--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: According to the history books, the…" description: "\"“According to the history books, the decisive battle that ended the Ankh-Morpork Civil War was fought between two handfuls of bone-weary men in a swamp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/terry-pratchett-19_civil-war_according-to-the-history-books-the-decis_1097725.jpg" --- # According to the history books, the decisive battle that… ![“According to the history books, the decisive battle that ended the Ankh-Morpork Civil War was fought between two handfuls of bone-weary men in a swamp early one misty morning and, although one side claimed victory, ended with a practical score of Humans 0, ravens 1,000, which is the case with most…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/terry-pratchett-19_civil-war_according-to-the-history-books-the-decis_1097725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/terry-pratchett-19_civil-war_according-to-the-history-books-the-decis_1097725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/terry-pratchett-19_civil-war_according-to-the-history-books-the-decis_1097725.jpg) > ““According to the history books, the decisive battle that ended the Ankh-Morpork Civil War was fought between two handfuls of bone-weary men in a swamp early one misty morning and, although one side claimed victory, ended with a practical score of Humans 0, ravens 1,000, which is the case with most battles.”” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War outcomes are often absurd, with victory measured in trivial or symbolic terms rather than true success. **In simple terms:** Battles can end in meaningless scores. Key Takeaway Recognize the futility of pointless conflicts. Themes war absurdity humor Mood wry humorous Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - historical analysis - political satire - gaming strategy Key Concepts Satire military futility Questions to Reflect On - What truly matters in a conflict? - How does satire reveal hidden truths? A Different Perspective Focusing on scores can obscure real human costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle Ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-ended-2480473/) [Battles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battles/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Decisive Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisive-battle-1964640/) [Ended Ankh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ended-ankh-2870388/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-books/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [We have never said that the fight against the Iranian aggression and against the expansionist Persian tendencies (which have been demonstrated by various means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saddam-hussein/we-have-never-said-that-the-fight-against-the-iranian-aggression-and/) [Saddam Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saddam-hussein/) > [There is in guerrilla warfare no such thing as a decisive battle; there is nothing comparable to the fixed, passive defense that characterizes orthodox…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/there-is-in-guerrilla-warfare-no-such-thing-as-a-decisive-battle/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [There is in guerilla warfare no such thing as a decisive battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/there-is-in-guerilla-warfare-no-such-thing-as-a-decisive-battle/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [“For in this respect love is not like war; after the battle is ended we renew the fight with keener ardour, which we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/for-in-this-respect-love-is-not-like-war-after-the-battle-is-ended-we/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“Even Colonel Lang, watching the Americans from the other side of Djebel Naemia, had been surprised by their timid initial approach to the Maknassy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/even-colonel-lang-watching-the-americans-from-the-other-side-of/) [Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/) > [I have always considered Saipan the decisive battle of the Pacific offensive...(it was) the naval and military heart and brain of the Japanese defence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-smith/i-have-always-considered-saipan-the-decisive-battle-of-the-pacific/) [Holland Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-smith/) > [“Only those capable of envisaging utopia will be fit for the decisive battle, that of recovering all the humanity we have lost. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-sabato/only-those-capable-of-envisaging-utopia-will-be-fit-for-the-decisive/) [Ernesto Sabato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-sabato/) > [To abandon your shield is the basest of crimes; nor may a man thus disgraced be present at the sacred rites, or enter their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/to-abandon-your-shield-is-the-basest-of-crimes-nor-may-a-man-thus/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [When the will is given, the battle is ended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-matheson/when-the-will-is-given-the-battle-is-ended/) [George Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-matheson/) > [“The battle ended because no one fed it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/the-battle-ended-because-no-one-fed-it/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [At long last, the battle has ended! 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