--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, 'high-intensity conflict' is a fancy…" description: "\"Now, 'high-intensity conflict' is a fancy word for saying tanks on tanks, aircraft shooting each other out of the sky, a great deal of violence at a le..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/mark-esper-12828_conflict_now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-w_751627.jpg" --- # Now, 'high-intensity conflict' is a fancy word for saying… ![“Now, 'high-intensity conflict' is a fancy word for saying tanks on tanks, aircraft shooting each other out of the sky, a great deal of violence at a level we haven't seen since probably the Korean War or World War II, where you have big armies facing off against one another.” quote by Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/mark-esper-12828_conflict_now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-w_751627.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/mark-esper-12828_conflict_now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-w_751627.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/mark-esper-12828_conflict_now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-w_751627.jpg) > “Now, 'high-intensity conflict' is a fancy word for saying tanks on tanks, aircraft shooting each other out of the sky, a great deal of violence at a level we haven't seen since probably the Korean War or World War II, where you have big armies facing off against one another.” [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote describes modern high‑intensity warfare as massive, conventional battles with heavy equipment and high casualties, reminiscent of mid‑20th‑century wars. **In simple terms:** It compares today’s large‑scale combat to historic wars like Korea and WWII. Key Takeaway Recognize the scale and cost of modern conventional conflict. Themes warfare technology history politics Mood cautious serious Type analytical strategic When to use this quote - strategic planning - defense budgeting - alliances - conflict prevention Key Concepts conventional warfare deterrence military doctrine Questions to Reflect On - How can policymakers balance preparation for large‑scale war with emerging hybrid threats? - What lessons from past wars apply to today’s high‑intensity conflict? A Different Perspective May underestimate asymmetric threats and non‑kinetic warfare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Korean war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-war/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [World war ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-ii/) ## Related quotes > [The Army I grew up in was focused on high-intensity conflict against a peer competitor called the Soviet Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/the-army-i-grew-up-in-was-focused-on-high-intensity-conflict-against/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [I suggest that US foreign policy can still be defined as "kiss my ass or I'll kick your head in." But of course it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-suggest-that-us-foreign-policy-can-still-be-defined-as-kiss-my-ass/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [“There are three defining factors that distinguish unavoidable conflict seen in healthy relationships from conflict seen in a push-pull dynamic, toxic relationship, or trauma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-tanasugarn/there-are-three-defining-factors-that-distinguish-unavoidable/) Annie Tanasugarn > [When I grew up, in Taiwan, the Korean War was seen as a good war, where America protected Asia. It was sort of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/when-i-grew-up-in-taiwan-the-korean-war-was-seen-as-a-good-war-where/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [“Even in former days, Korea was known as the 'hermit kingdom' for its stubborn resistance to outsiders. And if you wanted to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/even-in-former-days-korea-was-known-as-the-hermit-kingdom-for-its/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I was drafted during the Korean War. None of us wanted to go... It was only a couple of years after World War II…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-was-drafted-during-the-korean-war-none-of-us-wanted-to-go-it-was/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I've always played with a high intensity anyway. That's how I've always been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/i-ve-always-played-with-a-high-intensity-anyway-that-s-how-i-ve/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) > [Presently, my understanding of the fundamental principles of the theory of high-intensity training is thorough and complete - not two plus two equals three-and-a-half,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/presently-my-understanding-of-the-fundamental-principles-of-the/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [At times, I do Tabata, a high-intensity Japanese training regimen, in which I must do 20 seconds of a specific body part with 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-rampal/at-times-i-do-tabata-a-high-intensity-japanese-training-regimen-in/) [Arjun Rampal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-rampal/) > [I like to make my training sessions harder than an actual game with very high intensity workouts, lots of sprints and plenty of weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/i-like-to-make-my-training-sessions-harder-than-an-actual-game-with/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [I loved Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Rob Van Dam, I was a big fan of any of the big, flashy high flyers. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-alexander/i-loved-eddie-guerrero-rey-mysterio-rob-van-dam-i-was-a-big-fan-of/) [Cedric Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-alexander/) > [I'm all about cardio and high-intensity music... Anything with music, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-canseco/i-m-all-about-cardio-and-high-intensity-music-anything-with-music/) [Josie Canseco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-canseco/) > [Our standards at Bayern are extremely high, with every training session at very high intensity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/our-standards-at-bayern-are-extremely-high-with-every-training/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [We always have great practices, and the competition is high, and the intensity is high; it's just about doing that now in a game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/we-always-have-great-practices-and-the-competition-is-high-and-the/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [Everyone says there's a lot of strength, a lot of big guys in defence, the Premier League is very fast and there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timo-werner/everyone-says-there-s-a-lot-of-strength-a-lot-of-big-guys-in-defence/) [Timo Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timo-werner/) ## More by Mark Esper > [We certainly have the best special operations forces in the world and know how to do counterterrorism extremely