---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my view, it is only when civilians are…"
description: "\"In my view, it is only when civilians are protected that we will defeat ISIS, and until that is at the centre of our plan, I will remain an outspoken a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/jo-cox-18539_civilians_in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are_2704549.jpg"
---

#  In my view, it is only when civilians are protected that…

![“In my view, it is only when civilians are protected that we will defeat ISIS, and until that is at the centre of our plan, I will remain an outspoken advocate for that cause.” quote by Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/jo-cox-18539_civilians_in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are_2704549.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/jo-cox-18539_civilians_in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are_2704549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/jo-cox-18539_civilians_in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are_2704549.jpg)

> “In my view, it is only when civilians are protected that we will defeat ISIS, and until that is at the centre of our plan, I will remain an outspoken advocate for that cause.”

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Protecting civilians is essential for defeating terrorism; humanitarian focus must guide strategy.

**In simple terms:** Civilians matter most.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize civilian safety in anti‑terrorism plans.

Themes

humanitarian terrorism policy

Mood

urgent empathetic

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- military operations
- foreign policy
- human rights advocacy
- public discourse

Key Concepts

civilian protection strategic ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can civilian protection be ensured in conflict?
- What trade‑offs exist between security and humanitarian goals?

A Different Perspective

Balancing security and liberty is complex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/)

## Related quotes

> [We've got to keep fighting, and I will defeat ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-ve-got-to-keep-fighting-and-i-will-defeat-isis/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [We need a comprehensive strategy to bring about an end to the Syrian civil war and defeat Isis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-streeting/we-need-a-comprehensive-strategy-to-bring-about-an-end-to-the-syrian/)

[Wes Streeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-streeting/)

> [Having western, Russian or Iranian forces providing the ground defeat of Isis would certainly work militarily, but would be the least attractive option as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/having-western-russian-or-iranian-forces-providing-the-ground-defeat/)

[Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/)

> [The American president has to both keep our families safe and make the economy grow in a way that helps everyone, not just those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-american-president-has-to-both-keep-our-families-safe-and-make/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I would argue it should be a policy to defeat ISIS where they are, where they exist and prevent them from coming into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mccaul/i-would-argue-it-should-be-a-policy-to-defeat-isis-where-they-are/)

[Michael McCaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mccaul/)

> [I intend to defeat ISIS, to do so in a coalition with majority Muslim nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-intend-to-defeat-isis-to-do-so-in-a-coalition-with-majority-muslim/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [It's important that we keep our priorities straight. And we believe that the first priority is the defeat of ISIS. That by defeating ISIS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/it-s-important-that-we-keep-our-priorities-straight-and-we-believe/)

[Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/)

> [I feel like if we could weaponize drunk bro-dudes we could defeat ISIS in one spring break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-feel-like-if-we-could-weaponize-drunk-bro-dudes-we-could-defeat/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Former President Donald Trump freed U.S. military commanders from unsound Obama-era constraints and enabled our troops to militarily defeat the ISIS caliphate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/former-president-donald-trump-freed-u-s-military-commanders-from/)

[Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/)

> [We are going to be able to defeat ISIS on the ground there, as well as in this world, because of the Muslim Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/we-are-going-to-be-able-to-defeat-isis-on-the-ground-there-as-well-as/)

[Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/)

> [Air power will not defeat ISIS. It has not been able to deny ISIS freedom of maneuver and the ability to attack at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/air-power-will-not-defeat-isis-it-has-not-been-able-to-deny-isis/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [We need a president who stands up, number one, and says, we will defeat ISIS. And number two, says the greatest national security threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-a-president-who-stands-up-number-one-and-says-we-will-defeat/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [We have to defeat ISIS. That is my highest counterterrorism goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-have-to-defeat-isis-that-is-my-highest-counterterrorism-goal/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [Our country doesn't win anymore. We don't win on trade. We don't win on the military. We can't defeat ISIS. We're not taking care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/our-country-doesn-t-win-anymore-we-don-t-win-on-trade-we-don-t-win-on/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [We have a duty to fight ISIS; air operations alone will not defeat ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/we-have-a-duty-to-fight-isis-air-operations-alone-will-not-defeat-isis/)

[Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/)

