--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is a war,\" Lemas replied. \"It's…" description: "\"“This is a war,\" Lemas replied. \"It's graphic and unpleasant because it's fought on a tiny scale, at close range; fought with a wastage of innocent lif..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d28/john-le-carre-651_espionage_this-is-a-war-lemas-replied-it-s-graphic_967570.jpg" --- # This is a war," Lemas replied. "It's graphic and… ![“This is a war," Lemas replied. "It's graphic and unpleasant because it's fought on a tiny scale, at close range; fought with a wastage of innocent life sometimes, I admit. But it's nothing, nothing at all besides other wars - the last or the next.” quote by John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d28/john-le-carre-651_espionage_this-is-a-war-lemas-replied-it-s-graphic_967570.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d28/john-le-carre-651_espionage_this-is-a-war-lemas-replied-it-s-graphic_967570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d28/john-le-carre-651_espionage_this-is-a-war-lemas-replied-it-s-graphic_967570.jpg) > ““This is a war," Lemas replied. "It's graphic and unpleasant because it's fought on a tiny scale, at close range; fought with a wastage of innocent life sometimes, I admit. But it's nothing, nothing at all besides other wars - the last or the next.”” [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War is depicted as a small‑scale, brutal conflict that mirrors larger wars, emphasizing its senseless loss of innocent lives. **In simple terms:** War is a tiny, brutal fight that repeats larger wars. Key Takeaway Recognize the human cost of any conflict. Themes war humanity morality Mood somber reflective Type literary political When to use this quote - military engagement - political policy - media coverage - public debate Key Concepts conflict scale innocent loss Questions to Reflect On - What makes a war seem insignificant yet impactful? - How does scale affect our perception of conflict? A Different Perspective It may overlook the strategic reasons behind wars. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admit Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admit-wars-1836074/) [Espionage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/espionage/) [Graphic Unpleasant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graphic-unpleasant-1836075/) [Innocent life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent-life/) [Lemas Replied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lemas-replied-1836072/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Spy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spy/) [Unpleasant Fought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpleasant-fought-1836073/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) ## Related quotes > [“Smiley himself was one of those solitaires who seem to have come into the world fully educated at the age of eighteen. 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