-way-in-which-a-durable-peace-can-be-created-is-by-world/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [A similar revolving fund could be set up for Germany, for a durable peace can rest only upon a Germany that, while militarily impotent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/a-similar-revolving-fund-could-be-set-up-for-germany-for-a-durable/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [If these assets were set up as a revolving fund with which Japan could import raw materials for its industries, Japanese exports could again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/if-these-assets-were-set-up-as-a-revolving-fund-with-which-japan/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [The present danger which this country faces is at least as great as the danger which we faced during the war with Germany and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/the-present-danger-which-this-country-faces-is-at-least-as-great-as/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) [Explore all 14 James Forrestal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) ## 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