--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that the power to declare war…" description: "\"I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights of its citizens, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/john-yoo-14735_approval_i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war_853698.png" --- # I believe that the power to declare war is most important… ![“I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights of its citizens, but that it does not require Congress to give its approval before the president uses force abroad.” quote by John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/john-yoo-14735_approval_i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war_853698.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/john-yoo-14735_approval_i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war_853698.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/john-yoo-14735_approval_i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war_853698.png) > “I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights of its citizens, but that it does not require Congress to give its approval before the president uses force abroad.” [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The authority to start wars should be limited to protect citizens, yet the president can act without congressional approval abroad. **In simple terms:** War powers should protect rights, but presidents can act alone overseas. Key Takeaway Balance war‑power limits with executive flexibility. Themes government rights war executive power checks and balances Mood cautious critical Type political legal When to use this quote - legislative debate - presidential decision‑making - international crises - humanitarian interventions Key Concepts constitutional law separation of powers foreign policy Questions to Reflect On - How should war powers be balanced between branches? - What safeguards prevent abuse of executive force? A Different Perspective Presidential unilateral action may bypass democratic oversight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [The power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war, is fully and exclusively vested in the legislature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-power-to-declare-war-including-the-power-of-judging-the-causes-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [With gridlock the norm, Congress's approval rating is below 10 percent and the public has lost faith in its national leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/with-gridlock-the-norm-congress-s-approval-rating-is-below-10-percent/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [“War is too important to be left to the generals”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-clemenceau/war-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-generals/) [Georges Clemenceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-clemenceau/) > [Government acquisition of food supplies in time of war is no less important than conscription. Equity is the fundamental principle applicable to both these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiang-kai-shek/government-acquisition-of-food-supplies-in-time-of-war-is-no-less/) [Chiang Kai-shek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiang-kai-shek/) > [Everyone is interested in war, in that people don't want it to happen. I'm much more interested in peace than in war but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/everyone-is-interested-in-war-in-that-people-don-t-want-it-to-happen/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [War is too important a matter to be left to the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-clemenceau/war-is-too-important-a-matter-to-be-left-to-the-military/) [Georges Clemenceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-clemenceau/) > [I have come to believe there is nothing in the lives of human beings more terrifying than war and nothing more important than for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kovic/i-have-come-to-believe-there-is-nothing-in-the-lives-of-human-beings/) [Ron Kovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kovic/) > [For Americans war is almost all of the time a nuisance, and military skill is a luxury like Mah-Jongg. But when the issue is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-w-brogan/for-americans-war-is-almost-all-of-the-time-a-nuisance-and-military/) [D. W Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-w-brogan/) > [“Nobody ever wanted to go to war, but if a war came your way, it might as well be the right war, about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/nobody-ever-wanted-to-go-to-war-but-if-a-war-came-your-way-it-might/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Make it plain that you have no time for war, that you have more important things to do…let the diplomats and marshals of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/make-it-plain-that-you-have-no-time-for-war-that-you-have-more/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [I thought my story, my experiences as a 2-year-old 'evacuee' from London at the outset of the war, could be important. What happened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/i-thought-my-story-my-experiences-as-a-2-year-old-evacuee-from-london/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-not-enough-to-win-a-war-it-is-more-important-to-organize-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [World War One is an important part of Ireland's multi-layered history during which tens of thousands Irish people lost their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/world-war-one-is-an-important-part-of-ireland-s-multi-layered-history/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [The literature of the Spanish Civil War is also important to me. Above all George Orwell's "Homage to Catalonia" as well as the writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/the-literature-of-the-spanish-civil-war-is-also-important-to-me-above/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) ## More by John Yoo > [American soldiers had to guard prisoners on the inside while receiving mortar and weapons fire from the outside. Guantanamo is distant from any battlefield,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/american-soldiers-had-to-guard-prisoners-on-the-inside-while/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [That is because the conflict with al Qaeda is not governed by the Geneva Conventions, which applies only to international conflicts between states that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qaeda-is-not-governed-by-the/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [A decision by the Supreme Court to subject Guantanamo to judicial review would eliminate these advantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/a-decision-by-the-supreme-court-to-subject-guantanamo-to-judicial/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [This is not to condone torture, which is still prohibited by the Torture Convention and federal criminal law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/this-is-not-to-condone-torture-which-is-still-prohibited-by-the/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [We can guess that the unacceptable conduct of the soldiers at Abu Ghraib resulted in part from the dangerous state of affairs on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/we-can-guess-that-the-unacceptable-conduct-of-the-soldiers-at-abu/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [Nonetheless, Article 5 makes clear that if an Iraqi civilian who is not a member of the armed forces, has engaged in attacks on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/nonetheless-article-5-makes-clear-that-if-an-iraqi-civilian-who-is/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [In light of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, critics are arguing that abuses of Iraqi prisoners are being produced by a climate of disregard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/in-light-of-the-abu-ghraib-prison-scandal-critics-are-arguing-that/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [There was nothing wrong - and everything right - with analyzing a law that establishes boundaries on interrogation in the war on terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/there-was-nothing-wrong-and-everything-right-with-analyzing-a-law/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [President Bush and his commanders announced early in the conflict that the Conventions applied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/president-bush-and-his-commanders-announced-early-in-the-conflict/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [Congress has created and funded a huge peacetime military that has substantial abilities to wage offensive operations, and it has not placed restrictions on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/congress-has-created-and-funded-a-huge-peacetime-military-that-has/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [It is also worth asking whether the strict limitations of Geneva make sense in a war against terrorists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/it-is-also-worth-asking-whether-the-strict-limitations-of-geneva-make/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [The Justices are currently considering a case, argued last month, which seeks to extend the writ of habeas corpus to al Qaeda and Taliban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/the-justices-are-currently-considering-a-case-argued-last-month-which/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [Without territory, it does not even have the resources to provide detention facilities for prisoners, even if it were interested in holding captured POWs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/without-territory-it-does-not-even-have-the-resources-to-provide/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [It is the policy of the United States not to engage in torture, and there are federal criminal laws that prohibit torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/it-is-the-policy-of-the-united-states-not-to-engage-in-torture-and/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) [Explore all 45 John Yoo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) ## More Approval quotes > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/lean-too-much-on-the-approval-of-people-and-it-becomes-a-bed-of-thorns/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [But I always reassure them that as far as my contractual rights can go, I will protect them and make sure that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/but-i-always-reassure-them-that-as-far-as-my-contractual-rights-can/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [My dad taught me swears when I was a toddler, and I saw, at a really early age, that if I shocked people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-dad-taught-me-swears-when-i-was-a-toddler-and-i-saw-at-a-really/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/pleasure-is-nature-s-test-her-sign-of-approval/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Do you really mean the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward? That's not morality, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/do-you-really-mean-the-only-reason-you-try-to-be-good-is-to-gain-god/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Browse all 904 Approval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights of its citizens, but that it does not require Congress to give its approval before the president uses force abroad.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Yoo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Approval" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/john-yoo-14735_approval_i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war_853698.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/john-yoo-14735_approval_i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war_853698.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/john-yoo-14735_approval_i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war_853698.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government…” — John Yoo", "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 Yoo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe that the power to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting-2/#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 } } ] } ```