## More by Jo Cox

> [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/while-we-celebrate-our-diversity-what-surprises-me-time-and-time/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [In Afghanistan, I was talking to Afghan elders who were world-weary of a lack of sustained attention from their own government and from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/in-afghanistan-i-was-talking-to-afghan-elders-who-were-world-weary-of/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [When the bombs rain down, the Syrian Civil Defense rush in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/when-the-bombs-rain-down-the-syrian-civil-defense-rush-in/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [Many businesses in Yorkshire want the security and stability of Britain's continued membership of the European Union, a cause I look forward to championing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/many-businesses-in-yorkshire-want-the-security-and-stability-of/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [I've lived and worked in Brussels and New York at the U.N. and worked all over the world. I would jump on a plane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/i-ve-lived-and-worked-in-brussels-and-new-york-at-the-u-n-and-worked/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [I have long argued that ISIS and Assad are not separate problems to be chosen between, but are action and reaction, cause and symptom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/i-have-long-argued-that-isis-and-assad-are-not-separate-problems-to/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [My summer jobs for three years were going to work in my dad's factory and earn a bit of pocket money. I absolutely loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/my-summer-jobs-for-three-years-were-going-to-work-in-my-dad-s-factory/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [Brexit doesn't guarantee that migration will come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/brexit-doesn-t-guarantee-that-migration-will-come-down/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [I never really grew up being political or Labour. It was just a realisation that where you were born mattered. That how you spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/i-never-really-grew-up-being-political-or-labour-it-was-just-a/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [I came in to make a difference, to be a minister, to make policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/i-came-in-to-make-a-difference-to-be-a-minister-to-make-policy/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [I live on a big old Dutch barge by Tower Hill on the Thames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/i-live-on-a-big-old-dutch-barge-by-tower-hill-on-the-thames/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [I am Batley and Spen born and bred, and I could not be prouder of that. I am proud that I was made in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/i-am-batley-and-spen-born-and-bred-and-i-could-not-be-prouder-of-that/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [Immigration is a legitimate concern, but it's not a good reason to leave the E.U.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/immigration-is-a-legitimate-concern-but-it-s-not-a-good-reason-to/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [Da'esh and Assad are not separate problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/da-esh-and-assad-are-not-separate-problems/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

[Explore all 34 Jo Cox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

## More Civilians quotes

> [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/)

[Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/)

> [My aunt and uncle are clearly civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/my-aunt-and-uncle-are-clearly-civilians/)

[Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/)

> [Some of my best sources are ex-policemen, just to get a feeling of what it's like to be one. And it's quite different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/some-of-my-best-sources-are-ex-policemen-just-to-get-a-feeling-of/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Well, the U.N. Security Council resolution 1973 is very clear. It says all necessary measures to be taken to protect civilians and civilian areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/well-the-u-n-security-council-resolution-1973-is-very-clear-it-says/)

[Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/)

> [Be kindly and just in your dealings with your men. Never play favorites. Make them feel that justice tempered with mercy may always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-lejeune/be-kindly-and-just-in-your-dealings-with-your-men-never-play/)

[John A. Lejeune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-lejeune/)

> [There's been a systematic propagandizing of American citizens for 30 years to make us forget what America is supposed to be and what our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/there-s-been-a-systematic-propagandizing-of-american-citizens-for-30/)

[Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/)

> [ The other thing we did as government is to open gates for the civilians to leave that \[ eastern part\] area \[in Aleppo\], and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-other-thing-we-did-as-government-is-to-open-gates-for-the/)

[Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/)

> [For all the civilians saved thanks to the presence of peacekeepers, there have been those who were lost - the United Nations personnel who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-eliasson/for-all-the-civilians-saved-thanks-to-the-presence-of-peacekeepers/)

[Jan Eliasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-eliasson/)

> [ \[General Curtis\] LeMay recognized that what he was doing would be thought immoral if his side has lost. But what makes it immoral if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcnamara/general-curtis-lemay-recognized-that-what-he-was-doing-would-be/)

[Robert McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mcnamara/)

> [The authority of the civil defense ... issued a warning to the civilian population not to pick up any of those pencils because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-authority-of-the-civil-defense-issued-a-warning-to-the-civilian/)

[Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/)

> [...Uncalled-for aggression arouses the hatred of the civilian population...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/uncalled-for-aggression-arouses-the-hatred-of-the-civilian-population/)

[Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/)

> [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/)

[Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/)

> [Contrary to what some believe, taking all reasonable and feasible precautions to protect civilians - and mitigating the resulting anger when we harm them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/contrary-to-what-some-believe-taking-all-reasonable-and-feasible/)

[Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/)

> [Asymmetrical warfare is a euphemism for terrorism, just like collateral damage is a euphemism for killing innocent civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/asymmetrical-warfare-is-a-euphemism-for-terrorism-just-like/)

[Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/)

[Browse all 428 Civilians quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In my view, it is only when civilians are protected that we will defeat ISIS, and until that is at the centre of our plan, I will remain an outspoken advocate for that cause.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jo Cox"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are-protected-that-we-will/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Civilians"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are-protected-that-we-will/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/jo-cox-18539_civilians_in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are_2704549.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/jo-cox-18539_civilians_in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are_2704549.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/jo-cox-18539_civilians_in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are_2704549.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In my view, it is only when civilians are protected that we will defeat ISIS, and until that is at the…” — Jo Cox",
                "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": "Jo Cox",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In my view, it is only...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are-protected-that-we-will/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/in-my-view-it-is-only-when-civilians-are-protected-that-we-will/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
