Quotes about kill
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“Power is when we have every justification to kill, and we don't”

Thomas Keneally (1935) Australian novelist

“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.”

Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American politician, 30th president of the United States (in office from 1923 to 1929)

Letter (6 September 1910) to his father, John Coolidge, who had been elected to the Vermont State Senate; in Your Son Calvin Coolidge, as cited in Silent Cal’s Almanack: The Homespun Wit and Wisdom of Vermont's Calvin Coolidge (2011), Ed. David Pietrusza, Bookbrewer, "Legislation".
1910s, Letter to John Coolidge (1910)

“A prisoner of war is a man who tries to kill you and fails, and then asks you not to kill him.”

Winston S. Churchill (1874–1965) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

War

“Man wonders but God decides
When to kill the Prince of Tides.”

Pat Conroy book The Prince of Tides

Source: The Prince of Tides

God

“Vampires were always either trying to kill me, or own me. God I hated being popular.”

Laurell K. Hamilton book Cerulean Sins

Source: Cerulean Sins

God, Hate

“There will be more calamities, more death, more despair. Not the slightest indication of a change anywhere. The cancer of our time is eating us away. Our heroes have killed themselves, or are killing themselves.”

Henry Miller book Tropic of Cancer

Source: Tropic of Cancer

Death, Change, Time, Despair

“I bring you a message from a friend of ours," she said quietly. "He wanted you to know that he's not dead. He can't be killed."
"He is hope."
The she raised the spear and rammed it directly into the Lord Ruler's heart.”

Brandon Sanderson (1975) American fantasy writer

Source: The Final Empire

Hope, Heart, Dead

“True revolution comes from true revulsion; when things get bad enough the kitten will kill the lion.”

Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) American writer

“Wow," came a familiar voice, "Hypochondriac killed the cat."
-Dess”

Scott Westerfeld book The Secret Hour

Source: The Secret Hour

Cats

“I’m not a bad person. I haven’t killed anyone. I (rarely) lie. I don’t kick little puppies. So why do people look at me as if the world would be a better place without me?”

Gena Showalter (1975) American writer

Source: Oh My Goth

People, Lie, World, Personality

“Computers don't kill books; people do.”

Douglas Rushkoff (1961) writer, American media theorist

People, Books

“And how did your day go?" I asked Ascanio.
He turned to me, a dreamy look on his pretty face. "We killed things. There was blood. Fountains of blood. And then we had barbecue.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Gifts

“You and I have never liked each other, Rose. If I’ve got to kill someone, it might as well be you.”

Richelle Mead book Frostbite

Source: Frostbite

“In the dictionary, next to the word stress, there is a picture of a midsize mutant stuck inside a dog crate, wondering if her destiny is to be killed or to save the world. Okay, not really. But there should be.”

James Patterson (1947) American author

Source: The Angel Experiment

World, Dogs

“Then you're dead, too, sweet little sister.'
Oh, yes,' said Valentine. 'They'll believe that. "I didn't know it would kill Andrew. And when he was dead, I didn't know it will kill Valentine too.”

Orson Scott Card book Ender's Game

Source: Ender's Game

Sister, Dead

“If they killed him tonight, at least he would die alive.”

Markus Zusak book The Book Thief

Source: The Book Thief

“So you really cant think of anyone else who might want to kill you?"asked Jace.
"Unlike in your case there arent actually all that many people who dislike me."said Simon.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Fallen Angels

Source: City of Fallen Angels

People, Thinking

“You kill me, Rose," he said melodramatically. "Every day is agony without you. Empty. Alone. I pine for you, wondering if you're even still alive.”

Richelle Mead Blood Promise

Source: Blood Promise

“I have to say, your technique is really different. Curran hammered at the spell until it broke. You just talk. Help me out here, what’s the strategy? Are you hoping the ward will get tired and kill itself so it won’t have to listen to you anymore?”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Breaks

Hope, Help

“Me, I’m late to meet my girlfriend. Annabeth is going to kill me.
Hope you enjoyed the stories. Stay safe out there, demigods.
Peace from Manhattan,
Percy Jackson”

Rick Riordan (1964) American writer

Source: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Peace, Hope

“If you love something/Set it free/If it loves you/It will come back to you/ If it doesn't--hunt it down and kill it.”

Harry Crews (1935–2012) Novelist, short story writer, essayist

Source: Body

Love

“You said I killed you-haunt me, then! […] Be with me always-take any form-drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!”

