--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In war it is necessary to kill as many…" description: "\"In war it is necessary to kill as many people as possible -- such is the cynical logic of war. Brutality in a fight is unavoidable; have you seen how c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/maxim-gorky-6814_brutality_in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-p_1625238.jpg" --- # In war it is necessary to kill as many people as possible… ![“In war it is necessary to kill as many people as possible -- such is the cynical logic of war. Brutality in a fight is unavoidable; have you seen how cruelly children fight in the streets?” quote by Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/maxim-gorky-6814_brutality_in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-p_1625238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/maxim-gorky-6814_brutality_in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-p_1625238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/maxim-gorky-6814_brutality_in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-p_1625238.jpg) > “In war it is necessary to kill as many people as possible -- such is the cynical logic of war. Brutality in a fight is unavoidable; have you seen how cruelly children fight in the streets?” [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War's logic demands massive killing, reflecting its inherent brutality and societal impact. **In simple terms:** War forces killing and cruelty. Key Takeaway Recognize war's moral costs. Themes war morality violence societal impact cynicism Mood somber critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - peacebuilding - humanitarian aid - education on war Key Concepts military ethics human suffering Questions to Reflect On - Can war ever be justified? - How can societies prevent war's cruelty? A Different Perspective May ignore defensive necessities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) [Brutality Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality-fight-326067/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Kill People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-people/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-brutality-326064/) [War Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-necessary-326065/) ## Related quotes > [“Life is cruel enough without unnecessary brutality. Fight it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knight/life-is-cruel-enough-without-unnecessary-brutality-fight-it/) [John Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knight/) > [The pervasive brutality in current fiction - the death, disease, dysfunction, depression, dismemberment, drug addiction, dementia, and dreary little dramas of domestic discord -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-pervasive-brutality-in-current-fiction-the-death-disease/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“The starkest reality of war is that the enemy is never really a monster, never inhuman ... Every soldier is the same fallible breed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-goff/the-starkest-reality-of-war-is-that-the-enemy-is-never-really-a/) [Stan Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-goff/) > [Politics are not unlike war. Sometimes it is necessary to shoot from the hip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-h-jones/politics-are-not-unlike-war-sometimes-it-is-necessary-to-shoot-from/) [Jesse H. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-h-jones/) > [I value peace, and I should unwillingly see any event take place which would render war a necessary resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-value-peace-and-i-should-unwillingly-see-any-event-take-place-which/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I have a feeling that climate change may be an issue as severe as a war. It may be necessary to put democracy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/i-have-a-feeling-that-climate-change-may-be-an-issue-as-severe-as-a/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [If you read any sort of, like, military general autobiographies or biographies, most of them never wanted to fight, you know? It's necessary. War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/if-you-read-any-sort-of-like-military-general-autobiographies-or/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [War has been the necessary and inevitable consequence of the establishment of a monopoly on security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-de-molinari/war-has-been-the-necessary-and-inevitable-consequence-of-the/) [Gustave de Molinari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-de-molinari/) > [“Sometimes war is necessary in order that we can finally find peace. Sometimes fear is necessary for the soul to find its path again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/sometimes-war-is-necessary-in-order-that-we-can-finally-find-peace/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The powers-that-be understand that to create the appropriate atmosphere for war, it’s necessary to create within the general populace a hatred, fear or mistrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/the-powers-that-be-understand-that-to-create-the-appropriate/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [Either Christ is a liar or war is never necessary, and very properly assuming that Christ told the truth, it follows that the State…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-salmon/either-christ-is-a-liar-or-war-is-never-necessary-and-very-properly/) [Ben Salmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-salmon/) > [I'm not a pacifist. I do believe that, unfortunately, war is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-hoffman/i-m-not-a-pacifist-i-do-believe-that-unfortunately-war-is-necessary/) [Mike Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-hoffman/) > [“It is not enough to say, 'We must not wage war.' It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. 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. It's good for us to hear someone speak the irrational truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-good-the-prophet-in-the-wilderness-may-do-is-incremental-and/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## More by Maxim Gorky > [An honest man is all right even if he's an idiot...but a crook must have brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/an-honest-man-is-all-right-even-if-he-s-an-idiot-but-a-crook-must/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [“In the monotony of everyday existence grief comes as a holiday, and a fire is an entertainment. A scratch embellishes an empty face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/in-the-monotony-of-everyday-existence-grief-comes-as-a-holiday-and-a/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [You can't do without philosophy, since everything has its hidden meaning which we must know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/you-can-t-do-without-philosophy-since-everything-has-its-hidden/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [There's a little book I'm thinking of writing - "Swan Song" is what I shall call it. The song of the dying. And my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/there-s-a-little-book-i-m-thinking-of-writing-swan-song-is-what-i/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [“...the more a human creature has tasted of bitter things the more it hungers after the sweet things of life. And we, wrapped round…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/the-more-a-human-creature-has-tasted-of-bitter-things-the-more-it/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Every new time will give its law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/every-new-time-will-give-its-law/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [All human beings have gray little souls-and they all want to rouge them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/all-human-beings-have-gray-little-souls-and-they-all-want-to-rouge/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Processing