--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Savage, despicable evil. That's what we…" description: "\"Savage, despicable evil. That's what we were fighting in Iraq.\" — Chris Kyle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/chris-kyle-8574_evil_savage-despicable-evil-that-s-what-we-we_2680005.jpg" --- # Savage, despicable evil. That's what we were fighting in… ![“Savage, despicable evil. That's what we were fighting in Iraq.” quote by Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/chris-kyle-8574_evil_savage-despicable-evil-that-s-what-we-we_2680005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/chris-kyle-8574_evil_savage-despicable-evil-that-s-what-we-we_2680005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/chris-kyle-8574_evil_savage-despicable-evil-that-s-what-we-we_2680005.jpg) > “Savage, despicable evil. That's what we were fighting in Iraq.” [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The conflict in Iraq was driven by a deep, despicable evil that demanded decisive action. **In simple terms:** Iraq war fought against terrible evil. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront profound evil. Themes war morality evil Mood somber critical Type ethical political When to use this quote - military strategy - policy debate - public awareness Key Concepts just war theory ethical combat Questions to Reflect On - What defines “evil” in war? - How can we address root causes? A Different Perspective Labeling complex conflicts as purely evil can oversimplify causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despicable Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despicable-evil-2572537/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-fighting-2572539/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fighting Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-iraq-784225/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Savage Despicable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savage-despicable-2572538/) [Savages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savages/) ## Related quotes > [Savage, despicable evil. That's what we were fighting in Iraq. That's why a lot of people, myself included, called the enemy 'savages.' There really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/savage-despicable-evil-that-s-what-we-were-fighting-in-iraq-that-s/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [History is full of instances of people who challenged the mighty forces of evil and they were not only fighting a lonely battle but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asghar-ali-engineer/history-is-full-of-instances-of-people-who-challenged-the-mighty/) [Asghar Ali Engineer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asghar-ali-engineer/) > [Our men and women fighting in Iraq are held accountable for their performance and their conduct. On duty and off, twenty-four hours a day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/our-men-and-women-fighting-in-iraq-are-held-accountable-for-their/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [I learned a thing or two about urban warfare from my time fighting in Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/i-learned-a-thing-or-two-about-urban-warfare-from-my-time-fighting-in/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [The effect of the discovery of printing was evident in the savage religious wars of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Application of power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-innis/the-effect-of-the-discovery-of-printing-was-evident-in-the-savage/) [Harold Innis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-innis/) > [Then he raised her enough to whisper in her ear, and while his voice was tender, his words were savage. "You're my woman, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/then-he-raised-her-enough-to-whisper-in-her-ear-and-while-his-voice/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [In certain savage tribes in New Guinea, they put the old people up in the trees and shake them once a year in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dos-passos/in-certain-savage-tribes-in-new-guinea-they-put-the-old-people-up-in/) [John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dos-passos/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I did not join the resistance movement to kill people, to kill the nation. Look at me now. Am I a savage person? My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pol-pot/i-did-not-join-the-resistance-movement-to-kill-people-to-kill-the/) [Pol Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pol-pot/) > [When forced to survive in an apocalyptic world, there are some characters that embrace their higher selves with some emerging as natural born leaders,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/when-forced-to-survive-in-an-apocalyptic-world-there-are-some/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [Hitler recruited around him homosexuals to make up his Stormtroopers, they were his enforcers, they were his thugs. And Hitler discovered that he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fischer/hitler-recruited-around-him-homosexuals-to-make-up-his-stormtroopers/) [Bryan Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fischer/) > [Mine was, as it were, the connecting link between wild and cultivated fields; as some states are civilized, and others half-civilized, and others savage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/mine-was-as-it-were-the-connecting-link-between-wild-and-cultivated/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-the-savages-of-louisiana-wish-to-have-fruit-they-cut-the-tree-at/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [The combative instinct is a savage prompting by which one man's good is found in another's evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-combative-instinct-is-a-savage-prompting-by-which-one-man-s-good/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More by Chris Kyle > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [But even before I was in the military, I was extremely jumpy when asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/but-even-before-i-was-in-the-military-i-was-extremely-jumpy-when/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [I'm trying to raise the awareness of the troops that, when they deploy and go to war, it's not just them at war -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/i-m-trying-to-raise-the-awareness-of-the-troops-that-when-they-deploy/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [I am not a fan of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/i-am-not-a-fan-of-politics/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [After I was discharged from the military, it was difficult trying to become a civilian,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/after-i-was-discharged-from-the-military-it-was-difficult-trying-to/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [When you’re working with Army and Marine Corps units, you immediately notice a difference. The Army is pretty tough, but their performance can depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/when-you-re-working-with-army-and-marine-corps-units-you-immediately/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [MY REGRETS ARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE I COULDN’T SAVE—Marines, soldiers, my buddies. I still feel their loss. I still ache for my failure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/my-regrets-are-about-the-people-i-couldn-t-save-marines-soldiers-my/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [Maybe war isn’t really fun, but I certainly was enjoying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/maybe-war-isn-t-really-fun-but-i-certainly-was-enjoying-it/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [I am a much better father and husband than I ever was a sniper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/i-am-a-much-better-father-and-husband-than-i-ever-was-a-sniper/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [If you see anyone from about sixteen to sixty-five and they’re male, shoot ’em. Kill every male you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/if-you-see-anyone-from-about-sixteen-to-sixty-five-and-they-re-male/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [“I certainly found most of the Marines and soldiers I worked with to be top-notch. You had your exceptions—but then you have your exceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/i-certainly-found-most-of-the-marines-and-soldiers-i-worked-with-to/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [“We killed the bad guys and brought the leaders to the peace table. That is how the world works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/we-killed-the-bad-guys-and-brought-the-leaders-to-the-peace-table/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [Im not a redneck, Im from Texas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/im-not-a-redneck-im-from-texas/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [If you hate the war, that’s fine. But you should still support the troops. They don’t get to pick where they’re deployed. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/if-you-hate-the-war-that-s-fine-but-you-should-still-support-the/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [People tell me I saved hundreds and hundreds of people. But I have to tell you: it’s not the people you saved that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/people-tell-me-i-saved-hundreds-and-hundreds-of-people-but-i-have-to/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) [Explore all 79 Chris Kyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) ## More Evil quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Water is so friendly when you have it on your palms, but so evil when they have you on theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/water-is-so-friendly-when-you-have-it-on-your-palms-but-so-evil-when/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) [Browse all 11,163 Evil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Savage, despicable evil. 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