--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: War is a matter of vital importance to…" description: "\"War is a matter of vital importance to the state.\" — Sun Tzu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/sun-tzu-283_importance_war-is-a-matter-of-vital-importance-to-t_2112284.jpg" --- # War is a matter of vital importance to the state. ![“War is a matter of vital importance to the state.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/sun-tzu-283_importance_war-is-a-matter-of-vital-importance-to-t_2112284.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/sun-tzu-283_importance_war-is-a-matter-of-vital-importance-to-t_2112284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/sun-tzu-283_importance_war-is-a-matter-of-vital-importance-to-t_2112284.jpg) > “War is a matter of vital importance to the state.” [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ## 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 essential for a state's survival and power, shaping its destiny and security. **In simple terms:** War is crucial for a state's survival. Key Takeaway Recognize war's strategic importance. Themes politics strategy conflict statecraft security Mood serious reflective Type strategic historical When to use this quote - national defense planning - diplomatic negotiations - military budgeting - crisis response Key Concepts realpolitik deterrence power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does a state balance security with humanitarian concerns? - When is war justified? A Different Perspective War can cause massive human suffering and ethical dilemmas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [War is a matter of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. 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It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-art-of-war-is-of-vital-importance-to-the-state-it-is-a-matter-of/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The art of war is of vital importance to the State.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-art-of-war-is-of-vital-importance-to-the-state/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/sun-tzu-said-the-art-of-war-is-of-vital-importance-to-the-state/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Economic growth is not sustainable without nation-building and, even of greater importance, state building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/economic-growth-is-not-sustainable-without-nation-building-and-even/) [Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/) > [Never underestimate the vital importance of finding early in life the work that for you is play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/never-underestimate-the-vital-importance-of-finding-early-in-life-the-2/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Before starting work go thru all the former material. Many things of vital importance have been lost sight of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/before-starting-work-go-thru-all-the-former-material-many-things-of/) [Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) > [I've now realised for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-ve-now-realised-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-the-vital-importance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Unemployment is of vital importance, particularly to the unemployed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-heath/unemployment-is-of-vital-importance-particularly-to-the-unemployed/) [Edward Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-heath/) > [War is a matter not so much of arms as of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/war-is-a-matter-not-so-much-of-arms-as-of-money/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“immortality of the soul is something of such vital importance to us that one must have lost all feeling not to care about knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-moreland/immortality-of-the-soul-is-something-of-such-vital-importance-to-us/) [J.P. Moreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-moreland/) > [Probably the only thing my mom and dad agreed on was the vital importance of guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barnes/probably-the-only-thing-my-mom-and-dad-agreed-on-was-the-vital/) [Linda Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barnes/) > [That everyone may receive at least a moderate education appears to be an objective of vital importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/that-everyone-may-receive-at-least-a-moderate-education-appears-to-be/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [War is much too serious a matter to entrust to military men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-clemenceau/war-is-much-too-serious-a-matter-to-entrust-to-military-men/) [Georges Clemenceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-clemenceau/) > [What is the effect of unlimited coinage of silver in this country? and I invite your attention to this particularly, because it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-the-effect-of-unlimited-coinage-of-silver-in-this-country-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Sun Tzu > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/go-into-emptiness-strike-voids-bypass-what-he-defends-hit-him-where/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-a-similar-way-the-art-of-war-pinpoints-anger-and-greed-as/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The PEOPLE being regarded as the essential part of the State, and FOOD as the people's heaven, is it not right that those in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-people-being-regarded-as-the-essential-part-of-the-state-and-food/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terrible-in-his-onset-and-prompt/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“So long as victory can be attained,  stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/so-long-as-victory-can-be-attained-stupid-haste-is-preferable-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/you-can-ensure-the-safety-of-your-defense-if-you-only-hold-positions/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-do-not-wish-to-fight-we-can-prevent-the-enemy-from-engaging-us/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. 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It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We never realize the importance of any our action until we be the hunt of same situation in reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fadi/we-never-realize-the-importance-of-any-our-action-until-we-be-the/) [Fadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fadi/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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