--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is only those who have neither fired a…" description: "\"It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_vengeance_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_998974.jpg" --- # It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard… ![“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.” quote by William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_vengeance_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_998974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_vengeance_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_998974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_vengeance_it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired_998974.jpg) > “It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.” [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) ## 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 glorified by those untouched by its horrors; only those who have seen suffering should call for more violence. **In simple terms:** Only those who have seen war's pain should demand more bloodshed. Key Takeaway Recognize the cost before demanding vengeance. Themes war violence empathy Mood somber reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - military decisions - peace activism - media commentary Key Concepts human cost moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How does personal experience shape views on conflict? - Can we condemn war without witnessing it? A Different Perspective Those who have not experienced war may still understand its tragedy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Vengeance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vengeance/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Is Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-is-hell/) [Wounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounded/) ## Related quotes > [“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/it-is-only-those-who-have-neither-fired-a-shot-nor-heard-the-shrieks-2/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. 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Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [This is the soldier brave enough to tellThe glory-dazzled world that "war is hell":Lover of peace, he looks beyond the strife,And rides through hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/this-is-the-soldier-brave-enough-to-tellthe-glory-dazzled-world-that/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [“What the hell do you know about what we lost?! You think we had it easy? That we had it better than you? That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-remender/what-the-hell-do-you-know-about-what-we-lost-you-think-we-had-it-easy/) [Rick Remender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-remender/) ## More by William Tecumseh Sherman > [The only good Indian is a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-only-good-indian-is-a-dead-indian/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [After all, I think Forrest was the most remarkable man our Civil War produced on either side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/after-all-i-think-forrest-was-the-most-remarkable-man-our-civil-war/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [We have good corporals and good sergeants and some good lieutenants and captains, and those are far more important than good generals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/we-have-good-corporals-and-good-sergeants-and-some-good-lieutenants/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [The way to success is strategically along the way of least expectation and tactically along the line of least resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-way-to-success-is-strategically-along-the-way-of-least/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [“You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm as against these terrible hardships of war. 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War is a terrible thing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/you-people-speak-so-lightly-of-war-you-don-t-know-what-you-re-talking/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [He belonged to that army known as invincible in peace, invisible in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/he-belonged-to-that-army-known-as-invincible-in-peace-invisible-in-war/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [War is at its best barbarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/war-is-at-its-best-barbarism/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [War is Hell you can NOT refine it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/war-is-hell-you-can-not-refine-it/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [I confess, without shame, that I am sick and tired of fighting — its glory is all moonshine; even success the most brilliant is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/i-confess-without-shame-that-i-am-sick-and-tired-of-fighting-its/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) [Explore all 92 William Tecumseh Sherman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) ## More Peace quotes > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. 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