--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wars can be prevented just as surely as…" description: "\"Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked, and we who fail to prevent them, must share the guilt for the dead.\" — Omar N. Bradley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/omar-n-bradley-16077_guilt_wars-can-be-prevented-just-as-surely-as_1223722.png" --- # Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be… ![“Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked, and we who fail to prevent them, must share the guilt for the dead.” quote by Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/omar-n-bradley-16077_guilt_wars-can-be-prevented-just-as-surely-as_1223722.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/omar-n-bradley-16077_guilt_wars-can-be-prevented-just-as-surely-as_1223722.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/omar-n-bradley-16077_guilt_wars-can-be-prevented-just-as-surely-as_1223722.png) > “Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked, and we who fail to prevent them, must share the guilt for the dead.” [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War can be both caused and avoided; those who ignore prevention bear responsibility for casualties. **In simple terms:** Preventing war is as possible as starting it. Key Takeaway Act to prevent conflict. Themes peace responsibility war ethics Mood serious reflective Type ethical political When to use this quote - policy making - diplomacy - military planning - public advocacy Key Concepts deterrence conflict resolution moral accountability Questions to Reflect On - What actions could you take to promote peace? - How do you balance security with prevention? A Different Perspective Prevention often requires political will and resources that may be lacking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [War is no picnic. Wars should be prevented, and if you can't prevent them, you have to put them off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/war-is-no-picnic-wars-should-be-prevented-and-if-you-can-t-prevent/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I sometimes joke that I'm half Jewish, because I was raised Catholic... and we share 'the guilt.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-densmore/i-sometimes-joke-that-i-m-half-jewish-because-i-was-raised-catholic/) [John Densmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-densmore/) > [If governments were kind, they'd realize that conficts are resolved and wars prevented not by armies but by ordinary people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scilla-elworthy/if-governments-were-kind-they-d-realize-that-conficts-are-resolved/) [Scilla Elworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scilla-elworthy/) > [Could we have prevented in 100% certainty? I don't think anything is that certain. However, we would have had a very, very good chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sibel-edmonds/could-we-have-prevented-in-100-certainty-i-don-t-think-anything-is/) [Sibel Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sibel-edmonds/) > [There was no silver bullet that could have prevented the 11 September attacks. There was nothing demonstrating or showing that something was coming in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/there-was-no-silver-bullet-that-could-have-prevented-the-11-september/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/i-saw-that-the-war-could-not-be-prevented-the-time-had-passed/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [There must have been something in my nature - I believe, with all my heart, that I have conquered it now - which prevented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-veidt/there-must-have-been-something-in-my-nature-i-believe-with-all-my/) [Conrad Veidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-veidt/) > [“I believe we have this idea that bad things ought to be prevented from happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/i-believe-we-have-this-idea-that-bad-things-ought-to-be-prevented/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“There lies the whole crux of the matter; what cannot be prevented must be borne”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-lofts/there-lies-the-whole-crux-of-the-matter-what-cannot-be-prevented-must/) [Norah Lofts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-lofts/) > [“Two types of prophecies exist. Those that will happen no matter what, and those that can be prevented. We can't know which is which.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emlyn-chand/two-types-of-prophecies-exist-those-that-will-happen-no-matter-what/) [Emlyn Chand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emlyn-chand/) > [“Nothing could have been prevented. But still you know that somehow something wasn't watching. Something let attention lapse, releasing everything that follows, as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-smartt-bell/nothing-could-have-been-prevented-but-still-you-know-that-somehow/) [Madison Smartt Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-smartt-bell/) > [Climate change is not going to be prevented. It's not even going to be mitigated to the degree a rational person would want. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-jamieson/climate-change-is-not-going-to-be-prevented-it-s-not-even-going-to-be/) [Dale Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-jamieson/) > [Impossibility never prevented anything from happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/impossibility-never-prevented-anything-from-happening/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [A man can be prevented from breaking into other persons' houses by shutting him up, but shutting him up may not alter his disposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-man-can-be-prevented-from-breaking-into-other-persons-houses-by/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The events which can not be prevented, must be directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/the-events-which-can-not-be-prevented-must-be-directed/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) ## More by Omar N. Bradley > [Each player on