--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only excuse for war is that we may…" description: "\"The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace unharmed.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_excuse_the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-l_1307296.jpg" --- # The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace… ![“The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace unharmed.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_excuse_the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-l_1307296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_excuse_the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-l_1307296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_excuse_the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-l_1307296.jpg) > “The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace unharmed.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## 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 if it ultimately secures lasting peace without harm. **In simple terms:** War only if it leads to harmless peace. Key Takeaway Seek peace, avoid war. Themes politics ethics peace Mood serious philosophical Type ethical political When to use this quote - international relations - conflict resolution - policy making Key Concepts just war theory pacifism Questions to Reflect On - Is any war truly harmless? - How can peace be ensured without war? A Different Perspective Peace may be unattainable without conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Excuse War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse-war-855574/) [Live In Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-peace/) [Live Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-peace/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Unharmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-unharmed-4313060/) [Unharmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unharmed-2225708/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-live-269573/) ## Related quotes > [We make war that we may live in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/we-make-war-that-we-may-live-in-peace/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [We make war because to live in peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sahil-pandita/we-make-war-because-to-live-in-peace/) [SAHIL PANDITA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sahil-pandita/) > [Wars are to be undertaken in order that it may be possible to live in peace without molestation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/wars-are-to-be-undertaken-in-order-that-it-may-be-possible-to-live-in/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken for this end, that we may live in peace, without being injured; but when we obtain the victory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for-this-end-that-we-may-live-in/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Do you need an excuse to have a war? I mean, who for? Can't you just say "You got lots of cash and land,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/do-you-need-an-excuse-to-have-a-war-i-mean-who-for-can-t-you-just-say/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I see what you think you mean," said the magician, "but you are wrong. There is no excuse for war, none whatever, and whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white/i-see-what-you-think-you-mean-said-the-magician-but-you-are-wrong/) [T.H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white/) > [Those who know when to halt are unharmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/those-who-know-when-to-halt-are-unharmed/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Hold on to the great image, and the whole world follows, follows unharmed, content and completely at peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/hold-on-to-the-great-image-and-the-whole-world-follows-follows/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“With faith in God, we can walk through the fires unharmed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/with-faith-in-god-we-can-walk-through-the-fires-unharmed/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Gods, this is the best time to pull one of your scripted lines. It’s all perfectly safe, Queen Talyien. On my honour: little kittens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-s-villoso/gods-this-is-the-best-time-to-pull-one-of-your-scripted-lines-it-s/) [K.S. Villoso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-s-villoso/) > [“Peace comes to those who let others live in peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-mukherjee/peace-comes-to-those-who-let-others-live-in-peace/) [Indira Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-mukherjee/) > [I don't want to be a film star. I don't even want to be a pop star. I just want to live in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-film-star-i-don-t-even-want-to-be-a-pop-star-i/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [I have been, and will remain, outspoken in my insistence that Israel has a right to live in peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-have-been-and-will-remain-outspoken-in-my-insistence-that-israel/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I just want to live in peace and quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/i-just-want-to-live-in-peace-and-quiet/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [“So that others can live in peace, talk about love and peace wherever you go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/so-that-others-can-live-in-peace-talk-about-love-and-peace-wherever/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Excuse quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/) [Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/) > [Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/win-without-boasting-lose-without-excuse/) [Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Dont leave without a reason, and then try to come back with an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-leave-without-a-reason-and-then-try-to-come-back-with-an-excuse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Using, as an excuse, others' failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/using-as-an-excuse-others-failure-of-common-sense-is-in-itself-a/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [I'm not the guy who will sit in a room with somebody who's using a bunch of big words and just act like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-m-not-the-guy-who-will-sit-in-a-room-with-somebody-who-s-using-a/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [Worst Break Up Excuse; 'You deserve so much better.' Translation: They've already moved on whether you like it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-break-up-excuse-you-deserve-so-much-better-translation-they-ve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Live with No Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyanendra/live-with-no-excuse/) [Gyanendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyanendra/) [Browse all 2,435 Excuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace unharmed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-live-in-peace-unharmed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-live-in-peace-unharmed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_excuse_the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-l_1307296.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_excuse_the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-l_1307296.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_excuse_the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-l_1307296.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace unharmed.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only excuse for war is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-live-in-peace-unharmed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-live-in-peace-unharmed/#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 } } ] } ```