--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid…" description: "\"It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our hous..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_duty_it-is-our-duty-still-to-endeavor-to-avoi_1902371.jpg" --- # It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it… ![“It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_duty_it-is-our-duty-still-to-endeavor-to-avoi_1902371.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_duty_it-is-our-duty-still-to-endeavor-to-avoi_1902371.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_duty_it-is-our-duty-still-to-endeavor-to-avoi_1902371.jpg) > “It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## 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 undesirable; if unavoidable, immediate defense is required regardless of cause. **In simple terms:** Defend yourself if war occurs, no questions. Key Takeaway Prepare to act decisively in conflict. Themes defense war morality Mood serious determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - national security - personal safety - political decision‑making Key Concepts political philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What measures can prevent war? - How do you balance defense with diplomacy? A Different Perspective War may be inevitable; prevention is preferable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Extinguish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extinguish/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [A republic will avoid war unless the avoidance might create conditions that are worse than warfare itself. 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Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... 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After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Defend quotes > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. 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