--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religious canons, civil laws, are cruel…" description: "\"Religious canons, civil laws, are cruel; then what should war be?\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/william-shakespeare-4_canon_religious-canons-civil-laws-are-cruel-th_2954993.jpg" --- # Religious canons, civil laws, are cruel; then what should… ![“Religious canons, civil laws, are cruel; then what should war be?” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/william-shakespeare-4_canon_religious-canons-civil-laws-are-cruel-th_2954993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/william-shakespeare-4_canon_religious-canons-civil-laws-are-cruel-th_2954993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/william-shakespeare-4_canon_religious-canons-civil-laws-are-cruel-th_2954993.jpg) > “Religious canons, civil laws, are cruel; then what should war be?” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious rules and civil laws can be cruel; what then justifies war? **In simple terms:** Cruel laws raise war questions. Key Takeaway Question moral bases of conflict. Themes ethics law war Mood critical thoughtful Type ethical political When to use this quote - policy making - military strategy - historical analysis Key Concepts justice human rights political theory Questions to Reflect On - When is war morally defensible? - How do laws influence war decisions? A Different Perspective War may be used to enforce unjust laws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Canon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canon/) [Canons Civil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canons-civil-4472763/) [Civil Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-laws-922583/) [Cruel War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruel-war-2596111/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws Cruel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-cruel-2304411/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious Canons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-canons-4472764/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Look at the history of civil laws in our world and the source from which they emerged, and you will see that the vast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/look-at-the-history-of-civil-laws-in-our-world-and-the-source-from/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Laws can be wrong and laws can be cruel. 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