--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: War is just to those to whom war is…" description: "\"War is just to those to whom war is necessary.\" — Livy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/livy-3007_just_war-is-just-to-those-to-whom-war-is-nece_3131848.png" --- # War is just to those to whom war is necessary. ![“War is just to those to whom war is necessary.” quote by Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/livy-3007_just_war-is-just-to-those-to-whom-war-is-nece_3131848.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/livy-3007_just_war-is-just-to-those-to-whom-war-is-nece_3131848.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/livy-3007_just_war-is-just-to-those-to-whom-war-is-nece_3131848.png) > “War is just to those to whom war is necessary.” [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) ## 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 justified only for those who deem it essential for survival or duty. **In simple terms:** War is seen as necessary by some. Key Takeaway Consider the costs before deeming war necessary. Themes war ethics politics Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - military planning - policy debate - diplomacy - public discourse Key Concepts just war theory realpolitik Questions to Reflect On - Who decides when war is necessary? - What alternatives exist? A Different Perspective Not all wars are truly necessary; motives can be self‑serving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [It may be true that every necessary war must also really be a just war; but it does not absolutely follow that every just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hamilton-gordon-1st-marquess-of-aberdeen-and-temair/it-may-be-true-that-every-necessary-war-must-also-really-be-a-just/) John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair > [“There is no such thing as a "just" war. It's just war. And it's antithetical to the Gospel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-flowers/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-just-war-it-s-just-war-and-it-s/) [David D. Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-flowers/) > [Again, in Wag the Dog, war has to be declared by an act of congress. 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We must concentrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/it-is-not-enough-to-say-we-must-not-wage-war-it-is-necessary-to-love/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/war-may-sometimes-be-a-necessary-evil-but-no-matter-how-necessary-it/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [What good the prophet in the wilderness may do is incremental and personal. 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Tullius were consuls the next year: nothing worth mentioning happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/servius-sulpicius-and-m-tullius-were-consuls-the-next-year-nothing/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/there-is-an-old-saying-which-from-its-truth-has-become-proverbial/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Many things complicated by nature are restored by reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/many-things-complicated-by-nature-are-restored-by-reason/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Bad beginnings, bad endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/bad-beginnings-bad-endings/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“In ancient Greece more than one royal house was guilty of crime which became the stuff of tragedy: now Rome was to follow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/in-ancient-greece-more-than-one-royal-house-was-guilty-of-crime-which/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“It is your duty,' he said, 'to recover your country not by gold but by the sword. You will be fighting with all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/it-is-your-duty-he-said-to-recover-your-country-not-by-gold-but-by/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [In difficult and desperate cases, the boldest counsels are the safest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/in-difficult-and-desperate-cases-the-boldest-counsels-are-the-safest/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“There is never any lack at Athens of tongues ready and willing to stir up the passions of the common people; this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/there-is-never-any-lack-at-athens-of-tongues-ready-and-willing-to/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [ “\[Rhodian delegation:\] Every city contains wicked citizens from time to time and an ignorant populace all the time.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/rhodian-delegation-every-city-contains-wicked-citizens-from-time-to/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Nowhere are our calculations more frequently upset than in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/nowhere-are-our-calculations-more-frequently-upset-than-in-war/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Dignity is a matter which concerns only mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/dignity-is-a-matter-which-concerns-only-mankind/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/the-study-of-history-is-the-best-medicine-for-a-sick-mind-for-in/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [No man likes to be surpassed by those of this own level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/no-man-likes-to-be-surpassed-by-those-of-this-own-level/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) [Explore all 142 Livy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) ## More Just quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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