--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Nixon declared the war on cancer, he…" description: "\"When Nixon declared the war on cancer, he had no army. He had no tools. He had no anything, except good intentions.\" — Joe Biden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/joe-biden-454_army_when-nixon-declared-the-war-on-cancer-he_1561552.jpg" --- # When Nixon declared the war on cancer, he had no army. He… ![“When Nixon declared the war on cancer, he had no army. He had no tools. He had no anything, except good intentions.” quote by Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/joe-biden-454_army_when-nixon-declared-the-war-on-cancer-he_1561552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/joe-biden-454_army_when-nixon-declared-the-war-on-cancer-he_1561552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/joe-biden-454_army_when-nixon-declared-the-war-on-cancer-he_1561552.jpg) > “When Nixon declared the war on cancer, he had no army. He had no tools. He had no anything, except good intentions.” [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Declaring a war without resources leads to empty promises. **In simple terms:** War on cancer lacked means. Key Takeaway Secure resources before pledging. Themes politics health promise Mood critical realistic Type advice political When to use this quote - government funding - health initiatives - public expectations Key Concepts policy resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How to align intent with capability? - What resources are essential? A Different Perspective Intentions alone cannot solve complex problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Cancer Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer-army-5858949/) [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon/) [Nixon Declared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon-declared-5858950/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-cancer-982587/) ## Related quotes > [“Some war,” he said dismissively. “What am I at war with? My cancer. And what is my cancer? My cancer is me. The tumors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/some-war-he-said-dismissively-what-am-i-at-war-with-my-cancer-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [If we had pursued the war on cancer which President Nixon declared in 1970, Jack Kemp might be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/if-we-had-pursued-the-war-on-cancer-which-president-nixon-declared-in/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [“This is your war now.' I despised myself for the cheesy sentiment, but what else did I have? 'Some war,' he said dismissively. 'What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/this-is-your-war-now-i-despised-myself-for-the-cheesy-sentiment-but/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The indisputable fact is that nutritional science is the most powerful weapon available to win the war on cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-fuhrman/the-indisputable-fact-is-that-nutritional-science-is-the-most/) [Joel Fuhrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-fuhrman/) > [If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/if-we-had-pursued-what-president-nixon-declared-in-1970-as-the-war-on/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [We are losing the war against cancer... I would like to offer for your consideration the following legislative proposals on the following topics: prohibition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-epstein/we-are-losing-the-war-against-cancer-i-would-like-to-offer-for-your/) [Samuel Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-epstein/) > [“Before the war on drugs, the war on terror, or the war on cancer, there was the war on female sexual desire. It’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/before-the-war-on-drugs-the-war-on-terror-or-the-war-on-cancer-there/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [Everyone should know that the 'war on cancer' is largely a fraud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/everyone-should-know-that-the-war-on-cancer-is-largely-a-fraud/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [We are losing the war against cancer. The prohibition of new carcinogenic products, reduction of toxins in use, and right-to-know laws - these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-epstein/we-are-losing-the-war-against-cancer-the-prohibition-of-new/) [Samuel Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-epstein/) > [“What am I at war with? My cancer. And what is my cancer? My cancer is me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/what-am-i-at-war-with-my-cancer-and-what-is-my-cancer-my-cancer-is-me-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The politicized sponsors of this pseudoscientific nonsense should be ashamed to live, let alone die. If you want to take part in the “war”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-politicized-sponsors-of-this-pseudoscientific-nonsense-should-be/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [More than 40 years after the war on cancer was declared by President Richard Nixon in 1971, we are not much closer to preventing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cuomo/more-than-40-years-after-the-war-on-cancer-was-declared-by-president/) [Margaret Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cuomo/) > [There is no better example of the weakness of our dominant medicine than its clearly ineffective War On Cancer. By the same token, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-atkins/there-is-no-better-example-of-the-weakness-of-our-dominant-medicine/) [Robert Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-atkins/) > [“What am I at war with? My cancer. And what is my cancer? My cancer is me. The tumors are made of me. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/what-am-i-at-war-with-my-cancer-and-what-is-my-cancer-my-cancer-is-me/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) ## More by Joe Biden > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I always kid the president in different circumstances. Mr. President, a country's never going to be more optimistic than the president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-always-kid-the-president-in-different-circumstances-mr-president-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Don't hold against me that I don't own - that I don't own a single stock or bond. Don't hold it - I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/don-t-hold-against-me-that-i-don-t-own-that-i-don-t-own-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“True bravery is when there is very little chance of winning, but you keep fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/true-bravery-is-when-there-is-very-little-chance-of-winning-but-you/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [No public funding for abortion; it imposes a view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/no-public-funding-for-abortion-it-imposes-a-view/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I've known and continue to know every one of these major world leaders by their first names, and I have access to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-ve-known-and-continue-to-know-every-one-of-these-major-world/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We are working to deploy a powerful new radar network with American early warning systems,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-are-working-to-deploy-a-powerful-new-radar-network-with-american/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I'm joking, I'm joking. Best decision I ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-m-joking-i-m-joking-best-decision-i-ever-made/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [ Somalis have made my city of Wilmington, Delaware, \[their home\] on a smaller scale. There is a large, very identifiable Somali community, i might… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/somalis-have-made-my-city-of-wilmington-delaware-their-home-on-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“And don’t any of you, by the way, any of you guys vote Republican. I’m not supposed to say, this isn’t political. …don’t come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/and-don-t-any-of-you-by-the-way-any-of-you-guys-vote-republican-i-m/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We also wanted to change the story - change the approach to the 21st century on energy, on education, on transportation, on infrastructure, generally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-also-wanted-to-change-the-story-change-the-approach-to-the-21st/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The spirit of Thanksgiving rests in our recognizing the blessings in our lives, and as we all take stock, I hope you will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-spirit-of-thanksgiving-rests-in-our-recognizing-the-blessings-in/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The president has a big stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-president-has-a-big-stick/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) [Explore all 546 Joe Biden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Nixon declared the war on cancer, he had no army. He had no tools. 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