---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have never killed anybody, it is true…"
description: "\"I have never killed anybody, it is true, but it is because I lacked the courage or the time, not because I lacked the desire\" — Anonymous"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/anonymous-1_courage_i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-b_2816240.jpg"
---

#  I have never killed anybody, it is true, but it is because…

![“I have never killed anybody, it is true, but it is because I lacked the courage or the time, not because I lacked the desire” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/anonymous-1_courage_i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-b_2816240.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/anonymous-1_courage_i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-b_2816240.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/anonymous-1_courage_i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-b_2816240.jpg)

> “I have never killed anybody, it is true, but it is because I lacked the courage or the time, not because I lacked the desire”

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Moral restraint can stem from lack of courage or time, not desire.

**In simple terms:** No desire, just lack of courage or time.

Key Takeaway

Recognize barriers to action, not lack of intent.

Themes

morality courage time intent

Mood

introspective serious

Type

ethical psychological

When to use this quote

- career choices
- volunteer work
- emergency response

Key Concepts

ethical decision‑making personal limits

Questions to Reflect On

- What prevents you from acting on desire?
- How can you build courage or find time?

A Different Perspective

Excuses may mask deeper issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-time-562159/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Lacked Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacked-courage-454313/) [Lacked Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacked-desire-3555469/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Lacked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-lacked-3555468/)

## Related quotes

> [He awoke, opened his eye. The room meant very little to him; he was too deeply immersed in the non-being from which he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/he-awoke-opened-his-eye-the-room-meant-very-little-to-him-he-was-too/)

[Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/)

> [Growing old is, of all things we experience, that which takes the most courage, and at a time when we have the least resources,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/growing-old-is-of-all-things-we-experience-that-which-takes-the-most/)

[May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/)

> [Be of good courage all is before you, and time passed in the difficult is never lost...What is required of us is that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/be-of-good-courage-all-is-before-you-and-time-passed-in-the-difficult/)

[Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/)

> [When I was a small boy I often went to the woods to lie on the grass in the shade. Somehow I had come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/when-i-was-a-small-boy-i-often-went-to-the-woods-to-lie-on-the-grass/)

[Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/)

> [We can still astonish the gods in humanity And be the stuff of future legends, If we but dare to be real, And have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-can-still-astonish-the-gods-in-humanity-and-be-the-stuff-of-future/)

[Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/)

> [“But I lacked the courage and she had a boyfriend and I was gawky and she was gorgeous and I was hopelessly boring and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/but-i-lacked-the-courage-and-she-had-a-boyfriend-and-i-was-gawky-and/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [I wanted so badly to lie down next to her on the couch, to wrap my hands around her and fall asleep. Not fuck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsumi-aka-leila/i-wanted-so-badly-to-lie-down-next-to-her-on-the-couch-to-wrap-my-2/)

[Natsumi Aka Leila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsumi-aka-leila/)

> [The words burned on her tongue, but Minerva couldn’t give them voice. What a hopeless coward she was. She could pound on his door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-words-burned-on-her-tongue-but-minerva-couldn-t-give-them-voice/)

[Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/)

> [I lacked the courage to investigate the weaknesses of the wicked, because I discovered they are the same as the weaknesses of the saintly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-lacked-the-courage-to-investigate-the-weaknesses-of-the-wicked/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [“He wanted Owen to comprehend everything he lacked the courage or clarity of mind to say outright right now, to read it in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/he-wanted-owen-to-comprehend-everything-he-lacked-the-courage-or/)

[Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/)

> [The sky was dark and gloomy, the air was damp and raw, the streets were wet and sloppy. The smoke hung sluggishly above the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-sky-was-dark-and-gloomy-the-air-was-damp-and-raw-the-streets-were/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“He longed for the oblivion at the end of it, but lacked the courage to face the fall”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-burgess/he-longed-for-the-oblivion-at-the-end-of-it-but-lacked-the-courage-to/)

[Melvin Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-burgess/)

> [“I had spent many nights in the jungle looking for game, but this was the first time I had ever spent a night looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-corbett/i-had-spent-many-nights-in-the-jungle-looking-for-game-but-this-was/)

[Jim Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-corbett/)

> [“Then a dark shape would glide across the star-covered sky, everyone would look up and the laughter would stop. It wasn't exactly what you'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/then-a-dark-shape-would-glide-across-the-star-covered-sky-everyone/)

[Irène Némirovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/)

> [As a young man, I felt a need to communicate with somebody or something, but it seemed in my own particular environment that that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-tosches/as-a-young-man-i-felt-a-need-to-communicate-with-somebody-or/)

[Nick Tosches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-tosches/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Courage quotes

> [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/)

[James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/)

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/)

[Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/)

> [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/)

[Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/)

> [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/)

[Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/)

> [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/)

[Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/)

> [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/)

[Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/)

> [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/)

[Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/)

> [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/)

[Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/)

[Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have never killed anybody, it is true, but it is because I lacked the courage or the time, not because I lacked the desire",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anonymous"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-but-it-is-because-i-lacked-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Courage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-but-it-is-because-i-lacked-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/anonymous-1_courage_i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-b_2816240.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/anonymous-1_courage_i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-b_2816240.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/anonymous-1_courage_i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-b_2816240.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have never killed anybody, it is true, but it is because I lacked the courage or the time, not because I…” — Anonymous",
                "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": "Anonymous",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have never killed anybody, it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-but-it-is-because-i-lacked-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-never-killed-anybody-it-is-true-but-it-is-because-i-lacked-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
