“Violence is what people do when they run out of good ideas. It’s attractive because it’s simple, it’s direct, it’s almost always available as an option. When you can’t think of a good rebuttal for your opponent’s argument, you can always punch them in the face.”

Source: Abaddon's Gate (2013), Chapter 44 (p. 444)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Daniel Abraham141

speculative fiction writer from the United States 1969

Haidakhan Babaji teacher in northern India

Karma yoga
Source: The Teachings of Babaji, 17 November 1983.

“It is rather more noble to help people purely out of concern for their suffering than it is to help them because you think the Creator of the Universe wants you to do it, or will reward you for doing it, or will punish you for not doing it. The problem with this linkage between religion and morality is that it gives people bad reasons to help other human beings when good reasons are available.”

Sam Harris (1967) American author, philosopher and neuroscientist

Sam Harris, Beyond Belief 2006 conference
2000s

“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

Roald Dahl (1916–1990) British novelist, short story writer, poet, fighter pilot and screenwriter

“Government subsidies can be critically analyzed according to a simple principle: You are smarter than the government, so when the government pays you to do something you wouldn't do on your own, it is almost always paying you to do something stupid.”

P. J. O'Rourke (1947) American journalist

All the Trouble in the World (1994)

“Always look people in the face when addressing them, and generally when they address you.”

Thomas Jackson (1824–1863) Confederate general

Misattributed, Jackson's personal book of maxims

“There’s no use saying anything in the schoolyard because there’s always someone with an answer and there’s nothing you can do but punch them in the nose and if you were to punch everyone who has an answer you’d be punching morning noon and night.”

Frank McCourt book Angela's Ashes

Source: Angela's Ashes (1996)

“Look at it this way: I might be saying you're fat, but at least I'm not punching you in the face.'
Are those the only options?'
Not always. Just sometimes.”

Sarah Dessen book Just Listen

Source: Just Listen

“It’s a good idea, when people are curious, to give them something to sustain that curiosity—and direct it.”

Samuel R. Delany book Neveryóna

Source: Neveryóna (1983), Chapter 3, “Of Markets, Maps, Cellars, and Cisterns” (p. 65)

“You have always been smart. You have always looked for the worst in people, and have been quick to notice when people are up to no good… But in the case of your children, you are blind.”

Federico García Lorca (1898–1936) Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director

Siempre has sido lista. Has visto lo malo de las gentes a cien leguas... Pero los hijos son los hijos. Ahora estás ciega.
Act II (ll. 833–835)
The House of Bernarda Alba (1936)

“It’s a good thing when you don’t dare do something if you don’t think it’s right. But it’s not good when you think something’s not right because you don’t dare do it.”

Sigrid Undset (1882–1949) Norwegian writer

Source: The Wreath

“Violence is what people do when they run out of good ideas. It’s attractive because it’s simple, it’s direct, it’s almost always available as an option. When you can’t think of a good rebuttal for your opponent’s argument, you can always punch them in the face.”

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Daniel Abraham141

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