--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't have a gun. But I think they…" description: "\"I don't have a gun. But I think they level the playing field. I accept that there's really nothing you can do about it. It's like nuclear weapons; if t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/doug-stanhope-1528_acceptance_i-don-t-have-a-gun-but-i-think-they-leve_1898205.png" --- # I don't have a gun. But I think they level the playing… ![“I don't have a gun. But I think they level the playing field. I accept that there's really nothing you can do about it. It's like nuclear weapons; if they exist then eventually other people are going to have them. Maybe just take away people's motivation to use them.” quote by Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/doug-stanhope-1528_acceptance_i-don-t-have-a-gun-but-i-think-they-leve_1898205.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/doug-stanhope-1528_acceptance_i-don-t-have-a-gun-but-i-think-they-leve_1898205.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/doug-stanhope-1528_acceptance_i-don-t-have-a-gun-but-i-think-they-leve_1898205.png) > “I don't have a gun. But I think they level the playing field. I accept that there's really nothing you can do about it. It's like nuclear weapons; if they exist then eventually other people are going to have them. Maybe just take away people's motivation to use them.” [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful weapons create a balance of fear, limiting individual agency and motivation to act. **In simple terms:** Weapons deter action. Key Takeaway Recognize how fear shapes choices. Themes power control fear politics Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - political debates - personal safety decisions - military policy discussions Key Concepts deterrence weaponization social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Do you think fear always limits freedom? - How can societies mitigate fear without disarmament? A Different Perspective The analogy may oversimplify complex social factors beyond weapons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Playing fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-fields/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [As long as nuclear weapons exist, the chances of survival of the human species are quite slight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/as-long-as-nuclear-weapons-exist-the-chances-of-survival-of-the-human/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [If you think black people have a motivation problem, open up a Wal-Mart and advertise a thousand jobs. Watch 5,000 people show up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/if-you-think-black-people-have-a-motivation-problem-open-up-a-wal/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [It is hard not to feel that there must be something very wrong with much of what we do in school, if we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holt/it-is-hard-not-to-feel-that-there-must-be-something-very-wrong-with/) [John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holt/) > [Our love of people has always been our motivation and our competitive advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelieu-dennis/our-love-of-people-has-always-been-our-motivation-and-our-competitive/) [Richelieu Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelieu-dennis/) > [The possibility that terrorist groups could obtain weapons of mass destruction should not be dismissed as a fiction. This is a horrific threat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/the-possibility-that-terrorist-groups-could-obtain-weapons-of-mass/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [As long as nuclear weapons exist, there is a risk that they will be used. And the consequences of their use would be catastrophic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-wallstrom/as-long-as-nuclear-weapons-exist-there-is-a-risk-that-they-will-be/) [Margot Wallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-wallstrom/) > [This means that the only function of nuclear weapons, while they exist, is to deter a nuclear attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rotblat/this-means-that-the-only-function-of-nuclear-weapons-while-they-exist/) [Joseph Rotblat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-rotblat/) > [Whether weapons exist in Iraq, Saddam Hussein or post-Saddam Hussein, it is a serious enough issue that require that we continue to go and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/whether-weapons-exist-in-iraq-saddam-hussein-or-post-saddam-hussein/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [The truth is, as long as nuclear weapons exist, we are not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-truth-is-as-long-as-nuclear-weapons-exist-we-are-not-safe/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Treat your Life like a gun think before you pull the trigger,before it's too late you'll be another dead nigga…dead nigga rest in Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boat-grandberry/treat-your-life-like-a-gun-think-before-you-pull-the-trigger-before/) Boat\_Grandberry > [“Flowers said, “I got two bottles of water in the car.” “Get them. And get your gun,” Lucas said. “The gun? You think?” “No.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sandford/flowers-said-i-got-two-bottles-of-water-in-the-car-get-them-and-get/) [John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sandford/) > [I don't care if you want to hunt, I don't care if you think it's your right. I say, sorry, you are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-o-donnell/i-don-t-care-if-you-want-to-hunt-i-don-t-care-if-you-think-it-s-your/) [Rosie O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-o-donnell/) > [“He pulled the gun from his waist, running it along my cheek and back down to my lips. I blinked back the tears at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hood/he-pulled-the-gun-from-his-waist-running-it-along-my-cheek-and-back/) [Holly Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hood/) > [I shouldn't have sat on death row 30 years. All they had to do was test the gun. But when you think you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-shouldn-t-have-sat-on-death-row-30-years-all-they-had-to-do-was/) [Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/) ## More by Doug Stanhope > [I had no musical or athletic ability, and I wasn't particularly good looking. Comedy was something I could do for attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-had-no-musical-or-athletic-ability-and-i-wasn-t-particularly-good/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Jesus died for your sins. I'm doing it for your mere entertainment dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/jesus-died-for-your-sins-i-m-doing-it-for-your-mere-entertainment/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [I believe that everyone should be treated as an individual. Women should be treated equally in the right to vote, sure. But if Im…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-believe-that-everyone-should-be-treated-as-an-individual-women/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [They say 'life is precious'. To who? To you, when you're young and you've got a few dollars in your pocket. Tell that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/they-say-life-is-precious-to-who-to-you-when-you-re-young-and-you-ve/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [The ultimate act of cowardice is the fat-headed wrestling guy sitting behind the frail kid in math class, clipping him on the ear, saying:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-ultimate-act-of-cowardice-is-the-fat-headed-wrestling-guy-sitting/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [There's no such thing as addiction, there's only things that you enjoy doing more than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/there-s-no-such-thing-as-addiction-there-s-only-things-that-you-enjoy/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [ The whole acting and Hollywood \[thing\], it's just work to me. Stand-up comedy ruins you so badly for doing television. I don't really need… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-whole-acting-and-hollywood-thing-it-s-just-work-to-me-stand-up/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [You should laugh everywhere you can find even the slightest glimmer of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/you-should-laugh-everywhere-you-can-find-even-the-slightest-glimmer/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [I have no fear of death, except I hate waiting for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-have-no-fear-of-death-except-i-hate-waiting-for-it/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Everybody's angry. They've got nothing to be angry at, so they're angry about nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/everybody-s-angry-they-ve-got-nothing-to-be-angry-at-so-they-re-angry/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [People who want to kill other people are the last people I want to party with, because I get mouthy when I drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/people-who-want-to-kill-other-people-are-the-last-people-i-want-to/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Democracy is the worst kind of government, I'm sorry. Would you still call yourself a Christian if they elected a new Jesus every four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/democracy-is-the-worst-kind-of-government-i-m-sorry-would-you-still/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [You forget, when you're in the Scandinavian countries, you forget they don't speak English first and they speak better than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/you-forget-when-you-re-in-the-scandinavian-countries-you-forget-they/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Life's temporary for a reason, it gets boring after awhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/life-s-temporary-for-a-reason-it-gets-boring-after-awhile/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [The more business gets involved, the less fun it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-more-business-gets-involved-the-less-fun-it-is/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) [Explore all 230 Doug Stanhope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't have a gun. But I think they level the playing field. I accept that there's really nothing you can do about it. It's like nuclear weapons; if they exist then eventually other people are going to have them. 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