--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it is tragic that a situation…" description: "\"I think it is tragic that a situation should arise where civilians on any side are killed. But it is almost a cliche to say that it is virtually unavoi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/joe-slovo-23476_almost_i-think-it-is-tragic-that-a-situation-sh_1064424.png" --- # I think it is tragic that a situation should arise where… ![“I think it is tragic that a situation should arise where civilians on any side are killed. But it is almost a cliche to say that it is virtually unavoidable and this isn't unique to us alone.” quote by Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/joe-slovo-23476_almost_i-think-it-is-tragic-that-a-situation-sh_1064424.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/joe-slovo-23476_almost_i-think-it-is-tragic-that-a-situation-sh_1064424.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/joe-slovo-23476_almost_i-think-it-is-tragic-that-a-situation-sh_1064424.png) > “I think it is tragic that a situation should arise where civilians on any side are killed. But it is almost a cliche to say that it is virtually unavoidable and this isn't unique to us alone.” [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilian casualties are tragic, yet labeling them as inevitable can mask responsibility. **In simple terms:** War kills civilians, not destiny. Key Takeaway Seek accountability in conflict. Themes humanitarianism war morality Mood somber urgent Type political ethical When to use this quote - peace negotiations - humanitarian aid Key Concepts civilian protection ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can societies prevent civilian deaths? - What responsibilities do combatants have to protect non‑combatants? A Different Perspective Labeling tragedy as inevitable can excuse inaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Cliche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliche/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) [Unavoidable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unavoidable/) ## Related quotes > [Even when a person has all of life's comforts - good food, good shelter, a companion - he or she can still become unhappy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/even-when-a-person-has-all-of-life-s-comforts-good-food-good-shelter/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [On a more personal note we in this country we have a very tragic situation occur at one of our universities and, it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/on-a-more-personal-note-we-in-this-country-we-have-a-very-tragic/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [“He taught that when you experience some tragic situation, think about it. 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She could take no food except iced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/before-i-was-born-my-mother-was-in-great-agony-of-spirit-and-in-a/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) > [The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his conscience is weakest when he needs it most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of-man-is-that-his-conscience-is/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [A tragic situation exists precisely when virtue does not triumph but when it is still felt that man is nobler than the forces which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/a-tragic-situation-exists-precisely-when-virtue-does-not-triumph-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I don't think tragic situations are necessarily devoid of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/i-don-t-think-tragic-situations-are-necessarily-devoid-of-beauty/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [I think the tragic feeling is invoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-think-the-tragic-feeling-is-invoked-in-us-when-we-are-in-the/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [I think that there is a tragic misfit at the core of me, and I've just done a lot of work on myself. 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They were really lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/people-say-the-lost-generation-in-a-romantic-sense-but-i-think-it-was/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [“I used to think then that all the tragic events of life were written down in books and that what went on outside was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-used-to-think-then-that-all-the-tragic-events-of-life-were-written/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Some guys lay their fannies out there every night - they play the game at such a high level, and they give so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/some-guys-lay-their-fannies-out-there-every-night-they-play-the-game/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## More by Joe Slovo > [Therefore, our fight must primarily be a political mass struggle with revolutionary goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/therefore-our-fight-must-primarily-be-a-political-mass-struggle-with/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [No matter what vision one has of South Africa, the first thing that must be done is to destroy racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/no-matter-what-vision-one-has-of-south-africa-the-first-thing-that/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [The ANC, we believe, stands at the head of the whole liberation front, the whole Mass Democratic Movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/the-anc-we-believe-stands-at-the-head-of-the-whole-liberation-front/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [Eventually, it is found out but it takes time especially in the conditions when communication is difficult, when the enemy is making it extremely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/eventually-it-is-found-out-but-it-takes-time-especially-in-the/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [No movement finding itself in this stage of struggle can operate by getting authority from the leading body of the political organs for even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/no-movement-finding-itself-in-this-stage-of-struggle-can-operate-by/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [One thing is obvious: Our policy, which is directed at making the country ungovernable, has started to bear fruit. 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