--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anyone who clings to the historically…" description: "\"Anyone who clings to the historically untrue -- and -- thoroughly immoral doctrine that violence never solves anything I would advise to conjure up the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/robert-a-heinlein-2-60318_history_anyone-who-clings-to-the-historically-un_1671586.jpg" --- # Anyone who clings to the historically untrue -- and… ![“Anyone who clings to the historically untrue -- and -- thoroughly immoral doctrine that violence never solves anything I would advise to conjure up the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler would referee. Violence, naked force, has…” quote by Robert A Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/robert-a-heinlein-2-60318_history_anyone-who-clings-to-the-historically-un_1671586.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/robert-a-heinlein-2-60318_history_anyone-who-clings-to-the-historically-un_1671586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/robert-a-heinlein-2-60318_history_anyone-who-clings-to-the-historically-un_1671586.jpg) > “Anyone who clings to the historically untrue -- and -- thoroughly immoral doctrine that violence never solves anything I would advise to conjure up the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler would referee. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor; and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and their freedoms.” [Robert A Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence has historically resolved conflicts more effectively than pure idealism, but relying on force ignores moral costs and long‑term consequences. **In simple terms:** Violence often solves problems, but it’s morally risky. Key Takeaway Balance force with ethical considerations. Themes conflict morality history Mood cautious thoughtful critical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - war planning - political negotiation - social reform - activism Key Concepts realpolitik ethical dilemma Questions to Reflect On - When is force justified versus diplomatic solutions? - What are the hidden costs of violent outcomes? A Different Perspective Violence can create new problems and erode freedoms over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Debate Ghost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate-ghost-865982/) [Doctrine Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine-violence-865980/) [Duke Of Wellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duke-of-wellington/) [Historically Untrue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historically-untrue-865979/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/napoleon-bonaparte/) [Untrue Thoroughly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/untrue-thoroughly-865983/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Solves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-solves-865981/) [Wishful thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishful-thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Anyone who clings to the historically untrue-and thoroughly immoral-doctrine that, 'violence never settles anything' I would advise to conjure the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/anyone-who-clings-to-the-historically-untrue-and-thoroughly-immoral/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Violence solves what tolerance does not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-yong/violence-solves-what-tolerance-does-not/) [Jeremy Yong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-yong/) > [“Many people subscribe to the idea that 'violence solves nothing'. In fact, a great many problems can be solved with violence, provided you use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-dougherty/many-people-subscribe-to-the-idea-that-violence-solves-nothing-in/) [Martin Dougherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-dougherty/) > [Violence never solves problems. 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But with a mere five pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/twelve-piece-cookware-sets-for-ninety-nine-bucks-are-routinely-hawked/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [“The soldier—that is, the great soldier—of to-day is not a romantic animal, dashing at forlorn hopes, animated by frantic sentiment, full of fancies as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-soldier-that-is-the-great-soldier-of-to-day-is-not-a-romantic/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [“My, you ought to seen old Henry the Eight when he was in bloom. He was a blossom. He used to marry a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/my-you-ought-to-seen-old-henry-the-eight-when-he-was-in-bloom-he-was/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It isnt only fictional heroes to whom toast means home and comfort. It is related of the Duke of Wellington - I believe by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-david/it-isnt-only-fictional-heroes-to-whom-toast-means-home-and-comfort-it/) [Elizabeth David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-david/) > [The Duke of Wellington brought to the post of first minister immortal fame,-a quality of success which would almost seem to include all others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-duke-of-wellington-brought-to-the-post-of-first-minister-immortal/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“By the time the settlers and pioneers of America reached the West Coast, they had gone through many dramatic landscapes, but nothing quite prepared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/by-the-time-the-settlers-and-pioneers-of-america-reached-the-west/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [“Tommy’ was used 128 years ago in a War Office guide for a soldier to apply for ‘marching money’ at two and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stevenson/tommy-was-used-128-years-ago-in-a-war-office-guide-for-a-soldier-to/) [William Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stevenson/) ## More by Robert A Heinlein > [I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein-2/i-am-free-because-i-know-that-i-alone-am-morally-responsible-for-2/) [Robert A Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein-2/) > [A great artist can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is... and force the viewer to see the pretty girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein-2/a-great-artist-can-look-at-an-old-woman-portray-her-exactly-as-she-is/) [Robert A Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein-2/) > [One man's religion is another man's belly laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein-2/one-man-s-religion-is-another-man-s-belly-laugh/) [Robert A Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein-2/) > [A competent and self confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a sympton of neurotic insecurity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein-2/a-competent-and-self-confident-person-is-incapable-of-jealousy-in-3/) [Robert A Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein-2/) [Explore all 5 Robert A Heinlein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein-2/) ## More History quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. 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It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/) [Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/) > [Truth be told from compulsive liars with a history/Everything must change 2nd chances are a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/truth-be-told-from-compulsive-liars-with-a-history-everything-must/) [C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Browse all 27,263 History quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anyone who clings to the historically untrue -- and -- thoroughly immoral doctrine that violence never solves anything I would advise to conjure up the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. 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