Emily Brontë book Wuthering Heights

Source: Wuthering Heights

Madness

“the same question arose in every soul: "For what, for whom, must I kill and be killed?"… p982”

Leo Tolstoy book War and Peace

Source: War and Peace

Soul, Question

“Pick up your clothes. I am not your maid. How do I know this? A maid cannot kill you with a tube sock. I can.”

Rob Thurman (1950) American writer

Clothes

“It's not about winning, Haven. I'm not a prize to be won. I'm not the princess that needs rescuing from the dragon. I'm the prince and I kill my own monsters. You need to be ok with that. -Anita Blake”

Laurell K. Hamilton book Bullet

Source: Bullet

Princess

“It takes away a lot of the thrill of killing yourself when people are looking for you and you're disappointing them, because it is a lot of fun when you're out there killing yourself.”

Anthony Kiedis book Scar Tissue

Source: Scar Tissue

People, Disappointment

“Why are you smiling?'
'I'm relieved,' I said honestly. 'I was worried I'd given myself cadmium poisoning, or I had some mysterious disease. This is just someone trying to kill me.”

Patrick Rothfuss book The Wise Man's Fear

Variant: Wilem looked at me 'Why are you smiling?'

"I'm relieved", I said honestly." I was worried I had given myself cadmium poisoning, or had a mysterious disease. This is just someone trying to kill me.
Source: The Wise Man's Fear

Disease, Smile

“Who knew love could kill you?”

Anthony Doerr book All the Light We Cannot See

Source: All the Light We Cannot See

Love

“You are not permitted to kill a woman who has wronged you, but nothing forbids you to reflect that she is growing older every minute. You are avenged 1440 times a day.”

Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914) American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist, and satirist

Epigrams

Time

“I'd like to say that this time I'd kill myself too.. but I've never had that kind of courage.”

Jodi Picoult (1966) Author

Source: Mercy

Courage, Time

“If peace can only come through killing someone, then I don't want it.”

Hiro Mashima (1977) Japanese manga artist

Peace

“Hope strengthens. Fear kills.”

Karen Marie Moning (1964) author

Source: Shadowfever

Fear, Hope

“If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.”

Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) American folklorist, novelist, short story writer

Pain

“I'm sure Uncle Eddie won't kill him. He'll probably just maim him a little."

"No," Uncle Eddie said. "I won't."

"Okay," Gabrielle said. "So he'll maim him. But Hale can take it.”

Ally Carter (1974) American writer

Source: Perfect Scoundrels

“You can't say civilization don't advance, however, for in every war they kill you in a new way.”

Will Rogers (1879–1935) American humorist and entertainer

The Autobiography of Will Rogers (1949)
Variant: You can't say that civilization don't advance, however, for in every war they kill you in a new way.

War, Way

“You awful hard to kill, Anita.'

'There's a first time, Luther, and that's all it takes.”

Laurell K. Hamilton book Guilty Pleasures

Source: Guilty Pleasures

Time

“Grow the lawn and mow the lawn
always keep the TV on,
brush your teeth and kill the germs,
poison apples, poison worms.”

Trenton Lee Stewart The Mysterious Benedict Society

Source: The Mysterious Benedict Society

“But you can't kill me, Lord Tyrant. I represent that one thing you've never been able to kill, no matter how hard you try. I am hope.”

Brandon Sanderson (1975) American fantasy writer

Source: The Final Empire

Hope

“I would have made a terrible parent. The first time my child didn't do what I wanted, I'd kill him.”

Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) film, stage, and television actress

Parent, Time

“Wherever the poetry of myth is interpreted as biography, history, or science, it is killed.”

Joseph Campbell (1904–1987) American mythologist, writer and lecturer

Source: The Hero With a Thousand Faces

History, Science

“Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.”

William Goldman book The Princess Bride

Source: The Princess Bride

Sleep, Night

“The only thing more dangerous than an idea is a belief. And by dangerous I don't mean thought-provoking. I mean: might get people killed.”

Sarah Vowell The Wordy Shipmates

Source: The Wordy Shipmates

People, Idea

“Chris:I forgive you.
Annie: For killing my children and my sweet husband?
Chris: For being so wonderful a guy would choose hell over heaven just to be around you.”

