--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: --I truly and deeply wanted to kill him…" description: "\"--I truly and deeply wanted to kill him. And I believe I could have done it, with nothing but my hands. But all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Peter had ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/david-james-duncan-8032_arms_i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-an_109472.png" --- # --I truly and deeply wanted to kill him. And I believe I… ![“--I truly and deeply wanted to kill him. And I believe I could have done it, with nothing but my hands. But all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Peter had an arm around me. "Let it go, Kade," he was whispering very gently, though his arm was nearly crushing me. "Open your fists," he said, "and let go…” quote by David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/david-james-duncan-8032_arms_i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-an_109472.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/david-james-duncan-8032_arms_i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-an_109472.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/david-james-duncan-8032_arms_i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-an_109472.png) > “--I truly and deeply wanted to kill him. And I believe I could have done it, with nothing but my hands. But all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Peter had an arm around me. "Let it go, Kade," he was whispering very gently, though his arm was nearly crushing me. "Open your fists," he said, "and let go of the coals.” [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character wrestles with violent intent until a compassionate friend intervenes, urging release of anger and emotional pain symbolized by 'coals'. **In simple terms:** Friendship can halt violent urges and soothe inner fire. Key Takeaway Compassionate intervention can transform destructive impulses. Themes friendship violence emotional healing self‑control Mood tense hopeful Type narrative psychological When to use this quote - Conflict de‑escalation training - Therapeutic role‑play - Mentorship situations Key Concepts emotional regulation interpersonal influence Practical Applications - Teach active listening to defuse aggression Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms allow a friend’s touch to calm violent thoughts? - When is professional intervention necessary? A Different Perspective The metaphor of 'coals' may oversimplify complex trauma that often requires professional help beyond peer support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Whispering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whispering/) ## Related quotes > [“Thanks for not talking with your fists,” I said. I have a little sister, and I’m not sure I’d be as understanding with any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lish-mcbride/thanks-for-not-talking-with-your-fists-i-said-i-have-a-little-sister/) [Lish McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lish-mcbride/) > [I got into lots of fights at school: I'd get racially abused, then lash out. One day, this kid said something and instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/i-got-into-lots-of-fights-at-school-i-d-get-racially-abused-then-lash/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [With 'Silver Linings,' I didn't feel - I was thinking of certain things, but I just said, 'Let me go with it.' You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/with-silver-linings-i-didn-t-feel-i-was-thinking-of-certain-things/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [“If there is a life after this one," he said, "let me meet you in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-there-is-a-life-after-this-one-he-said-let-me-meet-you-in-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [A few people have said I should let you win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usain-bolt/a-few-people-have-said-i-should-let-you-win/) [Usain Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usain-bolt/) > [“You love your country," she said. "I can't let you give all that up." He caught a glimmer of pain and hope in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-love-your-country-she-said-i-can-t-let-you-give-all-that-up-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I've always said never let anyone tell you who you are. What I think I mean is never let anyone control how you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-diggs/i-ve-always-said-never-let-anyone-tell-you-who-you-are-what-i-think-i/) Karla Diggs > [From all I did and all I said let no one try to find out who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-p-cavafy/from-all-i-did-and-all-i-said-let-no-one-try-to-find-out-who-i-was/) [C.P. Cavafy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-p-cavafy/) > [Honestly. I will always be hoping and waiting for you. I said I'd let go, but I can't, I just can't stop loving you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honestly-i-will-always-be-hoping-and-waiting-for-you-i-said-i-d-let/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If I truly loved him, she said, I would let him go. I wish I loved him enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/if-i-truly-loved-him-she-said-i-would-let-him-go-i-wish-i-loved-him/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [“No, it’s okay,” I said. “Let’s just go”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/no-it-s-okay-i-said-let-s-just-go/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [He said, first let's just unzip your religion down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/he-said-first-let-s-just-unzip-your-religion-down/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I will not fall in love with you," she said. "I can't let myself. I won't." "That's all right. I'll love you enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/i-will-not-fall-in-love-with-you-she-said-i-can-t-let-myself-i-won-t/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Before he could say anything, "I told him; I have had my share of boys".He drew me closer and said "let me your man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pushpa-rana/before-he-could-say-anything-i-told-him-i-have-had-my-share-of-boys/) [Pushpa Rana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pushpa-rana/) > [“For I am no orator. What would I have said if they had let me go on? That it is worse to beat a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/for-i-am-no-orator-what-would-i-have-said-if-they-had-let-me-go-on/) [J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/) ## More by David James Duncan > [“Because I wasn’t anything anymore. Not anythingI love or know or care about. Because thou shalt not kill, Kade. Thou shalt not kill. