--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: t was once famously said that it is as…" description: "\"“t was once famously said that it is as well that wars are so ruinously expensive, else we would never stop fighting them. However well said, it seems ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/paul-hoffman-8370_cale_t-was-once-famously-said-that-it-is-as-w_511259.jpg" --- # t was once famously said that it is as well that wars are… ![“t was once famously said that it is as well that wars are so ruinously expensive, else we would never stop fighting them. However well said, it seems also to be endlessly forgotten that, while there may be just wars and unjust wars, there are never any cheap wars.” quote by Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/paul-hoffman-8370_cale_t-was-once-famously-said-that-it-is-as-w_511259.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/paul-hoffman-8370_cale_t-was-once-famously-said-that-it-is-as-w_511259.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/paul-hoffman-8370_cale_t-was-once-famously-said-that-it-is-as-w_511259.jpg) > ““t was once famously said that it is as well that wars are so ruinously expensive, else we would never stop fighting them. However well said, it seems also to be endlessly forgotten that, while there may be just wars and unjust wars, there are never any cheap wars.”” [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) ## 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 inherently costly; if it were cheap, societies would continue fighting without restraint. **In simple terms:** Expensive wars deter endless conflict. Key Takeaway Recognize true cost of war. Themes war economics humanity Mood critical thought‑provoking Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debate - budget planning - peace activism - educational curricula Key Concepts moral economics political strategy Questions to Reflect On - What incentives make wars seem affordable? - How can societies value human life over profit? A Different Perspective Cost calculations can be manipulated to justify war. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cale/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Frase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frase/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Tomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomas/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“It is not against reason, said the Englishman, to prefer the destruction of the world to a scratch on your finger – how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/it-is-not-against-reason-said-the-englishman-to-prefer-the/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“I have a message for your daughter,” said Cale. “I am bound to her with cables that not even God can break. One day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/i-have-a-message-for-your-daughter-said-cale-i-am-bound-to-her-with/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [All government wars are unjust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/all-government-wars-are-unjust/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Those wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defence can actually be just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/those-wars-are-unjust-which-are-undertaken-without-provocation-for-2/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [All interstate wars intensify aggression – maximize it … some wars are even more unjust than others. In other words, all government wars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/all-interstate-wars-intensify-aggression-maximize-it-some-wars-are/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Those wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defense can be just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/those-wars-are-unjust-which-are-undertaken-without-provocation-for/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [All counter-revolutionary wars are unjust, all revolutionary wars are just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/all-counter-revolutionary-wars-are-unjust-all-revolutionary-wars-are/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [History shows that wars are divided into two kinds-just and unjust. All wars that are progressive are just, and all wars that impede progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/history-shows-that-wars-are-divided-into-two-kinds-just-and-unjust/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [I am convinced that it is one of the most unjust wars that has ever been fought in the history of the world. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-convinced-that-it-is-one-of-the-most-unjust-wars-that-has-ever/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [You have a situation in which the U.S. is fighting three unjust wars and wasting trillions of dollars in public funds, all the while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/you-have-a-situation-in-which-the-u-s-is-fighting-three-unjust-wars/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [“Veterans being sent into unjust wars for corporate profit is a perversion of trust, at best. I found the emotional manipulation of both sides,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-dallocchio/veterans-being-sent-into-unjust-wars-for-corporate-profit-is-a/) [M.B. Dallocchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-dallocchio/) > [“We live among nations who frequently wage unjust wars; who, disregarding the rights of others, oppress and rob, and even murder their citizens, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wager-halleck/we-live-among-nations-who-frequently-wage-unjust-wars-who/) [Henry Wager Halleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wager-halleck/) > [Unfortunately, that still leaves plenty of Americans who don't read much or think much -- who will still be extremely useful in unjust wars.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/unfortunately-that-still-leaves-plenty-of-americans-who-don-t-read/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Sin querer volví a creer, me volví a entregar a una mentira, palabras vacías que sangran el alma cuando no son verdad..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dulce-mar-a/sin-querer-volv-a-creer-me-volv-a-entregar-a-una-mentira-palabras-vac/) [Dulce María](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dulce-mar-a/) > [“Volvere a creer en el sueño que por ti abandone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dulce-mar-a/volvere-a-creer-en-el-sue-o-que-por-ti-abandone/) [Dulce María](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dulce-mar-a/) ## More by Paul Hoffman > [“The battle had been as hideous as you might expect between one side who were simply not afraid to die and another who regarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-battle-had-been-as-hideous-as-you-might-expect-between-one-side/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“...the older I get, the more I believe that if love is to be judged by most of its visible effects, it looks more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-believe-that-if-love-is-to-be-judged-by/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“You should never tell your best friend anything you wouldn´t be prepared to tell your worst enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/you-should-never-tell-your-best-friend-anything-you-wouldn-t-be/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“That's how the world is, and there is nothing an insignificant nobody like you, or even a significant somebody like me, can do about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/that-s-how-the-world-is-and-there-is-nothing-an-insignificant-nobody/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“That was a rhetorical question, one asked solely to produce an effect and not elicit a reply.