--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every once in a while, I get the urge…" description: "\"“Every once in a while, I get the urge. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? The urge for destruction. The urge to hurt, maim, kill. It’s quite ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/derek-landy-826_beasts_every-once-in-a-while-i-get-the-urge-you_1276414.png" --- # Every once in a while, I get the urge. You know what I’m… ![“Every once in a while, I get the urge. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? The urge for destruction. The urge to hurt, maim, kill. It’s quite a thing, to experience that urge, to let it wash over you, to give in to it. It’s addictive. It’s all-consuming. You lose yourself to it. It’s…” quote by Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/derek-landy-826_beasts_every-once-in-a-while-i-get-the-urge-you_1276414.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/derek-landy-826_beasts_every-once-in-a-while-i-get-the-urge-you_1276414.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/derek-landy-826_beasts_every-once-in-a-while-i-get-the-urge-you_1276414.png) > ““Every once in a while, I get the urge. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? The urge for destruction. The urge to hurt, maim, kill. It’s quite a thing, to experience that urge, to let it wash over you, to give in to it. It’s addictive. It’s all-consuming. You lose yourself to it. It’s quite, quite wonderful. I can feel it, even as I speak, tapping around the edges of my mind, trying to prise me open, slip its fingers in. And it would be so easy to let it happen. But we’re all like that, aren’t we? We’re all barbarians at our core. We’re all savage, murderous beasts. I know I am. I’m sure you are. The only difference between us, Mr Prave, is how loudly we roar. I know I roar very loudly indeed. How about you? Do you think you can match me?”” [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage explores a primal urge for destruction, acknowledging its allure and the struggle to control it, framing humanity as inherently savage. **In simple terms:** It describes a tempting, destructive impulse that feels powerful and universal. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage destructive impulses. Themes psychology human nature violence self‑control identity Mood intense provocative Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy - creative writing - conflict resolution Key Concepts aggression inner conflict self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - What triggers such urges in you? - How can we channel aggression constructively? A Different Perspective The glorification of the urge could be dangerous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beasts/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [China-sorrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china-sorrows-31436/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death-bringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-bringer-43398/) [Destruction Urge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction-urge-4109009/) [Experience Urge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-urge-2752986/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Lose yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-yourself/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Roar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roar/) [Urge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urge/) [Urge Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urge-destruction-4109010/) [Urge Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urge-hurt-4109011/) ## Related quotes > [“The man had a smooth voice, like velvet. “I’m Detective Inspector Me. Unusual name, I know. My family were incredibly narcissistic. I’m lucky I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-man-had-a-smooth-voice-like-velvet-i-m-detective-inspector-me/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“You hear things." "Do I?" "People talk to you." "I am very approachable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/you-hear-things-do-i-people-talk-to-you-i-am-very-approachable/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [The urge for destruction is also a creative urge!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-urge-for-destruction-is-also-a-creative-urge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There are times when creation can be achieved only through destruction. 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Valkyrie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/but-if-you-can-confront-your-inner-demons-i-did-confront-my-inner/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“What does a clue look like?" Tanith whispered. Stephanie fought the giggle down and whispered back. "I'm looking for a footprint or something." "Have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-does-a-clue-look-like-tanith-whispered-stephanie-fought-the/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“He took her hand in his and knelt before her. Valkyrie looked at him. He was serious. (...)'Dude, I'm sixteen.' 'I love you.' 'That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-took-her-hand-in-his-and-knelt-before-her-valkyrie-looked-at-him/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [What?" she asked again. He pointed ahead of them. "See that?" "What, the snow?" "Beyond that." "More snow?" "Stop looking at the snow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-she-asked-again-he-pointed-ahead-of-them-see-that-what-the-snow/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [The Baron, unfortunately, turns it all the way up to eleven." "Seriously? Because, you know, that's one more evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-baron-unfortunately-turns-it-all-the-way-up-to-eleven-seriously/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Valkyrie walked over to her. Since she had met her, all she'd wanted to do was punch her face in. But that was when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/valkyrie-walked-over-to-her-since-she-had-met-her-all-she-d-wanted-to/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“I've always been a monster,' Scapegrace told her, 'but now, finally, my physical for reflects my inner darkness.' 'You smell terrible.' 'That's the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-ve-always-been-a-monster-scapegrace-told-her-but-now-finally-my/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [The rain battered the cottage. Valkyrie risked a look up at Skulduggery. “What is it?” she whispered. “It’s a box,” he whispered back. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-rain-battered-the-cottage-valkyrie-risked-a-look-up-at/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losing-there-is-won-and-there-is/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“He liked murder. Murder and long walks had been two of his favorite things when he was younger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-liked-murder-murder-and-long-walks-had-been-two-of-his-favorite/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Of course I want to kill you," said Skulduggery. "I want to kill most people. But then where would I be? 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More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/nature-teaches-beasts-to-know-their-friends/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Beasts abstract not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/beasts-abstract-not/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“I've known humans, and I know beasts. The beast is better. It is unpretentious. It kills for food. 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But these people saved me, and gave me the softest place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-thought-the-invalids-were-beasts-i-thought-they-would-rip-me-apart/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-commonwealth-of-athens-is-become-a-forest-of-beasts/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Mankind is poised midway between the gods and the beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plotinus/mankind-is-poised-midway-between-the-gods-and-the-beasts/) [Plotinus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plotinus/) > [“Love is the king of the beasts And when it gets hungry it must kill to eat Love is the king of the beasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/love-is-the-king-of-the-beasts-and-when-it-gets-hungry-it-must-kill/) [Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/) > [“The Kingdom of the Lion THE BEASTS of the field and forest had a Lion as their king. He was neither wrathful, cruel, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-kingdom-of-the-lion-the-beasts-of-the-field-and-forest-had-a-lion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every two weeks, a language dies. The world is diminished when it loses its human sayings, just as when it loses its diversity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/every-two-weeks-a-language-dies-the-world-is-diminished-when-it-loses/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [“Men were beasts. Everyone knew that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/men-were-beasts-everyone-knew-that/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [When among wild beasts, if they menace you, be a wild beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/when-among-wild-beasts-if-they-menace-you-be-a-wild-beast/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Browse all 189 Beasts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beasts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Every once in a while, I get the urge. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? The urge for destruction. The urge to hurt, maim, kill. It’s quite a thing, to experience that urge, to let it wash over you, to give in to it. It’s addictive. It’s all-consuming. You lose yourself to it. It’s quite, quite wonderful. I can feel it, even as I speak, tapping around the edges of my mind, trying to prise me open, slip its fingers in. And it would be so easy to let it happen. But we’re all like that, aren’t we? We’re all barbarians at our core. We’re all savage, murderous beasts. I know I am. I’m sure you are. The only difference between us, Mr Prave, is how loudly we roar. I know I roar very loudly indeed. How about you? 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