--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, I ask you, had you not rather be…" description: "\"Now, I ask you, had you not rather be killed than to be a slave to a tyrant, who takes the life of your mother, wife, and dear little children? Look up..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/david-walker-24529_almighty_now-i-ask-you-had-you-not-rather-be-kill_2278260.jpg" --- # Now, I ask you, had you not rather be killed than to be a… ![“Now, I ask you, had you not rather be killed than to be a slave to a tyrant, who takes the life of your mother, wife, and dear little children? Look upon your mother, wife and children, and answer God Almighty; and believe this, that it is no more harm for you to kill a man who is trying to kill…” quote by David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/david-walker-24529_almighty_now-i-ask-you-had-you-not-rather-be-kill_2278260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/david-walker-24529_almighty_now-i-ask-you-had-you-not-rather-be-kill_2278260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/david-walker-24529_almighty_now-i-ask-you-had-you-not-rather-be-kill_2278260.jpg) > “Now, I ask you, had you not rather be killed than to be a slave to a tyrant, who takes the life of your mother, wife, and dear little children? Look upon your mother, wife and children, and answer God Almighty; and believe this, that it is no more harm for you to kill a man who is trying to kill you, than it is for you to take a drink of water when thirsty.” [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Killing a tyrant who threatens one’s family is morally permissible, akin to taking water when thirsty. **In simple terms:** Self‑defense against oppression can be justified. Key Takeaway Defend loved ones when threatened. Themes justice self‑defense morality Mood serious thought‑provoking Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - war - personal safety - family protection Key Concepts ethical justification human rights civil resistance Questions to Reflect On - When is lethal force justified? - What alternatives exist to violent resistance? A Different Perspective Violence may perpetuate cycles of conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Almighty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almighty/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Ask Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-killed-4624085/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Be a slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-a-slave/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [God almighty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-almighty/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [Kill Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-man/) [Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Look up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-up/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Thirsty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirsty/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-kill/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [“I didn’t even do anything.” “You did ask her if she killed Petrov. I think your exact words were, ‘You whacked him, didn’t you?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/i-didn-t-even-do-anything-you-did-ask-her-if-she-killed-petrov-i/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [It's an odd feeling, knowing someone is trying to kill you. On the front line, you learn quickly that if you're in the path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-kemp/it-s-an-odd-feeling-knowing-someone-is-trying-to-kill-you-on-the/) [Ross Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-kemp/) > [“It's hard to think when someone's trying to kill you. We human beings aren't wired to be rational and creative when we know our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/it-s-hard-to-think-when-someone-s-trying-to-kill-you-we-human-beings/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Last time I saw him he tried to murder me. But when you're trying to kill someone by chopping their head off, rolling them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mochrie/last-time-i-saw-him-he-tried-to-murder-me-but-when-you-re-trying-to/) [Colin Mochrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mochrie/) > [Time is that which a man is always trying to kill, but which ends in killing him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/time-is-that-which-a-man-is-always-trying-to-kill-but-which-ends-in/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“My cousin tried to kill me today," he said. He realized that his voice held an edge of hysteria. "She nearly succeeded. 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Sometimes before you die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/life-is-trying-to-kill-us-she-says-life-malone-thinks-is-trying-to/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [The bank...is trying to kill me, but I will kill it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-bank-is-trying-to-kill-me-but-i-will-kill-it/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [The voices in my head are trying to kill me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suicidal-scars/the-voices-in-my-head-are-trying-to-kill-me/) [Suicidal\_scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suicidal-scars/) > [I'm not trying to kill you, I only want to make you stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-thompson/i-m-not-trying-to-kill-you-i-only-want-to-make-you-stronger/) [Shaun Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-thompson/) > [At least no one's trying to kill anyone. Give them about fifteen minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/at-least-no-one-s-trying-to-kill-anyone-give-them-about-fifteen/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [What’s going on? (Astrid) Not much. Some invincible asshole is trying to kill me. (Zarek)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/what-s-going-on-astrid-not-much-some-invincible-asshole-is-trying-to/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [That did it. I'd gone through a lot in the past few days. Everyone I met seemed to want a piece of me: djinn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/that-did-it-i-d-gone-through-a-lot-in-the-past-few-days-everyone-i/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [Frostpine made a face. Lifting the cup, he dumped its contents down his throat. “Auugghh!” he yelled, his voice stronger than it had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/frostpine-made-a-face-lifting-the-cup-he-dumped-its-contents-down-his/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) ## More by David Walker > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Lord, please give me big ears and a thoughtful mind. Teach me to ask well and see it through other’s eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/lord-please-give-me-big-ears-and-a-thoughtful-mind-teach-me-to-ask/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [“The