--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A fanatic who is willing to die for his…" description: "\"“A fanatic who is willing to die for his cause thinks nothing of killing you for his cause.”\" — Ben Bova" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/ben-bova-26822_willing-to-die_a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his_1031775.jpg" --- # A fanatic who is willing to die for his cause thinks… ![“A fanatic who is willing to die for his cause thinks nothing of killing you for his cause.” quote by Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/ben-bova-26822_willing-to-die_a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his_1031775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/ben-bova-26822_willing-to-die_a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his_1031775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/ben-bova-26822_willing-to-die_a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his_1031775.jpg) > ““A fanatic who is willing to die for his cause thinks nothing of killing you for his cause.”” [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extremist devotion can justify violence against others, showing moral blindness. **In simple terms:** Fanatics may kill for their cause. Key Takeaway Question extreme beliefs, promote empathy. Themes extremism violence morality Mood critical warning Type political ethical When to use this quote - Political protest - terrorism - ideological recruitment Key Concepts Radicalization ethical relativism psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - What drives someone to value cause over life? - How can societies prevent radicalization? A Different Perspective Might oversimplify complex motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“A martyr is someone willing to die for what he believes in. A fanatic is someone willing for you to die for what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-hinds/a-martyr-is-someone-willing-to-die-for-what-he-believes-in-a-fanatic/) [Marsha Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-hinds/) > [“I’m willing to die for the woman I love. I just want to take 75 years to do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-willing-to-die-for-the-woman-i-love-i-just-want-to-take-75-years/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [An opinion is not necesarily correct just because you're willing to die for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/an-opinion-is-not-necesarily-correct-just-because-you-re-willing-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“-I am willing to die for my own clan.-Fireheart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/i-am-willing-to-die-for-my-own-clan-fireheart/) [Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/) > [If our women are willing to die with us, who is there to say no?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morning-star/if-our-women-are-willing-to-die-with-us-who-is-there-to-say-no/) [Morning Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morning-star/) > [I'm willing to die in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-m-willing-to-die-in-the-ring/) [Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/) > [There's never been a lack of men willing to die bravely. The trouble is to find a few able to live sensibly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/there-s-never-been-a-lack-of-men-willing-to-die-bravely-the-trouble/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [You don't have to be a pastor to let your passion be felt and your voice heard. You just need to be willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ludy/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-pastor-to-let-your-passion-be-felt-and-your/) [Eric Ludy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ludy/) > [To hold on, you have to find something you’re willing to die for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/to-hold-on-you-have-to-find-something-you-re-willing-to-die-for/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [If a fanatic is willing to give his life for a cause, he's probably willing to give yours as well I know what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/if-a-fanatic-is-willing-to-give-his-life-for-a-cause-he-s-probably/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [ \[on Eminem's song "Kim"\] Every dude thinks about killing his wife. He was just crazy enough to write it all down. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/on-eminem-s-song-kim-every-dude-thinks-about-killing-his-wife-he-was/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's not very smart to piss off a guy who thinks about killing people for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-graham/it-s-not-very-smart-to-piss-off-a-guy-who-thinks-about-killing-people/) [Will Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-graham/) > [“He had been willing to die because he refused to take a life. But me, I contemplated shooting everyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/he-had-been-willing-to-die-because-he-refused-to-take-a-life-but-me-i/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [I have no status or stardom. I was just willing to die for my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ruettiger/i-have-no-status-or-stardom-i-was-just-willing-to-die-for-my-dream/) [Rudy Ruettiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ruettiger/) > [“I was willing to die fighting, but it was senseless for all these men to go down with me. Perhaps my blood was tainted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-was-willing-to-die-fighting-but-it-was-senseless-for-all-these-men/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) ## More by Ben Bova > [ A new space race has begun, and most Americans are not even aware of it. This race is not \[about\] political prestige or military… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/a-new-space-race-has-begun-and-most-americans-are-not-even-aware-of/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [In science there is a dictum: don't add an experiment to an experiment. Don't make things unnecessarily complicated. In writing fiction, the more fantastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/in-science-there-is-a-dictum-don-t-add-an-experiment-to-an-experiment/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [Omni is not a science magazine. It is a magazine about the future...Omni was sui generis. Although there were plenty of science magazines over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/omni-is-not-a-science-magazine-it-is-a-magazine-about-the-future-omni/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [“The art of fiction has not changed much since prehistoric times. The formula for telling a powerful story has remained the same: create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/the-art-of-fiction-has-not-changed-much-since-prehistoric-times-the/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [ Up here \[in space\], you're free. Really free, for the first time in your life. All the laws and rules and prejudices they've been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/up-here-in-space-you-re-free-really-free-for-the-first-time-in-your/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [Don't ask your readers to admire your words when you want them to believe your story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/don-t-ask-your-readers-to-admire-your-words-when-you-want-them-to/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [Red tape has killed more people than bullets...