this team whether he shines in the spotlight or eats dirt on the line, must be an All-American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/each-player-on-this-team-whether-he-shines-in-the-spotlight-or-eats/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Our humanity is trapped by moral adolescents. We have too many men of science, too few men of God. The world has achieved brilliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/our-humanity-is-trapped-by-moral-adolescents-we-have-too-many-men-of/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [The greatest leader in the world could never win a campaign unless he understood the men he had to lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-greatest-leader-in-the-world-could-never-win-a-campaign-unless-he/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Muddy language is not confined to policies alone. Each of you has seen replies to simple questions in which the meaning was lost through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/muddy-language-is-not-confined-to-policies-alone-each-of-you-has-seen/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [In war there is no second prize for the runner-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/in-war-there-is-no-second-prize-for-the-runner-up/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [The greatness of a leader is measured by the achievements of the led. This is the ultimate test of his effectiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-greatness-of-a-leader-is-measured-by-the-achievements-of-the-led/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [The nation needs men who think in terms of service to their country and not in terms of their country's debt to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-nation-needs-men-who-think-in-terms-of-service-to-their-country/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [The way to win an atomic war is to make certain it never starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-way-to-win-an-atomic-war-is-to-make-certain-it-never-starts/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Leadership means firmness, not harshness or bullying; understanding, not weakness; justice, not irresponsible freedom; humaneness, not intolerance; generosity, not selfishness; pride, not egotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/leadership-means-firmness-not-harshness-or-bullying-understanding-not/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [We live in a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants, in a world that has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/we-live-in-a-world-of-nuclear-giants-and-ethical-infants-in-a-world/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Only one military organization can hold and gain ground in war-a ground army supported by tactical aviation with supply lines guarded by the navy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/only-one-military-organization-can-hold-and-gain-ground-in-war-a/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Set your course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/set-your-course-by-the-stars-not-by-the-lights-of-every-passing-ship/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [It seems very unfortunate that in order to secure political preference, people are made Vice President who are never intended, neither by party nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/it-seems-very-unfortunate-that-in-order-to-secure-political/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/we-know-more-about-war-than-we-know-about-peace-more-about-killing/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [America today is running on the momentum of a godly ancestry, and when that momentum runs down, God help America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/america-today-is-running-on-the-momentum-of-a-godly-ancestry-and-when/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) [Explore all 41 Omar N. Bradley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) ## More Guilt quotes > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Regrets are just a way for the foolish and the guilty to pass the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gensoumaden-saiyuki/regrets-are-just-a-way-for-the-foolish-and-the-guilty-to-pass-the-time/) Gensoumaden Saiyuki > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Money should not be in the hands of individuals; otherwise it will create this problem of being burdened with guilt. And money can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/money-should-not-be-in-the-hands-of-individuals-otherwise-it-will/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Food ... love ... mother ... career ... Live every day to the fullest. Partake of the four basic guilt groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/food-love-mother-career-live-every-day-to-the-fullest-partake-of-the/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [Anger was better than tears, better than grief, better than guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anger-was-better-than-tears-better-than-grief-better-than-guilt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Phil and Hannah had decided that Christian guilt was better than bad math”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/phil-and-hannah-had-decided-that-christian-guilt-was-better-than-bad/) [rhoda janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [No amount of guilt can solve the past & No amount of anxiety can change the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananymous/no-amount-of-guilt-can-solve-the-past-no-amount-of-anxiety-can-change/) [Ananymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananymous/) > [The essence of having fun is enjoying without guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-essence-of-having-fun-is-enjoying-without-guilt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) [Browse all 2,943 Guilt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked, and we who fail to prevent them, must share the guilt for the dead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Omar N. 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