--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it must be realized that, when…" description: "\"“But it must be realized that, when dealing with an utterly ruthless enemy who has clearly expressed his intention of wiping this nation out of existen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/w-e-fairbairn-57446_life_but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealin_705545.jpg" --- # But it must be realized that, when dealing with an utterly… ![“But it must be realized that, when dealing with an utterly ruthless enemy who has clearly expressed his intention of wiping this nation out of existence, there is no room for any scruple or compunction about the methods to be employed in preventing him.” quote by W.E. Fairbairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/w-e-fairbairn-57446_life_but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealin_705545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/w-e-fairbairn-57446_life_but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealin_705545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/w-e-fairbairn-57446_life_but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealin_705545.jpg) > ““But it must be realized that, when dealing with an utterly ruthless enemy who has clearly expressed his intention of wiping this nation out of existence, there is no room for any scruple or compunction about the methods to be employed in preventing him.”” [W.E. Fairbairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-fairbairn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In extreme conflict, moral constraints are dismissed, arguing that any means are justified to eliminate an existential threat. **In simple terms:** When facing a ruthless enemy, ethics are set aside for survival. Key Takeaway Consider the moral costs of total war. Themes ethics war survival extremism politics Mood grim urgent serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - counter‑terrorism operations - genocide prevention - policy debates Key Concepts just war theory moral relativism national security Questions to Reflect On - Is it ever justified to abandon moral principles? - What safeguards can prevent abuse of such reasoning? A Different Perspective The stance can lead to atrocities and erode humanitarian standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dealing Utterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dealing-utterly-5576328/) [Enemy Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-clearly-5576329/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Ruthless Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruthless-enemy-5576326/) [Utterly Ruthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utterly-ruthless-1306856/) [Wiping Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wiping-nation-5576327/) ## Related quotes > [“This man who in the pursuit of his aims could be so utterly ruthless—who would let nothing stand in his way; who, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/this-man-who-in-the-pursuit-of-his-aims-could-be-so-utterly-ruthless/) [Robert A. Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-caro/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) ## More by W.E. Fairbairn > [“This defence can only be achieved by killing or disabling the enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-fairbairn/this-defence-can-only-be-achieved-by-killing-or-disabling-the-enemy/) [W.E. Fairbairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-fairbairn/) > [“No-one will dispute the effectiveness of a straight left or a right hook to the jaw or body, but unfortunately it takes months of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-fairbairn/no-one-will-dispute-the-effectiveness-of-a-straight-left-or-a-right/) [W.E. Fairbairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-fairbairn/) > [“The edge of the hand blow and the chin jab, if applied as demonstrated in this manual, will quickly convince the student that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-fairbairn/the-edge-of-the-hand-blow-and-the-chin-jab-if-applied-as-demonstrated/) [W.E. Fairbairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-fairbairn/) > [“gun is an impersonal weapon and kills cleanly and decently at a distance. Killing with the bare hands at close quarters savours too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-fairbairn/gun-is-an-impersonal-weapon-and-kills-cleanly-and-decently-at-a/) [W.E. Fairbairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-fairbairn/) > [“It will soon be found that the principal value of the training lies not so much in the actual physical holds or breaks, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-fairbairn/it-will-soon-be-found-that-the-principal-value-of-the-training-lies/) [W.E. Fairbairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-fairbairn/) [Explore all 6 W.E. Fairbairn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-fairbairn/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But it must be realized that, when dealing with an utterly ruthless enemy who has clearly expressed his intention of wiping this nation out of existence, there is no room for any scruple or compunction about the methods to be employed in preventing him.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W.E. Fairbairn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-fairbairn/but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealing-with-an-utterly-ruthless/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-fairbairn/but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealing-with-an-utterly-ruthless/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/w-e-fairbairn-57446_life_but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealin_705545.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/w-e-fairbairn-57446_life_but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealin_705545.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/w-e-fairbairn-57446_life_but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealin_705545.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But it must be realized that, when dealing with an utterly ruthless enemy who has clearly expressed his…” — W.E. Fairbairn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "W.E. Fairbairn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-fairbairn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But it must be realized that,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-fairbairn/but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealing-with-an-utterly-ruthless/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-fairbairn/but-it-must-be-realized-that-when-dealing-with-an-utterly-ruthless/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```