blacks or coloured people are treated more cruel by the white Christans of America than devils themselves ever treated a set of men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-blacks-or-coloured-people-are-treated-more-cruel-by-the-white/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Well, mines was a sub machine gun. That was my personal weapon with being the first person in the patrol. I used to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/well-mines-was-a-sub-machine-gun-that-was-my-personal-weapon-with/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Usually the way to screw up some good fishing is to have a tournament. This just keeps getting better and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/usually-the-way-to-screw-up-some-good-fishing-is-to-have-a-tournament/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Karate is not about winning over others. It is about winning over one's self. Ultimately, the most challenging opponents we face reside from within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/karate-is-not-about-winning-over-others-it-is-about-winning-over-one/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Well, it was just, the bars was all just like the bamboo roofs and everything. You know. As I say, to me, it's completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/well-it-was-just-the-bars-was-all-just-like-the-bamboo-roofs-and/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Church should be a place where love is evident, God delivers, lives are changed, hearts are healed, and families restored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/church-should-be-a-place-where-love-is-evident-god-delivers-lives-are/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Allowing God to charge our lives that we may empower people around us to live In a greater relationship with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/allowing-god-to-charge-our-lives-that-we-may-empower-people-around-us/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Let no man of us budge one step, and let slaveholders come to beat us from our country. America is more our country, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/let-no-man-of-us-budge-one-step-and-let-slaveholders-come-to-beat-us/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [It certainly makes sense to expand the pulp industry in Indonesia, .. It's clear that it will be a very competitive exporter of pulp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/it-certainly-makes-sense-to-expand-the-pulp-industry-in-indonesia-it/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Just five years ago, it was almost impossible to waste a million dollars building a Web site.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/just-five-years-ago-it-was-almost-impossible-to-waste-a-million/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Karate is for life, not points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/karate-is-for-life-not-points/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [I may be doomed to the stake and the fire, or to the scaffold tree, but it is not in me to falter if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/i-may-be-doomed-to-the-stake-and-the-fire-or-to-the-scaffold-tree-but/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [In contrast, the 'Old Europe' channels were showing film from reporters who had embedded themselves at the wrong end of the Baghdad blitz and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/in-contrast-the-old-europe-channels-were-showing-film-from-reporters/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) [Explore all 24 David Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) ## More Almighty quotes > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“The LORD Almighty is our very present helper at all times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-lord-almighty-is-our-very-present-helper-at-all-times/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I really appreciate leaders from around the globe who have come to share in prayer with us today. It reminds me that the Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-really-appreciate-leaders-from-around-the-globe-who-have-come-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Thi is the malady onf the humans, that they can hold on to that which is fleeting and of little consequence and call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fabry/thi-is-the-malady-onf-the-humans-that-they-can-hold-on-to-that-which/) [Chris Fabry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fabry/) > [There is nothing more appalling than the wholesale way in which unthinking people plead to the Almighty the richest and most spiritual of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-drummond/there-is-nothing-more-appalling-than-the-wholesale-way-in-which/) [William Henry Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-drummond/) > [And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/and-upon-this-act-sincerely-believed-to-be-an-act-of-justice/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) > [When you hear somebody justifying a war by citing the Almighty, I get a little worried, frankly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-reagan/when-you-hear-somebody-justifying-a-war-by-citing-the-almighty-i-get/) [Ron Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-reagan/) > [My journey deep into coma, outside this lowly physical realm and into the loftiest dwelling place of the almighty Creator, revealed the indescribably immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/my-journey-deep-into-coma-outside-this-lowly-physical-realm-and-into/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/people-of-the-philippines-i-have-returned-by-the-grace-of-almighty/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is mind-boggling to me that the Almighty power created everything I see; the Bible says that God created the entire universe just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-is-mind-boggling-to-me-that-the-almighty-power-created-everything/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If there is anyone who loves you more than you love yourself are your mother and almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/if-there-is-anyone-who-loves-you-more-than-you-love-yourself-are-your/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I'm not denyin' the women are foolish. God Almighty made 'em to match the men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-m-not-denyin-the-women-are-foolish-god-almighty-made-em-to-match/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) [Browse all 723 Almighty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almighty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Now, I ask you, had you not rather be killed than to be a slave to a tyrant, who takes the life of your mother, wife, and dear little children? 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