Richard Matheson book What Dreams May Come

Source: What Dreams May Come

Children, Guy, Forgiveness, Hell

“We loved killing time and had perfected several ways of doing so. We wandered the hallways carrying papers that indicated some mission of business when in reality we were in search of free candy.”

Joshua Ferris Then We Came to the End

Source: Then We Came to the End

Love, Way, Search, Business

“Even from the beginning, that was the problem. People liked pretty things. People even liked pretty things that wanted to kill and eat them.”

Holly Black book The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Source: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

People, Problem

“We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.”

Grant Morrison (1960) writer

Source: Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human

Love

“Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway.”

Stephen Colbert (1964) American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor

Life

“Damn you, Sassenach!" his voice said, from a very great distance. His voice was choked with passion. "Dam you! I swear if ye die on me, I'll kill you!”

Diana Gabaldon book Voyager

Source: Voyager

Passion

“The world is a raving idiot, and no man can kill it: though I’ll do my best. But you’re right. We must rescue ourselves as best we can.”

D.H. Lawrence book Lady Chatterley's Lover

Source: Lady Chatterley's Lover

World

“If I stay, they'll kill me… If I go, at least everything that wants me dead won't be taking it personally.”

Jim Butcher Captain's Fury

Source: Captain's Fury

Personality, Dead

“Actually, it was only part of myself I wanted to kill: the part that wanted to kill herself, that dragged me into the suicide debate and made every window, kitchen implement, and subway station a rehearsal for tragedy.”

Susanna Kaysen book Girl, Interrupted

Source: Girl, Interrupted

Suicide, Parting

“One does not kill oneself for love of a woman, but because love—any love—reveals us in our nakedness, our misery, our vulnerability, our nothingness.”

Cesare Pavese (1908–1950) Italian poet, novelist, literary critic, and translator

Love

“My conscience is killing me, isn't it? And when you're immortal that can be a really long and ignominious death”

Anne Rice The Tale of the Body Thief

Source: The Tale of the Body Thief

Death

“I had as well be killed running as die standing”

Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman

“They tried to kill me,” he said, his brow furrowed as he glared at them. “You saw them!”

“Yeah?” I spouted off. “They weren’t very good at it!”

(Trent and Rachel)”

Kim Harrison (1966) Pseudonym

Source: Pale Demon

“I'd have to kill Dimitri for real this time and lose any chance I might have to bring back my prince. Damn. It's a good thing I work well under pressure.”

Richelle Mead Blood Promise

Source: Blood Promise

Chance, Time

“You know the law, Dresden."
"He who kills the cheer springs for beer," chanted the rest of the table.”

Jim Butcher book Backup

Source: Backup

Law, Spring, Beer

“You always kill the one you love.”

Chuck Palahniuk Fight Club

Source: Fight Club

Love

“Which is better--to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?”

William Golding book Lord of the Flies

Source: Lord of the Flies

Law

“What kind of knife is this?” Locke held a rounded buttering utensil up for Chains’ inspection. “It’s all wrong. You couldn’t kill anyone with this.”

Scott Lynch The Lies of Locke Lamora

Source: The Lies of Locke Lamora

“Routine kills creative thought.”

Scarlett Thomas book PopCo

Source: PopCo

“If I had known it was harmless
I would have killed it myself.”

Philip K. Dick book A Scanner Darkly

Source: A Scanner Darkly (1977), Chapter 6 (p. 94)

“He killed them with their love”

Stephen King book The Green Mile

Source: The Green Mile

Love

“Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est" ("They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier").”

David Foster Wallace book Infinite Jest

Source: Infinite Jest

“This, for many people, is what's most offensive about hunting—to some, disgusting: that it encourages, or allows, us not only to kill but to take a certain pleasure in killing”

Michael Pollan (1955) American author, journalist, activist, and professor of journalism

People, Pleasure

“My father used to say that it’s not enough to just beat an attacker off. You have to hurt them enough that they’ll know not to tangle with you anymore. Or preferably kill them. (Wren)”

Sherrilyn Kenyon (1965) Novelist

Source: Unleash the Night

Hurt

“What don't kill me…
Had better start running!”

Cassandra Clare book City of Glass

Source: City of Glass

“Seriously,” Shane said, “this kind of is the worst situation we’ve ever been in, right?”
“Speak for yourself,” Michael said. “I got myself killed last year. Twice.”
“Oh yeah. You’re right—last year really sucked for you.”

