--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What restrains us from killing is partly…" description: "\"What restrains us from killing is partly fear of punishment, partly moral scruple, and partly what may be described as a sense of humor\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/anonymous-1_comedy_what-restrains-us-from-killing-is-partly_2386099.jpg" --- # What restrains us from killing is partly fear of… ![“What restrains us from killing is partly fear of punishment, partly moral scruple, and partly what may be described as a sense of humor” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/anonymous-1_comedy_what-restrains-us-from-killing-is-partly_2386099.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/anonymous-1_comedy_what-restrains-us-from-killing-is-partly_2386099.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/anonymous-1_comedy_what-restrains-us-from-killing-is-partly_2386099.jpg) > “What restrains us from killing is partly fear of punishment, partly moral scruple, and partly what may be described as a sense of humor” [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. Fear of punishment, moral conscience, and humor together restrain killing. **In simple terms:** Fear, conscience, humor stop killing. Key Takeaway Recognize multiple restraints on harmful actions. Themes ethics humor punishment Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - legal system - personal ethics - social norms - conflict resolution Key Concepts moral psychology social control cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - What internal checks guide your behavior? - How does humor influence moral decisions? A Different Perspective Humor may not deter serious intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) ## Related quotes > [“She looked from her son to Bill and back to her son again, touched by wonder that was mostly simple perplexity but partly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/she-looked-from-her-son-to-bill-and-back-to-her-son-again-touched-by/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Envy ... is one form of a vice, partly moral, partly intellectual, which consists in seeing things never in themselves but only in their relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/envy-is-one-form-of-a-vice-partly-moral-partly-intellectual-which/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“So often this summer I keep thinking: I know I'm holding back. 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