--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anyone who thinks we can continue to have…" description: "\"Anyone who thinks we can continue to have world wars but make them nice polite affairs by outlawing this weapon or that should meditate upon the outlaw..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfb/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_abandon_anyone-who-thinks-we-can-continue-to-hav_2808683.png" --- # Anyone who thinks we can continue to have world wars but… ![“Anyone who thinks we can continue to have world wars but make them nice polite affairs by outlawing this weapon or that should meditate upon the outlawing of the cross-bow by Papal authority. Setting up the machinery for international law and order must surely precede disarmament. The Wild West…” quote by Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfb/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_abandon_anyone-who-thinks-we-can-continue-to-hav_2808683.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfb/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_abandon_anyone-who-thinks-we-can-continue-to-hav_2808683.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfb/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_abandon_anyone-who-thinks-we-can-continue-to-hav_2808683.png) > “Anyone who thinks we can continue to have world wars but make them nice polite affairs by outlawing this weapon or that should meditate upon the outlawing of the cross-bow by Papal authority. Setting up the machinery for international law and order must surely precede disarmament. The Wild West did not abandon its shooting irons till after sheriffs and courts were established.” [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates that legal frameworks must be established before disarmament, using medieval cross‑bow ban as analogy **In simple terms:** Law must precede weapon bans Key Takeaway Build institutions before banning arms Themes law history disarmament politics war peace Mood cautious analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - policy drafting - peace negotiations - military reform - conflict resolution - historical analysis Key Concepts International law state sovereignty deterrence Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure legal structures are robust before disarmament? - What historical examples show successful pre‑disarmament frameworks? A Different Perspective Without stable institutions, bans are ineffective ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Bows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bows/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Disarmament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disarmament/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [International law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-law/) [Iron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law and order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-and-order/) [Machinery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machinery/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Outlawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlawing-3250762/) [Outlawing Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlawing-cross-3504305/) [Outlawing Weapon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlawing-weapon-3504306/) [Polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite/) [Precede Disarmament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precede-disarmament-3504307/) [Setting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting/) [Settings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settings/) [Sheriffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheriffs/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) [Wild west](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-west/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The cyber world is sort of the Wild, Wild West, and to some degree, we're asked to be the sheriff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-cyber-world-is-sort-of-the-wild-wild-west-and-to-some-degree-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [America had, for one thing, lived in anarchy for - until much more recently than Europe. We had the Wild West, where the cliche…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/america-had-for-one-thing-lived-in-anarchy-for-until-much-more/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Outlawing religion form the political arena is not what the Founding Fathers intended when they drafted the First Amendment. We do a grave disservice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bright/outlawing-religion-form-the-political-arena-is-not-what-the-founding/) [Bill Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bright/) > [“the powers that be have a way of outlawing many beautiful things made by ordinary people. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“All too often the people of our culture think they’re really doing something if they’re out there fighting bad things and getting laws passed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/all-too-often-the-people-of-our-culture-think-they-re-really-doing/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [I like the people that I work with, generally. With four exceptions. And I did not become a Lackawanna County volunteer sheriffs deputy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schrute/i-like-the-people-that-i-work-with-generally-with-four-exceptions-and/) [Dwight Schrute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schrute/) > [This is not the first time that Mexican authorities have handed over an Arab from a country with known Al Qaeda connections to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-culberson/this-is-not-the-first-time-that-mexican-authorities-have-handed-over/) [John Culberson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-culberson/) > [Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Phoenix arrested three people. As soon as he arrested those three people, everybody else immediate left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/sheriff-joe-arpaio-in-phoenix-arrested-three-people-as-soon-as-he/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ Now, \[Donald\] Trump has thus far gotten endorsements from illustrious group, that includes Sarah Palin, David Duke, Dennis Rodman, racially profiling birther sheriff, Joe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/now-donald-trump-has-thus-far-gotten-endorsements-from-illustrious/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Personally I had the opportunity to go on several ride alongs with the LA County Sheriff's Department with some amazing detectives, who were invaluable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mckeon/personally-i-had-the-opportunity-to-go-on-several-ride-alongs-with/) [Nancy McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mckeon/) > [The place was packed as we flooded in, all the patrons freezing at the sight of an armed sheriff, two deputies, an Indian, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-johnson/the-place-was-packed-as-we-flooded-in-all-the-patrons-freezing-at-the/) [Craig Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-johnson/) > [I don't care to be good, Sheriff. I care to be whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-don-t-care-to-be-good-sheriff-i-care-to-be-whole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [I roam the streets all the time. You'll be shocked. I'm shocked, everybody that comes up to me, "Oh, thank you, Sheriff. You're supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-arpaio/i-roam-the-streets-all-the-time-you-ll-be-shocked-i-m-shocked/) [Joe Arpaio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-arpaio/) ## More by Joel Henry Hildebrand > [We must protect each other against the attacks of those self-appointed watchdogs of patriotism now abroad in the land who irresponsibly pin red labels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/we-must-protect-each-other-against-the-attacks-of-those-self/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [How fortunate for civilization, that Beethoven, Michelangelo, Galileo and Faraday were not required by law to attend schools where their total personalities would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beethoven-michelangelo-galileo/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [That there is no such thing as the scientific method, one might easily discover by asking several scientists to define it. One would find,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-the-scientific-method-one-might-easily/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [\[About the demand of the Board of Regents of the University of California that professors sign non-Communist loyalty oaths or lose their jobs within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/about-the-demand-of-the-board-of-regents-of-the-university-of/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [ \[When questioned on his longevity\] First of all, I selected my ancestors very wisely. ... They were long-lived, healthy people. Then, as a chemist,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/when-questioned-on-his-longevity-first-of-all-i-selected-my-ancestors/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [ \[I shall not\] discuss scientific method, but rather the methods of scientists. We proceed by common sense and ingenuity. There are no rules, only… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/i-shall-not-discuss-scientific-method-but-rather-the-methods-of/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [Instead of adjusting students to docile membership in whatever group they happen to be placed, we should equip them to cope with their environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/instead-of-adjusting-students-to-docile-membership-in-whatever-group/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [The invention of IQ did a great disservice to creativity in education. ... Individuality, personality, originality, are too precious to be meddled with by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/the-invention-of-iq-did-a-great-disservice-to-creativity-in-education/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [The members of the department became like the Athenians who, according to the Apostle Paul, "spent their time in nothing else, but either to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/the-members-of-the-department-became-like-the-athenians-who-according/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [The best person able to appraise promise as a mathematician is a gifted teacher, and not a professional tester.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/the-best-person-able-to-appraise-promise-as-a-mathematician-is-a/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [A child of the new generation Refused to learn multiplication. He said 'Don't conclude That I'm stupid or rude; I am simply without motivation.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/a-child-of-the-new-generation-refused-to-learn-multiplication-he-said/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) [Explore all 12 Joel Henry Hildebrand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) ## More Abandon quotes > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/) [Kenan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-malik/) > [The purpose of a spirit filled life is to demonstrate the supernatural power of our living God so that the unsaved multitudes will abandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-osborn/the-purpose-of-a-spirit-filled-life-is-to-demonstrate-the/) [T.L. 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The ultimate high is the dance with another person, played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/sex-is-not-the-ultimate-high-but-the-ultimate-high-hangs-out-around/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I care so deeply about this matter that I'm willing to take on the legal penalties, to sit in this prison cell, to sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-care-so-deeply-about-this-matter-that-i-m-willing-to-take-on-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I've been to unpretty places with the roles I've played, and I'm attracted to reckless abandon. 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