--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is only those who have neither fired a…" description: "\"“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/jay-allan-33274_war_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_1875112.jpg" --- # It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard… ![“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell. – William Tecumseh Sherman” quote by Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/jay-allan-33274_war_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_1875112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/jay-allan-33274_war_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_1875112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/jay-allan-33274_war_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_1875112.jpg) > ““It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell. – William Tecumseh Sherman”” [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only those untouched by war’s horrors call for vengeance, yet war itself is a hellish reality. **In simple terms:** War is hell; only the unscarred demand revenge. Key Takeaway Recognize war’s true horror before calling for vengeance. Themes war violence morality Mood somber reflective Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - military ethics discussions - peace advocacy - historical education Key Concepts ethical reflection human suffering historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - What does “war is hell” teach us about conflict? - How can we prevent the desire for vengeance? A Different Perspective May glorify suffering unintentionally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desolation War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desolation-war-2613471/) [Groans Wounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groans-wounded-242308/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-hell-242306/) [War Is Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-is-hell/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/william-tecumseh-sherman-217560/) [Wounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounded/) [Wounded Aloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounded-aloud-2094844/) ## Related quotes > [It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired-a-shot-nor-heard-the-shrieks/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/i-am-tired-and-sick-of-war-its-glory-is-all-moonshine-it-is-only/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [“What the hell do you know about what we lost?! You think we had it easy? That we had it better than you? That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-remender/what-the-hell-do-you-know-about-what-we-lost-you-think-we-had-it-easy/) [Rick Remender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-remender/) > [War is hell. Hollywood fantasizes about it and makes it look good... war sucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/war-is-hell-hollywood-fantasizes-about-it-and-makes-it-look-good-war/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [War is hell and all that, but it has a good deal to recommend it. It wipes out all the small nuisances of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hay/war-is-hell-and-all-that-but-it-has-a-good-deal-to-recommend-it-it/) [Ian Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hay/) > [Just because war is hell doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/just-because-war-is-hell-doesn-t-mean-you-can-t-have-a-little-fun/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [“People like to say, ‘War is hell.’ Well, that saying’s true. I’ve seen it. But the saying’s also bullshit, because it ignores a truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-robert-nolan/people-like-to-say-war-is-hell-well-that-saying-s-true-i-ve-seen-it/) [Eric Robert Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-robert-nolan/) > [“War is hell and waiting is hell and war is waiting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-burana/war-is-hell-and-waiting-is-hell-and-war-is-waiting/) [lily burana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-burana/) > [“Let no one ever from henceforth say a word in any way countenancing war. It is dangerous even to speak of how here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/let-no-one-ever-from-henceforth-say-a-word-in-any-way-countenancing/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [I don't really understand the point about carping about every casualty, every bombing, every death. War is hell. That's why people say war is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/i-don-t-really-understand-the-point-about-carping-about-every/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Yes, war is hell. It is awful. It involves human beings killing other human beings, sometimes innocent civilians. That is why we despise war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/yes-war-is-hell-it-is-awful-it-involves-human-beings-killing-other/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [This is the soldier brave enough to tellThe glory-dazzled world that "war is hell":Lover of peace, he looks beyond the strife,And rides through hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/this-is-the-soldier-brave-enough-to-tellthe-glory-dazzled-world-that/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [War is hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/war-is-hell/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [War is Hell you can NOT refine it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/war-is-hell-you-can-not-refine-it/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [“War is hell, but that's not the half of it, because war is also mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/war-is-hell-but-that-s-not-the-half-of-it-because-war-is-also-mystery/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) ## More by Jay Allan > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“The truth is, they don’t want us back on Earth.  Trained killers who’ve lived for years outside the normal Earth routine of constant surveillance. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-truth-is-they-don-t-want-us-back-on-earth-trained-killers-who-ve/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“how easily people can zealously pursue and defend a point of view, often ignoring inconvenient facts that interfere with their desired belief structure. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/how-easily-people-can-zealously-pursue-and-defend-a-point-of-view/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“And Barron suspected his adversary had indeed been a complex and intriguing woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/and-barron-suspected-his-adversary-had-indeed-been-a-complex-and/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“If mankind could possess only one, what is more valuable, an inexhaustible energy source or a drug that cures all disease?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/if-mankind-could-possess-only-one-what-is-more-valuable-an/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless. – Chester Nimitz”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/god-grant-me-the-courage-not-to-give-up-what-i-think-is-right-even/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“Patch me through to Commander Travis, Captain. You can be our relay.” “Yes, sir.” A few seconds later: “Captain…are you reading me?” “Yes, Atara.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/patch-me-through-to-commander-travis-captain-you-can-be-our-relay-yes/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“And now to all those who fought and will fight again. Those who struggled and bled and battled with all their strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/and-now-to-all-those-who-fought-and-will-fight-again-those-who/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“The cost of being a source of strength for everyone else was to have no support for yourself, no one to look to, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-cost-of-being-a-source-of-strength-for-everyone-else-was-to-have/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“He wondered what Leonidas thought that last morning at Thermopylae,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/he-wondered-what-leonidas-thought-that-last-morning-at-thermopylae/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“Glory is a veneer that reflects the light only from a distance.  Up close you can see through it, to bitter price paid in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/glory-is-a-veneer-that-reflects-the-light-only-from-a-distance-up/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“They would fight to the last if he asked them to, and they knew if it came to that, Erik Cain would be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/they-would-fight-to-the-last-if-he-asked-them-to-and-they-knew-if-it/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“He was almost there, ready to hang up his wings, to leave behind everyone who mattered to him. To descend into a pit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/he-was-almost-there-ready-to-hang-up-his-wings-to-leave-behind/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [“The heroes weren’t born that way, they didn’t have anything inside them he didn’t…they just resolved to do what had to be done, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-heroes-weren-t-born-that-way-they-didn-t-have-anything-inside/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) [Explore all 15 Jay Allan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) ## More Peace quotes > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) [W.J. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-turner/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [“There is no fortune greater than peace; there is no force greater than peace; there is no excellent tapas greater than peace; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muruganar/there-is-no-fortune-greater-than-peace-there-is-no-force-greater-than/) [Muruganar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muruganar/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,655 Peace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell. – William Tecumseh Sherman”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay Allan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired-a-shot-nor-heard-the-shrieks-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Peace" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired-a-shot-nor-heard-the-shrieks-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/jay-allan-33274_war_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_1875112.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/jay-allan-33274_war_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_1875112.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/jay-allan-33274_war_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_1875112.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud…” — Jay Allan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jay Allan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is only those who have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired-a-shot-nor-heard-the-shrieks-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired-a-shot-nor-heard-the-shrieks-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```