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/that-was-a-rhetorical-question-one-asked-solely-to-produce-an-effect/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“To be sociable is a risky thing—even fatal—because it means being in contact with people, most of whom are dull, perverse and ignorant and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/to-be-sociable-is-a-risky-thing-even-fatal-because-it-means-being-in/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [If there was to be a new Europe, there not only had to be a common market, but also great mobility in labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/if-there-was-to-be-a-new-europe-there-not-only-had-to-be-a-common/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Feeling sorry for yourself is a universal solvent of salvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/feeling-sorry-for-yourself-is-a-universal-solvent-of-salvation/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“The wicked have weakness other than their willingness to kill and maim. Even the bleakest, cruelest soul can have its tender spots. Even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-wicked-have-weakness-other-than-their-willingness-to-kill-and/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Listen. The Sanctuary of the Redeemers on Shotover Scarp is named after a damned lie for there is no redemption that goes on there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/listen-the-sanctuary-of-the-redeemers-on-shotover-scarp-is-named/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [The Europeans had made two promises to the United States if Marshall Plan help was forthcoming. The first promise was maximum self-help on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-europeans-had-made-two-promises-to-the-united-states-if-marshall/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“non numerantur sed ponderantur (They are not counted but weighed)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/non-numerantur-sed-ponderantur-they-are-not-counted-but-weighed/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Until two days ago what had driven him was the will to survive: deep, animal, full of rage—but always part of him had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/until-two-days-ago-what-had-driven-him-was-the-will-to-survive-deep/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [As far as we were concerned, we were operators, we were administrators. I don't ever recall going to Dean Acheson and asking for any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/as-far-as-we-were-concerned-we-were-operators-we-were-administrators/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [There are times we are givers, but others time we have to let others give to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/there-are-times-we-are-givers-but-others-time-we-have-to-let-others/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) [Explore all 73 Paul Hoffman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) ## More Cale quotes > [“...the older I get, the more I believe that if love is to be judged by most of its visible effects, it looks more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-believe-that-if-love-is-to-be-judged-by/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Feeling sorry for yourself is a universal solvent of salvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/feeling-sorry-for-yourself-is-a-universal-solvent-of-salvation/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Until two days ago what had driven him was the will to survive: deep, animal, full of rage—but always part of him had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/until-two-days-ago-what-had-driven-him-was-the-will-to-survive-deep/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Many are called, few are chosen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/many-are-called-few-are-chosen/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/full-many-a-flower-is-born-to-blush-unseen-and-waste-its-sweetness-on/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [“Do you have any idea how mad you sound?’ ‘Indeed I do. I have in moments of doubt considered the question of my sanity.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/do-you-have-any-idea-how-mad-you-sound-indeed-i-do-i-have-in-moments/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“(Arbell)The ungrateful gorgeous bitch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/arbell-the-ungrateful-gorgeous-bitch/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Force is as pitiless to the man who possesses it as it is to its victims—the second it crushes, the first it intoxicates.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/force-is-as-pitiless-to-the-man-who-possesses-it-as-it-is-to-its/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“...this refinement and delicacy were what Cale adored; but Cale had been beaten into shape, hammered in dreadful fires of fear and pain. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/this-refinement-and-delicacy-were-what-cale-adored-but-cale-had-been/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“- Why you? - (...) I’m the best. - Modest of you. - I am the best. Modesty has nothing to say about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/why-you-i-m-the-best-modest-of-you-i-am-the-best-modesty-has-nothing/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“I have a message for your daughter,” said Cale. “I am bound to her with cables that not even God can break. One day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/i-have-a-message-for-your-daughter-said-cale-i-am-bound-to-her-with/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“... If the dead can come back to this earth and move unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/if-the-dead-can-come-back-to-this-earth-and-move-unseen-around-those/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Self-pity, while it should be accorded due respect, is the greatest of all acids to the human soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/self-pity-while-it-should-be-accorded-due-respect-is-the-greatest-of/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“The heart of a man is a small thing but it desires great matters. It is not big enough for a dog’s dinner but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-heart-of-a-man-is-a-small-thing-but-it-desires-great-matters-it/) [paul hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Sometimes, war being the unjust and drastic creature it is, those in whom he invested hopes took an arrow in the chest, the useless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/sometimes-war-being-the-unjust-and-drastic-creature-it-is-those-in/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) [Browse all 20 Cale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cale/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“t was once famously said that it is as well that wars are so ruinously expensive, else we would never stop fighting them. 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