--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a general view, there are few…" description: "\"In a general view, there are few conquests that repay the charge of making them, and mankind are pretty well convinced that it can never be worth their..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/thomas-paine-267_causes_in-a-general-view-there-are-few-conquest_2568869.jpg" --- # In a general view, there are few conquests that repay the… ![“In a general view, there are few conquests that repay the charge of making them, and mankind are pretty well convinced that it can never be worth their while to go to war for profit's sake. If they are made war upon, their country invaded, or their existence at stake, it is their duty to defend…” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/thomas-paine-267_causes_in-a-general-view-there-are-few-conquest_2568869.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/thomas-paine-267_causes_in-a-general-view-there-are-few-conquest_2568869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/thomas-paine-267_causes_in-a-general-view-there-are-few-conquest_2568869.jpg) > “In a general view, there are few conquests that repay the charge of making them, and mankind are pretty well convinced that it can never be worth their while to go to war for profit's sake. If they are made war upon, their country invaded, or their existence at stake, it is their duty to defend and preserve themselves, but in every other light, and from every other cause, is war inglorious and detestable.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## 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 justified only for defense; otherwise it is morally repugnant and unprofitable. **In simple terms:** War is only right for self‑defense. Key Takeaway Seek peaceful solutions before considering war. Themes ethics war peace defense politics Mood reflective serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - peace activism - defense planning Key Concepts philosophy political theory morality Questions to Reflect On - When is war truly necessary? - How can societies prioritize peace? A Different Perspective Idealistic view may ignore complex geopolitical needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cause War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-war-284194/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquest/) [Conquests Repay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquests-repay-1674608/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Invaded Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invaded-existence-1674607/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Stakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-profit-1674606/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Worth War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth-war-302854/) ## Related quotes > [War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/war-is-an-ugly-thing-but-not-the-ugliest-of-things-the-decayed-and-4/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. 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