--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken for…" description: "\"Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken for this end, that we may live in peace, without being injured; but when we obtain the victory, we must preserve ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_cruelty_wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for_540532.jpg" --- # Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken for this end, that… ![“Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken for this end, that we may live in peace, without being injured; but when we obtain the victory, we must preserve those enemies who behaved without cruelty or inhumanity during the war.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_cruelty_wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for_540532.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_cruelty_wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for_540532.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_cruelty_wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for_540532.jpg) > “Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken for this end, that we may live in peace, without being injured; but when we obtain the victory, we must preserve those enemies who behaved without cruelty or inhumanity during the war.” [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 should be fought for peace, but after victory, those who acted humanely must be spared. **In simple terms:** War for peace, spare humane enemies. Key Takeaway Uphold moral standards even after conflict. Themes war peace ethics humane conduct victory Mood thoughtful ethical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - military strategy - peace negotiations - humanitarian aid Key Concepts just war theory morality post‑war reconciliation Questions to Reflect On - How do we define humane behavior in war? - Can enemies be truly spared? A Different Perspective Moral judgments can be subjective and contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Inhumanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhumanity/) [Live In Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-peace/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace unharmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-only-excuse-for-war-is-that-we-may-live-in-peace-unharmed/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“To rest in peace you need to die, to live in peace you need to remain alive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/to-rest-in-peace-you-need-to-die-to-live-in-peace-you-need-to-remain/) [Dr.P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [“When we can live in peace and harmony with one another, irrespective of race, color, creed…When that day arrives we will be contented. THEN,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-c-bates/when-we-can-live-in-peace-and-harmony-with-one-another-irrespective/) L.C. Bates > [Dear young people of every language and culture, a high and exhilarating task awaits you: that of becoming men and women capable of solidarity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/dear-young-people-of-every-language-and-culture-a-high-and/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [Every year, tens of thousands of lives are impacted by terrorist violence around the globe. These are brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thomas-greenfield/every-year-tens-of-thousands-of-lives-are-impacted-by-terrorist/) [Linda Thomas-Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thomas-greenfield/) > [I live in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-espirito-santo/i-live-in-peace/) [Nuno Espirito Santo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-espirito-santo/) > [No matter what we all have to be peace to live in peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teady/no-matter-what-we-all-have-to-be-peace-to-live-in-peace/) $Teady > [The Israeli people must be free to live in peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/the-israeli-people-must-be-free-to-live-in-peace-and-security/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [If you wish to be good "Pantagruelists" (which is to say, live in peace, joy, health, and always dining well), never put too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/if-you-wish-to-be-good-pantagruelists-which-is-to-say-live-in-peace/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [“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/) > [“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 > [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/) ## 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 Cruelty quotes > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Nature is pitiless; she never withdraws her flowers, her music, her fragrance, and her sunlight from before human cruelty or suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/nature-is-pitiless-she-never-withdraws-her-flowers-her-music-her/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [There's a certain edge about cruelty. If you're honest about it, most people wince, but say it had to be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-waterman/there-s-a-certain-edge-about-cruelty-if-you-re-honest-about-it-most/) [Pete Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-waterman/) > [He lacked tenderness; he was rude; and he had more than a streak of cruelty in him; he was a thief and a liar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/he-lacked-tenderness-he-was-rude-and-he-had-more-than-a-streak-of/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Regarding lack of vision or disabilities of the organ of sight, it has long been known among researchers that it is the effect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/regarding-lack-of-vision-or-disabilities-of-the-organ-of-sight-it-has/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [“When you’re a monster, she thought, you are thanked and praised for not behaving like a monster. She would like to restrain from cruelty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/when-you-re-a-monster-she-thought-you-are-thanked-and-praised-for-not/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Music comes from the heart and returns to the heart... music is spontaneous, impulsive expression... its range is without limit... music is forever growing...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-stokowski/music-comes-from-the-heart-and-returns-to-the-heart-music-is/) [Leopold Stokowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-stokowski/) > [The schoolmaster is the person who takes the children off the parents' hands for a consideration. That is to say, he establishes a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-schoolmaster-is-the-person-who-takes-the-children-off-the-parents/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [You must learn that to endure cruelty is to become cruel yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bleach/you-must-learn-that-to-endure-cruelty-is-to-become-cruel-yourself/) [Bleach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bleach/) > [“in every pleasure, cruelty has its place...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-every-pleasure-cruelty-has-its-place/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Old people deserves a medal, a medal of existence which crowns their long-term victory against the cruelty of time and the dangers of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/old-people-deserves-a-medal-a-medal-of-existence-which-crowns-their/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 1,675 Cruelty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken for this end, that we may live in peace, without being injured; but when we obtain the victory, we must preserve those enemies who behaved without cruelty or inhumanity during the war.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for-this-end-that-we-may-live-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cruelty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for-this-end-that-we-may-live-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_cruelty_wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for_540532.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_cruelty_wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for_540532.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_cruelty_wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for_540532.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken for this end, that we may live in peace, without being injured; but…” — 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": "Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for-this-end-that-we-may-live-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/wars-therefore-are-to-be-undertaken-for-this-end-that-we-may-live-in/#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 } } ] } ```