Rachel Caine (1962) American writer

Source: Kiss of Death

“I don't need to kill goats to say things. I CAN talk.”

L.J. Smith book Daughters of Darkness

Source: Daughters of Darkness

“Doroga thumped a finger against his skull. Head got nothing to do with the heart. Your heart wants what it wants. Head got to learn that it can only kill the heart or else get out of the way”

Jim Butcher book Academ's Fury

Source: Academ's Fury

Way, Learning, Heart

“Mattie sat at the table, obsessing, orbiting around herself. She was sick of her worried, hostile mind. It would have killed her long before, she felt, if it hadn't needed the transportation.”

Anne Lamott (1954) Novelist, essayist, memoirist, activist

Source: Blue Shoe

Hostility

“You're lucky to have a friend who will kill for you."

So. I once had a friend who died for me, and now one who killed for me. Why didn't I feel lucky?”

Carrie Vaughn (1973) American writer

Source: Kitty Takes a Holiday

Feeling

“It is simple and brutal: a person can get used to anything, even to killing.”

Yann Martel book Life of Pi

Source: Life of Pi

Personality

“You hope Raphael survives this?" Luke said."Come on- how many people has he killed?
Magnus turned cold eyes on him. "Who among us has bloodless hands? What did you do, Lucian Graymark, to gain yourself a pack- two packs- of werewolves?”

Cassandra Clare book City of Heavenly Fire

Source: City of Heavenly Fire

People, Hope

“Go to the Black Sea, meet new people, see beautiful places, get killed by a mutant carnivorous kangaroo goat. One item off my bucket list.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Rises

People, Beauty, Sea

“Leo could run pretty fast when someone was trying to kill him. Sadly, he’d had a lot of practice.”

Rick Riordan The Mark of Athena

Source: The Mark of Athena

“This girl (Stephanie) is but a few months away from her seventeenth birthday and already she has saved the world and killed a god. What have you done?”

Derek Landy (1974) Irish children's writer

Source: Death Bringer

God, World, Girl, Birthday

“We killed an innocent girl”

Sara Shepard (1973) Author

Source: Twisted

Girl

“If I let you get killed, the other body guards will make fun of me.”

Laurell K. Hamilton (1963) Novelist

“you said you were going to kill rukia with your own hands… you make me sick… show me your bankai and I will crush it… I will make me beg for forgiveness on you knees… I will never let you say those words to Rukia again…
~Ichigo Kurosaki”

Tite Kubo (1977) Japanese manga artist

Forgiveness

“And yet, unless my senses deceive me, the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere 'modernity' cannot kill.”

Bram Stoker book Dracula

Source: Dracula

Sense

“Not kill us," Pigeon corrected. "She was mainly just trying to turn us into mindless slaves.”

Brandon Mull The Candy Shop War

Source: The Candy Shop War

“We knew that Cecilia had killed herself because she was a misfit, because the beyond called to her, and we knew that her sisters, once abandoned, felt her calling from that place, too.”

Jeffrey Eugenides book The Virgin Suicides

Source: The Virgin Suicides

Sister

“I had killed a man, for money and a woman. I didn't have the money and I didn't have the woman.”

James M. Cain book Double Indemnity

Source: Double Indemnity

Money

“A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral.”

Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian writer

Writings on Civil Disobedience and Nonviolence (1886)

Life, Food, Animals

“There is no greater evil than killing. I don't care whether they call it war or justice. Life is precious.”

Brian Jacques book Mossflower

Source: Mossflower

Life, War, Justice, Evil

“I love things made out of animals. It's just so funny to think of someone saying, "I need a letter opener. I guess I'll have to kill a deer.”

David Sedaris (1956) American author

Interview with Robert David Sullivan
Context: "I love things made out of animals," Sedaris says, holding a knife with a hoof for a handle. "It's just so funny to think of someone saying, 'I need a letter opener. I guess I'll have to kill a deer.'"

Love, Thinking, Animals

“You seem a decent fellow," Inigo said. "I hate to kill you."
You seem a decent fellow," answered the man in black. "I hate to die.”

William Goldman book The Princess Bride

Source: The Princess Bride

Hate

“swore. “Barabas said you might say that. I’m supposed to tell you this.” Ascanio cleared his throat and produced a remarkably accurate impression of Barabas’s tenor. “Courage, Your Majesty.” “I will kill him.” “The Beast Lord or Barabas?” “Both.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Slays

Courage