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/because-i-wasn-t-anything-anymore-not-anythingi-love-or-know-or-care/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [Our lack of community is intensely painful. A TV talk show is not community. A couple of hours in a church pew each Sabbath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/our-lack-of-community-is-intensely-painful-a-tv-talk-show-is-not/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“It was so good to see him in there, yet so funny to find him so much like me, and so tiny. "Nice kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/it-was-so-good-to-see-him-in-there-yet-so-funny-to-find-him-so-much/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“Bobby Edson, like most coaches, was a kind of mystic: he believed the cosmos was endowed with an ineffable muffling system that rendered all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/bobby-edson-like-most-coaches-was-a-kind-of-mystic-he-believed-the/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“Papa was no longer fixing a carburetor: he was setting up a greasy little Cuban missile base smack-dab in the middle of Mama’s immaculate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/papa-was-no-longer-fixing-a-carburetor-he-was-setting-up-a-greasy/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“The Austrian writer Robert Musil summed up the Fanatic's great rhetorical advantage in just ten words: There is no truth which stupidity can't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/the-austrian-writer-robert-musil-summed-up-the-fanatic-s-great/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“Is the work of sun worshippers to honor those who think they can see the sun? Or to worship the sun?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/is-the-work-of-sun-worshippers-to-honor-those-who-think-they-can-see/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“Peter didn’t want to change the world: he wanted to fully comprehend it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/peter-didn-t-want-to-change-the-world-he-wanted-to-fully-comprehend-it/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“It is a rare high school teacher who enjoys seeing their world being enormously improved upon by youths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/it-is-a-rare-high-school-teacher-who-enjoys-seeing-their-world-being/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [The principles that will save Earth's life are the same principles that save the living souls of humans: ineluctable spiritual principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/the-principles-that-will-save-earth-s-life-are-the-same-principles/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“I’m just saying that his card-burning would have meant far more, on the day he did it, if he hadn’t already incinerated his life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/i-m-just-saying-that-his-card-burning-would-have-meant-far-more-on/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“I gave him everything from my lunches I hate, which is called Charity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/i-gave-him-everything-from-my-lunches-i-hate-which-is-called-charity/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“If we can’t be ballplayers together, maybe I can start bein’ a Buddhist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/if-we-can-t-be-ballplayers-together-maybe-i-can-start-bein-a-buddhist/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [As a lifelong student of the world’s wisdom literature, it is my duty to inform students that “ridding the world of evil” is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/as-a-lifelong-student-of-the-world-s-wisdom-literature-it-is-my-duty/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“that was the thing about nature: make one lousy rule to describe it and it'll contradict you even if it has to transmogrify and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/that-was-the-thing-about-nature-make-one-lousy-rule-to-describe-it/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) [Explore all 85 David James Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "--I truly and deeply wanted to kill him. And I believe I could have done it, with nothing but my hands. But all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Peter had an arm around me. \"Let it go, Kade,\" he was whispering very gently, though his arm was nearly crushing me. \"Open your fists,\" he said, \"and let go of the coals.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David James Duncan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-and-i-believe-i-could-have-done/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-and-i-believe-i-could-have-done/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/david-james-duncan-8032_arms_i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-an_109472.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/david-james-duncan-8032_arms_i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-an_109472.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/david-james-duncan-8032_arms_i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-an_109472.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“--I truly and deeply wanted to kill him. And I believe I could have done it, with nothing but my hands. But…” — David James Duncan", "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": "David James Duncan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "--I truly and deeply wanted to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-and-i-believe-i-could-have-done/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/i-truly-and-deeply-wanted-to-kill-him-and-i-believe-i-could-have-done/#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 } } ] } ```