the human raw material is naturally more complicated than processing lumber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/processing-the-human-raw-material-is-naturally-more-complicated-than/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Everywhere, within man and without, there is devastation, instability, chaos, and evidence of some prolonged rout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/everywhere-within-man-and-without-there-is-devastation-instability/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Everything which is good in me should be credited to books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/everything-which-is-good-in-me-should-be-credited-to-books/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [If it is true that only misfortune can awaken a man's soul, it is a bitter truth, one that is hard to hear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/if-it-is-true-that-only-misfortune-can-awaken-a-man-s-soul-it-is-a/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Jail doesn't teach anyone to do good, nor Siberia, but a man-yes! A man can teach another man to do good-believe me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/jail-doesn-t-teach-anyone-to-do-good-nor-siberia-but-a-man-yes-a-man/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [“He used to sit down beside her and embrace her. She was cold, returning his caresses but sparingly. Looking straight into her eyes, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/he-used-to-sit-down-beside-her-and-embrace-her-she-was-cold-returning/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [One word of praise from a woman is dearer to me than a whole ode from a man . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/one-word-of-praise-from-a-woman-is-dearer-to-me-than-a-whole-ode-from/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [When one loves somebody, everything is clear - where to go, what to do - it all takes care of itself and one doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/when-one-loves-somebody-everything-is-clear-where-to-go-what-to-do-it/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) [Explore all 94 Maxim Gorky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) ## More Brutality quotes > [All women love semi-rape. They love to be taken.It was his sweet brutality against my bruised body that made his act of love so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/all-women-love-semi-rape-they-love-to-be-taken-it-was-his-sweet/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“The hunger for power has made them cruel They shed humanity and shed every rule They bow to the devil, deny what is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/the-hunger-for-power-has-made-them-cruel-they-shed-humanity-and-shed/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [Hitler recruited around him homosexuals to make up his Stormtroopers, they were his enforcers, they were his thugs. And Hitler discovered that he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fischer/hitler-recruited-around-him-homosexuals-to-make-up-his-stormtroopers/) [Bryan Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fischer/) > [The greatest reward of this constant interrogation, confrontation with the brutality of my country, is that it has freed me from hosts and myths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/the-greatest-reward-of-this-constant-interrogation-confrontation-with/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [The African tribesman, with his complete contempt for truth and his emphasis on brutality and savagery for others but not for himself, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/the-african-tribesman-with-his-complete-contempt-for-truth-and-his/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Never mind a world that can't see past brutality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/never-mind-a-world-that-can-t-see-past-brutality/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-not-unmindful-that-some-of-you-have-come-here-out-of-great/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The horse-laugh indicates brutality of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-horse-laugh-indicates-brutality-of-character/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The Negroes of America had taken the President, the press and the pulpit at their word when they spoke in broad terms of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negroes-of-america-had-taken-the-president-the-press-and-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We need tremendous energy to bring about a psychological change in ourselves as human beings, because we have lived far too long in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/we-need-tremendous-energy-to-bring-about-a-psychological-change-in/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I see myself capable of arrogance and brutality... That's a fierce thing, to discover within yourself that which you despise the most in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stevens/i-see-myself-capable-of-arrogance-and-brutality-that-s-a-fierce-thing/) [George Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stevens/) > [The very opposite of freedom is cliche, and nothing is less free, more inert with convention and hollow brutality, than a row of four-letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/the-very-opposite-of-freedom-is-cliche-and-nothing-is-less-free-more/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [I can tell you countless instances of this country's history of brutality, of inequity, of heartlessness. But if I do that without also talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-can-tell-you-countless-instances-of-this-country-s-history-of/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [What draws men and women together is stronger than the brutality and tyranny which drive them apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fawcett/what-draws-men-and-women-together-is-stronger-than-the-brutality-and/) [Millicent Fawcett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fawcett/) > [Whether it comes from a despotic sovereign or an elected president, from a murderous general or a beloved leader, I see power as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/whether-it-comes-from-a-despotic-sovereign-or-an-elected-president/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) [Browse all 427 Brutality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In war it is necessary to kill as many people as possible -- such is the cynical logic of war. Brutality in a fight is unavoidable; have you seen how cruelly children fight in the streets?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maxim Gorky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-people-as-possible-such-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brutality" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-people-as-possible-such-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/maxim-gorky-6814_brutality_in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-p_1625238.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/maxim-gorky-6814_brutality_in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-p_1625238.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/maxim-gorky-6814_brutality_in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-p_1625238.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In war it is necessary to kill as many people as possible -- such is the cynical logic of war. Brutality in…” — Maxim Gorky", "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": "Maxim Gorky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In war it is necessary to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-people-as-possible-such-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/in-war-it-is-necessary-to-kill-as-many-people-as-possible-such-is-the/#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 } } ] } ```