well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/we-certainly-have-the-best-special-operations-forces-in-the-world-and/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [I think artificial intelligence will likely change the character of warfare, and I believe whoever masters it first will dominate on the battlefield for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/i-think-artificial-intelligence-will-likely-change-the-character-of/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [If you talk to any senior Army leaders, you'll find one, if not all, their children are in the Army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/if-you-talk-to-any-senior-army-leaders-you-ll-find-one-if-not-all/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [We may be a little bit late - we are late - coming to the recognition that we are in a strategic competition with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/we-may-be-a-little-bit-late-we-are-late-coming-to-the-recognition/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [AI will allow the soldier to act and think much more quickly. Whoever gets to AI first, I believe, will have dominance for many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/ai-will-allow-the-soldier-to-act-and-think-much-more-quickly-whoever/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [Our warfighting doctrine is that we don't want to be in a fair fight, and we want the fight to always be tilted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/our-warfighting-doctrine-is-that-we-don-t-want-to-be-in-a-fair-fight/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [One of the key challenges the military has faced - and the Army, in particular - is defining our requirements and keeping them stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/one-of-the-key-challenges-the-military-has-faced-and-the-army-in/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [The bottom line is this: in an era of mounting fiscal challenges and competing demands, we must actively seek ways to free up time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/the-bottom-line-is-this-in-an-era-of-mounting-fiscal-challenges-and/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [I've got a lot of military kids who are not in on-base child care, and they should be. So it's things like that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/i-ve-got-a-lot-of-military-kids-who-are-not-in-on-base-child-care-and/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [The biggest challenge is clearly China, in the years 2035 and beyond. I mean, the size of the country, its economy, and everything -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/the-biggest-challenge-is-clearly-china-in-the-years-2035-and-beyond-i/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [The international rules-based order in the wake of World War II is the order that has ensured prosperity and security now for 75 years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/the-international-rules-based-order-in-the-wake-of-world-war-ii-is/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [Good alliances are made of strong, capable partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/good-alliances-are-made-of-strong-capable-partners/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [In many cases, the reason why our child development centers are not at full capacity is that we have an insufficient number of providers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/in-many-cases-the-reason-why-our-child-development-centers-are-not-at/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [When I went to West Point, I was there with cadets from 50 other states and territories. Cadets from other countries, and you learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/when-i-went-to-west-point-i-was-there-with-cadets-from-50-other/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [In my day, we had mastered high-intensity conflict, which is why I think we were so successful in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/in-my-day-we-had-mastered-high-intensity-conflict-which-is-why-i/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) [Explore all 53 Mark Esper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) ## More Conflict quotes > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [There is a conflict in the Middle East between two entities, and they're both right, each in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/there-is-a-conflict-in-the-middle-east-between-two-entities-and-they/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Conflict isn't negative, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-crum/conflict-isn-t-negative-it-just-is/) [Thomas Crum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-crum/) > [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [The irrepressible conflict propounded by abolitionism has produced now its legitimate fruits - disunion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-irrepressible-conflict-propounded-by-abolitionism-has-produced/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [“While there is battle and hatred men have eyes for nothing save the fact that the enemy is the cause of all the troubles;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/while-there-is-battle-and-hatred-men-have-eyes-for-nothing-save-the/) [Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/all-men-have-an-instinct-for-conflict-at-least-all-healthy-men/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) [Browse all 3,969 Conflict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Now, 'high-intensity conflict' is a fancy word for saying tanks on tanks, aircraft shooting each other out of the sky, a great deal of violence at a level we haven't seen since probably the Korean War or World War II, where you have big armies facing off against one another.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Esper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-word-for-saying-tanks-on-tanks/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conflict" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-word-for-saying-tanks-on-tanks/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/mark-esper-12828_conflict_now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-w_751627.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/mark-esper-12828_conflict_now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-w_751627.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/mark-esper-12828_conflict_now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-w_751627.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Now, 'high-intensity conflict' is a fancy word for saying tanks on tanks, aircraft shooting each other out…” — Mark Esper", "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": "Mark Esper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Now, 'high-intensity conflict' is a fancy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-word-for-saying-tanks-on-tanks/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/now-high-intensity-conflict-is-a-fancy-word-for-saying-tanks-on-tanks/#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 } } ] } ```