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/red-tape-has-killed-more-people-than-bullets/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [I think it's perfectly OK to exploit the moon. Largely for two reasons: there's no life there, and it is close enough and rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/i-think-it-s-perfectly-ok-to-exploit-the-moon-largely-for-two-reasons/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [As long as we're tied to Middle Eastern oil we're tied to Middle Eastern politics. We're hostages to the terrorists and nutcases who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/as-long-as-we-re-tied-to-middle-eastern-oil-we-re-tied-to-middle/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [“When we do this thing, we admit failure. We admit fear—yes, terror. We are terrified of a new idea, a new scientific discovery. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/when-we-do-this-thing-we-admit-failure-we-admit-fear-yes-terror-we/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [The Old Ones knew that life is not rare, but precious; not fragile, but vulnerable. Life is as deep as the seas in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/the-old-ones-knew-that-life-is-not-rare-but-precious-not-fragile-but/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [When I started understanding how science works, it occurred to me that there just is no evidence that there is a God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/when-i-started-understanding-how-science-works-it-occurred-to-me-that/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [“My first sight of the fabled warrior was a surprise. He was not a mighty-thewed giant, like Ajax. His body was not broad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/my-first-sight-of-the-fabled-warrior-was-a-surprise-he-was-not-a/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [My first published novel was written for teenagers, and there were rules laid down by the publisher: no sex, no smoking, no swearing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/my-first-published-novel-was-written-for-teenagers-and-there-were/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [“There was precious little nobility in the features of the High King's fleshy face. Like his body, his face was broad and heavy, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/there-was-precious-little-nobility-in-the-features-of-the-high-king-s/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) [Explore all 21 Ben Bova quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) ## More Fanatic quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“Fanatics are those who, when following a doctrine becomes inconvenient, make up rules of their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathryn-louis/fanatics-are-those-who-when-following-a-doctrine-becomes-inconvenient/) [Cathryn Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathryn-louis/) > [I didn't really grow up a comic book fanatic. I was a big baseball player, and my passion in life, in third grade, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ritchson/i-didn-t-really-grow-up-a-comic-book-fanatic-i-was-a-big-baseball/) [Alan Ritchson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ritchson/) > [A noble person stands up as though a theater curtain rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-noble-person-stands-up-as-though-a-theater-curtain-rises/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-worst-vice-of-a-fanatic-is-his-sincerity/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I am a cookbook fanatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-bee/i-am-a-cookbook-fanatic/) [Samantha Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-bee/) > [I'm a London fanatic. That's my city. I love being from there, you don't appreciate it until you go out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/i-m-a-london-fanatic-that-s-my-city-i-love-being-from-there-you-don-t/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [I'm a racehorse fanatic rather than a football fanatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcmanaman/i-m-a-racehorse-fanatic-rather-than-a-football-fanatic/) Steve McManaman > [I am a sports fanatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urvashi-rautela/i-am-a-sports-fanatic/) [Urvashi Rautela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urvashi-rautela/) > [Subconsciously it is possible to act, consciously it is possible to decide and overconsciously to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/subconsciously-it-is-possible-to-act-consciously-it-is-possible-to/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [I Am More Spiritual Than Religious; Besides I Am Not A Fanatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aamir-khan/i-am-more-spiritual-than-religious-besides-i-am-not-a-fanatic/) [Aamir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aamir-khan/) > [“Some people in orthodox churches in Africa take poverty as a path that leads to heaven, making christianity look unattractive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/some-people-in-orthodox-churches-in-africa-take-poverty-as-a-path/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) Browse all 214 Fanatic quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A fanatic who is willing to die for his cause thinks nothing of killing you for his cause.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Bova" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his-cause-thinks-nothing-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fanatic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his-cause-thinks-nothing-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/ben-bova-26822_willing-to-die_a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his_1031775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/ben-bova-26822_willing-to-die_a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his_1031775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/ben-bova-26822_willing-to-die_a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his_1031775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A fanatic who is willing to die for his cause thinks nothing of killing you for his cause.” — Ben Bova", "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": "Ben Bova", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A fanatic who is willing to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his-cause-thinks-nothing-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/a-fanatic-who-is-willing-to-die-for-his-cause-thinks-nothing-of/#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 } } ] } ```