---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unconditional war can no longer lead to…"
description: "\"Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer concern the Great Powers alo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/john-f-kennedy-246_committed_unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to_1886912.jpg"
---

#  Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional…

![“Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer concern the Great Powers alone. For a nuclear disaster, spread by wind and water and fear, could well engulf the great and the small, the rich and the poor, the committed and…” quote by John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/john-f-kennedy-246_committed_unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to_1886912.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/john-f-kennedy-246_committed_unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to_1886912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/john-f-kennedy-246_committed_unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to_1886912.jpg)

> “Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer concern the Great Powers alone. For a nuclear disaster, spread by wind and water and fear, could well engulf the great and the small, the rich and the poor, the committed and the uncommitted alike. Mankind must put an end to war--or war will put an end to mankind.”

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

## About This Quote

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

War’s destructive potential now threatens all humanity; it must end to preserve civilization.

**In simple terms:** War is dangerous; stop it.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for peace and disarmament.

Themes

peace war humanity

Mood

hopeful urgent

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- international negotiations
- environmental policy
- public education
- civil activism

Key Concepts

nuclear deterrence global security ethical responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives to war can resolve conflicts?
- How to mobilize public support for disarmament?

A Different Perspective

Peace efforts can be undermined by geopolitical interests.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Great power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-power/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Rich And The Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-and-the-poor/) [Uncommitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncommitted/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/)

## Related quotes

> [“Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer be of concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to-unconditional-victory-it-can-2/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes... can no longer be of concern to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to-unconditional-victory-it-can/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [ \[War\] can no longer be of concern to great powers alone. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/war-can-no-longer-be-of-concern-to-great-powers-alone/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [This administration here and now declares unconditional war on poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/this-administration-here-and-now-declares-unconditional-war-on-poverty/)

[Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/)

> [“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war. And until there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie-i/until-the-philosophy-which-holds-one-race-superior-and-another/)

[Haile Selassie I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie-i/)

> [War is no longer made by simply analyzed economic forces if it ever was. War is made or planned now by individual men, demagogues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/war-is-no-longer-made-by-simply-analyzed-economic-forces-if-it-ever/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [Total war is no longer war waged by all members of one national community against all those of another. It is total... because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/total-war-is-no-longer-war-waged-by-all-members-of-one-national/)

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

> [Humans are very aggressive and scrappy, and go to war at the drop of a hat. However, a standard land war is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/humans-are-very-aggressive-and-scrappy-and-go-to-war-at-the-drop-of-a/)

[Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/)

> [Our country is now at war and the only way out is forward. I would not change one word I have spoken against war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/our-country-is-now-at-war-and-the-only-way-out-is-forward-i-would-not/)

[David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/)

> [“War has no longer the justification that it makes for the survival of the fittest; it involves the survival of the less fit. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-angell/war-has-no-longer-the-justification-that-it-makes-for-the-survival-of/)

[Norman Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-angell/)

> [“Think, too, of the great part that is played by the unpredictable in war: think of it now, before you are actually comitted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/think-too-of-the-great-part-that-is-played-by-the-unpredictable-in/)

[Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/)

> [“War no longer exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-smith/war-no-longer-exists/)

Rupert Smith

> [“After ten years of war, I no longer believe in moments of peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/after-ten-years-of-war-i-no-longer-believe-in-moments-of-peace/)

[Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/)

> [When the President decides to go to war, he no longer needs a declaration of war from congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/when-the-president-decides-to-go-to-war-he-no-longer-needs-a/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [This war no longer has anything to do with knightly conduct or with the agreements of the Geneva Convention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/this-war-no-longer-has-anything-to-do-with-knightly-conduct-or-with/)

[Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/)

## More by John F. Kennedy

> [“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-shall-pay-any-price-bear-any-burden-meet-any-hardship-support-any/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [We stand today on the edge of a new frontier - the frontier of the 1960's - a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-stand-today-on-the-edge-of-a-new-frontier-the-frontier-of-the-1960/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Someone always needs rescuing, yet there's only one person who ever seems to understand you. It's a lot like being Lassie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/someone-always-needs-rescuing-yet-there-s-only-one-person-who-ever/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Great crises produce great men, and great deeds of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/great-crises-produce-great-men-and-great-deeds-of-courage/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [There comes a point where you see no evidence that the carrot and diplomacy are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-comes-a-point-where-you-see-no-evidence-that-the-carrot-and/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Disarmament without checks is but a shadow - and a community without law is but a shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/disarmament-without-checks-is-but-a-shadow-and-a-community-without/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [This is one country. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/this-is-one-country-it-has-become-one-country-because-all-of-us-and/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [“The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-courage-of-life-is-often-a-less-dramatic-spectacle-than-the/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/peace-does-not-rest-in-the-charters-and-covenants-alone-it-lies-in/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

[Explore all 824 John F. Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

## More Committed quotes

> [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/)

[Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/)

> [I've been around in public life for a long time. I think people know what I stand for. They know that I have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-ve-been-around-in-public-life-for-a-long-time-i-think-people-know/)

[Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/)

> [One lesson to learn is that the press and the broadcasters are not neutral. And it seems we have to learn it each time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/one-lesson-to-learn-is-that-the-press-and-the-broadcasters-are-not/)

[Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/)

> [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/)

[Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/)

> [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [There is no breach of European rules committed by companies from Romania or on Romanian territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-ponta/there-is-no-breach-of-european-rules-committed-by-companies-from/)

[Victor Ponta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-ponta/)

> [We all have that desire for something special, something committed. We all want to be The One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/we-all-have-that-desire-for-something-special-something-committed-we/)

[Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/)

> [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [Sitting in your garden is a feat to be worked at with unflagging determination and single-mindedness. . . . I am deeply committed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirabel-osler/sitting-in-your-garden-is-a-feat-to-be-worked-at-with-unflagging/)

[Mirabel Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirabel-osler/)

> [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/)

[Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/)

> [There is no secret formula--only a life committed to a close walk with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/there-is-no-secret-formula-only-a-life-committed-to-a-close-walk-with/)

[Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/)

> [Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name! All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/)

[Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/)

> [Dancing with death meant being committed to killing, committed with your heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/dancing-with-death-meant-being-committed-to-killing-committed-with/)

[Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/)

> [I have sometimes thought that the laws ought not to punish those actions of evil which are committed when the senses are steeped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-laws-ought-not-to-punish-those/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

Browse all 2,539 Committed quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer concern the Great Powers alone. For a nuclear disaster, spread by wind and water and fear, could well engulf the great and the small, the rich and the poor, the committed and the uncommitted alike. Mankind must put an end to war--or war will put an end to mankind.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John F. Kennedy"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to-unconditional-victory-it-can-3/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Committed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to-unconditional-victory-it-can-3/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/john-f-kennedy-246_committed_unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to_1886912.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/john-f-kennedy-246_committed_unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to_1886912.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/john-f-kennedy-246_committed_unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to_1886912.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It…” — John F. Kennedy",
                "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": "John F. Kennedy",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Unconditional war can no longer lead...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to-unconditional-victory-it-can-3/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to-unconditional-victory-it-can-3/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
