--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The imperative of war is to kill, and…" description: "\"“The imperative of war is to kill, and thus all wars are exercises in sanctioned murder.”\" — Joseph E. Persico" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/joseph-e-persico-10290_fitness_the-imperative-of-war-is-to-kill-and-thu_275926.jpg" --- # The imperative of war is to kill, and thus all wars are… ![“The imperative of war is to kill, and thus all wars are exercises in sanctioned murder.” quote by Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/joseph-e-persico-10290_fitness_the-imperative-of-war-is-to-kill-and-thu_275926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/joseph-e-persico-10290_fitness_the-imperative-of-war-is-to-kill-and-thu_275926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/joseph-e-persico-10290_fitness_the-imperative-of-war-is-to-kill-and-thu_275926.jpg) > ““The imperative of war is to kill, and thus all wars are exercises in sanctioned murder.”” [Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) ## 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 fundamentally about killing, making it a state‑sanctioned act of murder. **In simple terms:** War equals killing. Key Takeaway Recognize the moral cost of conflict. Themes war morality violence Mood somber critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - military policy - peace negotiations - human rights advocacy Key Concepts justification state power ethics Questions to Reflect On - Can war ever be morally justified? - How do societies reconcile patriotism with the reality of killing? A Different Perspective War may be framed as necessary defense, complicating the moral judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Women don't go to war to kill other women. 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Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) > [“Mustard gas was stubborn, clinging to the ground as long as three days. Heavier than air, it settled into craters and trenches where men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/mustard-gas-was-stubborn-clinging-to-the-ground-as-long-as-three-days/) [Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) > [“Barely across the Ourcq, Donovan’s battalion began taking fire from three sides. One bullet grazed Wild Bill’s thigh; another tore off the heel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/barely-across-the-ourcq-donovan-s-battalion-began-taking-fire-from/) [Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) > [“A great many of the Army officers were very fine in the way that they took care of their men. But there were certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/a-great-many-of-the-army-officers-were-very-fine-in-the-way-that-they/) [Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) > [“MacArthur strode before his men, armed only with a riding crop, a cigarette holder clamped jauntily between his teeth, without the slightest suggestion in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/macarthur-strode-before-his-men-armed-only-with-a-riding-crop-a/) [Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) > [“Major General Charles Summerall, spotted a gateway to glory. Rather than merely “assisting,” he would take advantage of the flexibility Pershing’s order provided and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/major-general-charles-summerall-spotted-a-gateway-to-glory-rather/) [Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) [Explore all 66 Joseph E. Persico quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) ## More Fitness quotes > [I train my muscles, and I do a lot of stretching, and try to kick higher. 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