--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: War is a quarrel between two thieves too…" description: "\"“War is a quarrel between two thieves too cowardly to fight their own battle; therefore they take boys from one village and another village; stick them..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/thomas-carlyle-207_battle_war-is-a-quarrel-between-two-thieves-too_1782896.png" --- # War is a quarrel between two thieves too cowardly to fight… ![“War is a quarrel between two thieves too cowardly to fight their own battle; therefore they take boys from one village and another village; stick them into uniforms, equip them with guns, and let them loose like wild beasts against each other.” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/thomas-carlyle-207_battle_war-is-a-quarrel-between-two-thieves-too_1782896.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/thomas-carlyle-207_battle_war-is-a-quarrel-between-two-thieves-too_1782896.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/thomas-carlyle-207_battle_war-is-a-quarrel-between-two-thieves-too_1782896.png) > ““War is a quarrel between two thieves too cowardly to fight their own battle; therefore they take boys from one village and another village; stick them into uniforms, equip them with guns, and let them loose like wild beasts against each other.”” [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War exploits the cowardice of leaders, forcing innocent youths into violent conflict for others’ gain. **In simple terms:** Leaders avoid fighting, send youths to war. Key Takeaway Recognize the human cost of political cowardice. Themes war leadership innocence Mood critical somber Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - military recruitment - peace activism Key Concepts ethical responsibility military ethics human cost Questions to Reflect On - Why do societies accept such sacrifices? - What alternatives exist to resolve conflict? A Different Perspective Simplifies complex causes of war. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Village](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/village/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wild beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-beast/) ## Related quotes > [War is a quarrel between two thieves too cowardly to fight their own battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/war-is-a-quarrel-between-two-thieves-too-cowardly-to-fight-their-own/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I had a lifelong quarrel with God, but in the end we made up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/i-had-a-lifelong-quarrel-with-god-but-in-the-end-we-made-up/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Superhero movies and comic books teach a lesson that runs directly counter to the culture-of-violence idea: guns are for bad guys too cowardly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/superhero-movies-and-comic-books-teach-a-lesson-that-runs-directly/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name! All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [There's no such thing as being cowardly in a fight. ~Edward Elric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiromu-arakawa/there-s-no-such-thing-as-being-cowardly-in-a-fight-edward-elric/) [Hiromu Arakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiromu-arakawa/) > [A conservative is a man who is too cowardly to fight and too fat to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/a-conservative-is-a-man-who-is-too-cowardly-to-fight-and-too-fat-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“The only unforgivable crime is to cut short the experiment of one’s own life before its natural end. 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