--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most fundamental paradox is that if…" description: "\"The most fundamental paradox is that if we're never to use force, we must be prepared to use it and to use it successfully. We Americans don't want war..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/ronald-reagan-119_aggression_the-most-fundamental-paradox-is-that-if_1184266.jpg" --- # The most fundamental paradox is that if we're never to use… ![“The most fundamental paradox is that if we're never to use force, we must be prepared to use it and to use it successfully. We Americans don't want war and we don't start fights. We don't maintain a strong military force to conquer or coerce others. The purpose of our military is simple and…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/ronald-reagan-119_aggression_the-most-fundamental-paradox-is-that-if_1184266.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/ronald-reagan-119_aggression_the-most-fundamental-paradox-is-that-if_1184266.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/ronald-reagan-119_aggression_the-most-fundamental-paradox-is-that-if_1184266.jpg) > “The most fundamental paradox is that if we're never to use force, we must be prepared to use it and to use it successfully. We Americans don't want war and we don't start fights. We don't maintain a strong military force to conquer or coerce others. The purpose of our military is simple and straightforward: we want to prevent war.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The paradox is that preventing war requires maintaining a capable military ready to use force if necessary. **In simple terms:** Preventing war needs a strong, ready military. Key Takeaway Maintain readiness to deter conflict. Themes defense deterrence paradox peace military Mood cautious reflective Type political strategic When to use this quote - national security planning - policy debates - military budgeting - international negotiations Key Concepts realism deterrence theory strategic stability Questions to Reflect On - Is deterrence more effective than diplomacy? - How do we balance readiness with restraint? A Different Perspective A strong force may provoke arms races or be misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Be prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-prepared/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Coerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coerce/) [Conquer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer/) [Deterrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deterrence/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-force/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Paradox Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox-use-3486261/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Prevent War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevent-war-553743/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-military-366481/) [Shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shots/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Straightforward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straightforward/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-force/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The most fundamental paradox is that, if we're never to use force, we must be prepared to use it and to use it successfully.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-most-fundamental-paradox-is-that-if-we-re-never-to-use-force-we/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ While other \[military\] alliances have been formed to win wars, our fundamental purpose is to prevent war while preserving and extending the frontiers of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/while-other-military-alliances-have-been-formed-to-win-wars-our/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The purpose of the military is to close with and destroy the enemy on behalf of our national security priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wilcox/the-purpose-of-the-military-is-to-close-with-and-destroy-the-enemy-on/) [Todd Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-wilcox/) > [The military is not a social experiment. The purpose of the military is kill people and break things. It's not to transform the culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/the-military-is-not-a-social-experiment-the-purpose-of-the-military/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [The purpose of our military is to field the finest troops possible to defend our nation and win wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-schlafly/the-purpose-of-our-military-is-to-field-the-finest-troops-possible-to/) [Phyllis Schlafly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-schlafly/) > [The purpose of any military is to kill people and break things. It's not to advance anybody's social agenda. It's not a laboratory for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-purpose-of-any-military-is-to-kill-people-and-break-things-it-s/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Thus far the chief purpose of our military establishment has been to win wars. From now on its chief purpose must be to avert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-brodie/thus-far-the-chief-purpose-of-our-military-establishment-has-been-to/) [Bernard Brodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-brodie/) > [The military is not a social experiment. The purpose of the military is kill people and break things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/the-military-is-not-a-social-experiment-the-purpose-of-the-military-2/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [Any time you use military force, you have got to have a clear purpose that military forces can achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/any-time-you-use-military-force-you-have-got-to-have-a-clear-purpose/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Just your laughter will be enough to prevent the war. Your celebration, your dance, will be enough to prevent the war. Your ecstasy, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/just-your-laughter-will-be-enough-to-prevent-the-war-your-celebration/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“What, exactly, are you doing here?" "We're trying to prevent a war. Isn't that what Jedi are supposed to do?" ―Mara Jade Skywalker and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-denning/what-exactly-are-you-doing-here-we-re-trying-to-prevent-a-war-isn-t/) [Troy Denning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-denning/) > [...the role of the military is to fight and win war and, therefore, prevent war from happening in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-role-of-the-military-is-to-fight-and-win-war-and-therefore/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The surest way to prevent war is not to fear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph/the-surest-way-to-prevent-war-is-not-to-fear-it/) [John Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-randolph/) > [I experienced Nazism as a child. Like many of my generation, I was motivated by the desire to prevent another war at any price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/i-experienced-nazism-as-a-child-like-many-of-my-generation-i-was/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [War is not the only means to stop war. Men of goodwill, who fully recognize their duties, should be able, with the assistance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-not-the-only-means-to-stop-war-men-of-goodwill-who-fully/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Aggression quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [We have nothing in our history or position to invite aggression; we have everything to beckon us to the cultivation of relations of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-nothing-in-our-history-or-position-to-invite-aggression-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take up the standpoint that the tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man, and I come back now to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/i-take-up-the-standpoint-that-the-tendency-to-aggression-is-an-innate/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [“That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/a-society-that-presumes-a-norm-of-violence-and-celebrates-aggression/) [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) > [I can remember watching MTV Cribs - these amazing houses - and looking around my house where there was no carpet on the floors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugzy-malone/i-can-remember-watching-mtv-cribs-these-amazing-houses-and-looking/) [Bugzy Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugzy-malone/) > [Nationalism, on my opinion, is nothing more than an idealistic rationalization for militarism and aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nationalism-on-my-opinion-is-nothing-more-than-an-idealistic/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I really like battle ropes. They're so versatile; you can get a terrific workout doing a ton of different exercises with them. My clients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/i-really-like-battle-ropes-they-re-so-versatile-you-can-get-a/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [ Now they \[the Powers\] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empress-dowager-cixi/now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-aggression-and-the-extinction-of/) [Empress Dowager Cixi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/empress-dowager-cixi/) > [I'm not going to appeal to violence or aggression - of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/i-m-not-going-to-appeal-to-violence-or-aggression-of-course-not/) [Alexei Navalny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-navalny/) > [This is passive-aggression in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/this-is-passive-aggression-in-action/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-child-hits-a-child-we-call-it-aggression-when-a-child-hits-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Major international interventions are doomed unless the US is directly or indirectly involved. But if American politicians, officials and servicemen are to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/major-international-interventions-are-doomed-unless-the-us-is/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) [Browse all 860 Aggression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most fundamental paradox is that if we're never to use force, we must be prepared to use it and to use it successfully. We Americans don't want war and we don't start fights. We don't maintain a strong military force to conquer or coerce others. 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