--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: War is horrible, but slavery is worse." description: "\"War is horrible, but slavery is worse.\" — Winston Churchill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/winston-churchill-95_horrible_war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse-941_941482.jpg" --- # War is horrible, but slavery is worse. ![“War is horrible, but slavery is worse.” quote by Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/winston-churchill-95_horrible_war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse-941_941482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/winston-churchill-95_horrible_war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse-941_941482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/winston-churchill-95_horrible_war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse-941_941482.jpg) > “War is horrible, but slavery is worse.” [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## 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 terrible, but slavery is even more horrific. **In simple terms:** War is terrible; slavery worse. Key Takeaway Recognize and oppose greater evils. Themes morality history human rights Mood serious reflective Type historical ethical When to use this quote - human rights advocacy - educational curricula - policy reform Key Concepts ethical hierarchy historical analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do we prioritize moral actions? - What lessons apply today? A Different Perspective Comparisons may oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [Horrible Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible-slavery-1612898/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slavery Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-worse-1612897/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-horrible-857492/) [Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse/) ## Related quotes > [I think all Americans need to recognize that, as tragic and horrible as slavery was, as big an economic shadow as it cast, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-bunch/i-think-all-americans-need-to-recognize-that-as-tragic-and-horrible/) [Lonnie Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-bunch/) > [War is horrible because it strangles youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kearny/war-is-horrible-because-it-strangles-youth/) [Philip Kearny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kearny/) > [War is horrible no matter what. There's going to be atrocities, there's going to be horrible things that happen in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-hoffman/war-is-horrible-no-matter-what-there-s-going-to-be-atrocities-there-s/) [Mike Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-hoffman/) > [Of course war is horrible, but at present it's still the only guarantee of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/of-course-war-is-horrible-but-at-present-it-s-still-the-only/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [I was after a set of pictures, so that when people looked at them they would say, ‘This is war’-that the people who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-was-after-a-set-of-pictures-so-that-when-people-looked-at-them-they/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Inner slavery is even worse than outward slavery; and inner freedom is even better than outward freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lindskoog/inner-slavery-is-even-worse-than-outward-slavery-and-inner-freedom-is/) [Kathryn Lindskoog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lindskoog/) > [“Any property taken away from others, whether by stealth, fraud or violence, must be wrong: but to take away men themselves, and keep them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottobah-cugoano-known-as-john-stuart/any-property-taken-away-from-others-whether-by-stealth-fraud-or/) [Ottobah Cugoano known as John Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottobah-cugoano-known-as-john-stuart/) > [ The day is not distant when we must bear and adopt \[the abolition of slavery\], or worse will follow. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-day-is-not-distant-when-we-must-bear-and-adopt-the-abolition-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A war is a horrible thing, but it's also a unifier of countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/a-war-is-a-horrible-thing-but-it-s-also-a-unifier-of-countries/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I find by my calculations, which are according to revealed inspiration, that the sword of death is now approaching us, in the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nostradamus/i-find-by-my-calculations-which-are-according-to-revealed-inspiration/) [Nostradamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nostradamus/) > [That men should kill one another for want of somewhat else to do, which is the case of all volunteers in war, seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/that-men-should-kill-one-another-for-want-of-somewhat-else-to-do/) [Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/) > [It is good that war is so horrible, or we might grow to like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/it-is-good-that-war-is-so-horrible-or-we-might-grow-to-like-it/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“I remember still how full of bad magic all those spearpoints to be put on the ends of rifles seemed to be. One was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-remember-still-how-full-of-bad-magic-all-those-spearpoints-to-be/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [There's nothing worse than walking into a hospital and seeing people sick and miserable and having a horrible treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wojcicki/there-s-nothing-worse-than-walking-into-a-hospital-and-seeing-people/) [Anne Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wojcicki/) > [Here we are in the 70's when everything really is horrible and it really stinks. The mass media, everything on television everything everywhere is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/here-we-are-in-the-70-s-when-everything-really-is-horrible-and-it/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) ## More by Winston Churchill > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Never, never, never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/never-never-never-give-up/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most times he will pick himself up and carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/man-will-occasionally-stumble-over-the-truth-but-most-times-he-will/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [God alone knows how great it is. All I hope is that it is not too late. I am very much afraid that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/god-alone-knows-how-great-it-is-all-i-hope-is-that-it-is-not-too-late/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-you-re-20-you-care-what-everyone-thinks-when-you-re-40-you-stop/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Writing a book is an adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/writing-a-book-is-an-adventure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/all-men-make-mistakes-but-only-wise-men-learn-from-their-mistakes/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [People who are not prepared to do unpopular things and defy the clamor of the multitude are not fit to be ministers in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/people-who-are-not-prepared-to-do-unpopular-things-and-defy-the/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [To meet Roosevelt with all his buoyant sparkle, his iridescence, was like opening a bottle of champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/to-meet-roosevelt-with-all-his-buoyant-sparkle-his-iridescence-was/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-am-always-ready-to-learn-although-i-do-not-always-like-being-taught/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There are plenty of good ideas, if only they can be backed with the power of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/there-are-plenty-of-good-ideas-if-only-they-can-be-backed-with-the/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) [Explore all 1,366 Winston Churchill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More Horrible quotes > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The drivers here are horrible. And by horrible, I mean they don't realize I have someplace to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/the-drivers-here-are-horrible-and-by-horrible-i-mean-they-don-t/) [Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/) > [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) > [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what you know. Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/it-s-a-bit-cliche-but-you-can-t-go-wrong-by-writing-what-you-know/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [Teenage girls are extremists who see the world in black-and- white terms, missing shades of gray. Life is either marvelous or notworth living. School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/teenage-girls-are-extremists-who-see-the-world-in-black-and-white/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [I want regulation. I want to protect our environment. I want regulations for safety. I want all of the regulations that we need, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-want-regulation-i-want-to-protect-our-environment-i-want/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I have a horrible sense of direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/i-have-a-horrible-sense-of-direction/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [This I say, because God showed me somewhat of his truth, in order that I might know what man is without him; that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-of-genoa/this-i-say-because-god-showed-me-somewhat-of-his-truth-in-order-that/) [Catherine of Genoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-of-genoa/) [Browse all 2,129 Horrible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "War is horrible, but slavery is worse.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Winston Churchill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Horrible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/winston-churchill-95_horrible_war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse-941_941482.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/winston-churchill-95_horrible_war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse-941_941482.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/winston-churchill-95_horrible_war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse-941_941482.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“War is horrible, but slavery is worse.” — Winston Churchill", "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": "Winston Churchill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "War is horrible, but slavery is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/war-is-horrible-but-slavery-is-worse/#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 } } ] } ```