--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: War is a damnable, filthy thing and has…" description: "\"War is a damnable, filthy thing and has destroyed civilization after civilization\" — Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-b_anti-war_war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-d_2924924.png" --- # War is a damnable, filthy thing and has destroyed… ![“War is a damnable, filthy thing and has destroyed civilization after civilization” quote by Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-b_anti-war_war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-d_2924924.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-b_anti-war_war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-d_2924924.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-b_anti-war_war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-d_2924924.png) > “War is a damnable, filthy thing and has destroyed civilization after civilization” [Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/) ## 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 morally corrupt and repeatedly destroys societies, emphasizing its devastating impact on civilization. **In simple terms:** War is destructive and immoral. Key Takeaway Advocate for peace and conflict resolution. Themes war morality civilization destruction Mood somber urgent Type political philosophical When to use this quote - education curricula - diplomatic negotiations - public advocacy Key Concepts ethical critique historical pattern peace studies Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives to war exist? - How can societies prevent war cycles? A Different Perspective War may be justified by some as necessary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-war/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-civilization-249471/) [Damnable Filthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damnable-filthy-4281122/) [Destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyed/) [Destroyed Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyed-civilization-4281121/) [Filthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filthy/) [No war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-war/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Damnable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-damnable-4281120/) ## Related quotes > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“I have known Nature. I have known Civilization. Civilization is better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-boyd/i-have-known-nature-i-have-known-civilization-civilization-is-better/) [Donna Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-boyd/) > [To us it seems that West-European civilization is civilization, but this is a narrow view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/to-us-it-seems-that-west-european-civilization-is-civilization-but/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The home is the most important factor in civilization, and that civilization is to be measured at different stages largely by the development in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-home-is-the-most-important-factor-in-civilization-and-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“A very civilized thing, glass—almost an index of civilization. When civilization retreats, it leaves behind broken glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/a-very-civilized-thing-glass-almost-an-index-of-civilization-when/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“It wasn’t a city, it was a process, a weight on the world that distorted the land for hundreds of miles around. People who’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-wasn-t-a-city-it-was-a-process-a-weight-on-the-world-that/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [There has never yet been a human society worthy of the name of civilization. Civilization remains a remote ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/there-has-never-yet-been-a-human-society-worthy-of-the-name-of/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The basic problem is that our civilization, which is a civilization of machines, can teach man everything except how to be a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-malraux/the-basic-problem-is-that-our-civilization-which-is-a-civilization-of/) [Andre Malraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-malraux/) > [You don't fight to protect warships or old men. Like the book says, you fight to save your civilization. And so often it seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/you-don-t-fight-to-protect-warships-or-old-men-like-the-book-says-you/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [We are all victims of war, and we all count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marla-ruzicka/we-are-all-victims-of-war-and-we-all-count/) [Marla Ruzicka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marla-ruzicka/) > [We fight wars not to have peace, but to have a peace worth having. Slavery is peace. Tyranny is peace. For that matter, genocide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-whittle/we-fight-wars-not-to-have-peace-but-to-have-a-peace-worth-having/) [Bill Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-whittle/) > [The regenerated do not go to war, nor engage in strife. They are children of peace who have beat their swords into plowshares and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menno-simons/the-regenerated-do-not-go-to-war-nor-engage-in-strife-they-are/) [Menno Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menno-simons/) > [We must assist the British in the war as if there were no White Paper and we must resist the White Paper as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ben-gurion/we-must-assist-the-british-in-the-war-as-if-there-were-no-white-paper/) [David Ben-Gurion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ben-gurion/) > [Film doesn't have to worry. Movies are awesome. There's no war going on, theaters aren't going to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/film-doesn-t-have-to-worry-movies-are-awesome-there-s-no-war-going-on/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [I was in the midst of it all - saw war where war is worst - not on the battlefields, no - in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-was-in-the-midst-of-it-all-saw-war-where-war-is-worst-not-on-the/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) ## More by Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker > [Defeatism about the past is a grievous error; defeatism about the future is a crime!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/defeatism-about-the-past-is-a-grievous-error-defeatism-about-the/) [Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/) > [In the age when the atom has been split, the moon encircled, diseases conquered, is disarmament so difficult a matter that it must remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/in-the-age-when-the-atom-has-been-split-the-moon-encircled-diseases/) [Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/) > [Defeatism about the feasibility of plans for disarmament and ordered peace has been the most calamitious of all the errors made by democratic governments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/defeatism-about-the-feasibility-of-plans-for-disarmament-and-ordered/) [Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/) [Explore all 4 Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/) ## More Anti war quotes > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I was involved in the anti-war movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-was-involved-in-the-anti-war-movement/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [One reason the United States finds itself at the edge of a foreign policy disaster is its underinformed citizenry, a key weakness in democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-halper/one-reason-the-united-states-finds-itself-at-the-edge-of-a-foreign/) [Stefan Halper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-halper/) > [A good soldier is a blind, heartless, soulless, murderous machine. He is not a man. His is not a brute, for brutes kill only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/a-good-soldier-is-a-blind-heartless-soulless-murderous-machine-he-is/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-moral-and-constitutional-obligations-of-our-representatives-in/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The way I'm going now is to focus on peace, to create peace. As Sister Corita said, "I don't go to anti-war rallies. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-hong-kingston/the-way-i-m-going-now-is-to-focus-on-peace-to-create-peace-as-sister/) [Maxine Hong Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-hong-kingston/) > [Here's the thing. Just because you're pro-troops doesn't mean you're pro-war. And just because you're anti-war doesn't mean you're anti-troops. Just because you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/here-s-the-thing-just-because-you-re-pro-troops-doesn-t-mean-you-re/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-worst-evils-which-mankind-has-ever-had-to-endure-were-inflicted/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/free-nations-don-t-develop-weapons-of-mass-destruction/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [...Uncalled-for aggression arouses the hatred of the civilian population...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/uncalled-for-aggression-arouses-the-hatred-of-the-civilian-population/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Once conscription was introduced during the First World War, and once Britain's wars ceased being confined to the empire or to continental Europe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/once-conscription-was-introduced-during-the-first-world-war-and-once/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) [Browse all 486 Anti war quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-war/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "War is a damnable, filthy thing and has destroyed civilization after civilization", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-destroyed-civilization-after/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anti war" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-destroyed-civilization-after/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-b_anti-war_war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-d_2924924.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-b_anti-war_war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-d_2924924.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-b_anti-war_war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-d_2924924.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“War is a damnable, filthy thing and has destroyed civilization after civilization” — Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker", "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": "Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "War is a damnable, filthy thing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-destroyed-civilization-after/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-noel-baker-baron-noel-baker/war-is-a-damnable-filthy-thing-and-has-destroyed-civilization-after/#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 } } ] } ```