--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To Mr. Seward: It is my desire that, in…" description: "\"To Mr. Seward: It is my desire that, in case Maximillian will surrender, he be sent here a prisoner of war, but that in the event of his continuing the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/joshua-a-norton-82413_case_to-mr-seward-it-is-my-desire-that-in-cas_1045746.jpg" --- # To Mr. Seward: It is my desire that, in case Maximillian… ![“To Mr. Seward: It is my desire that, in case Maximillian will surrender, he be sent here a prisoner of war, but that in the event of his continuing the war, or refusing to surrender, then he be shot.” quote by Joshua A. Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/joshua-a-norton-82413_case_to-mr-seward-it-is-my-desire-that-in-cas_1045746.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/joshua-a-norton-82413_case_to-mr-seward-it-is-my-desire-that-in-cas_1045746.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/joshua-a-norton-82413_case_to-mr-seward-it-is-my-desire-that-in-cas_1045746.jpg) > “To Mr. Seward: It is my desire that, in case Maximillian will surrender, he be sent here a prisoner of war, but that in the event of his continuing the war, or refusing to surrender, then he be shot.” Joshua A. Norton ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer wants a clear policy: if the enemy surrenders, treat him as a POW; if he keeps fighting, execute him. **In simple terms:** Set rules for surrender vs. continued resistance. Key Takeaway Decide consequences based on enemy actions. Themes war ethics decisionmaking Mood serious reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - battlefield command - prisoner negotiations - civil war leadership Key Concepts military law deterrence humanitarianism Questions to Reflect On - What are the moral implications of conditional execution? - How does this reflect on wartime justice? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner/) [Prisoner of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner-of-war/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Sure, I'd like to lose some weight, but a tapeworm is the last way I'd like to do it, except becoming a prisoner of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-notaro/sure-i-d-like-to-lose-some-weight-but-a-tapeworm-is-the-last-way-i-d/) [Laurie Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-notaro/) > [Playing a prisoner of war trapped in Pakistan for three years was a novelty for me. 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