--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stealing to forgive the killing, because…" description: "\"“Stealing to forgive the killing, because maybe they do out of necessity, but the traitor ever”\" — Emiliano Zapata" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/emiliano-zapata-25533_forgiveness_stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because_1703595.png" --- # Stealing to forgive the killing, because maybe they do out… ![“Stealing to forgive the killing, because maybe they do out of necessity, but the traitor ever” quote by Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/emiliano-zapata-25533_forgiveness_stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because_1703595.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/emiliano-zapata-25533_forgiveness_stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because_1703595.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/emiliano-zapata-25533_forgiveness_stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because_1703595.png) > ““Stealing to forgive the killing, because maybe they do out of necessity, but the traitor ever”” [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral dilemmas arise when survival motives clash with ethical principles, questioning the justification of wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** Need can blur moral lines. Key Takeaway Weigh necessity against integrity. Themes ethics survival conflict Mood serious thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - poverty relief - political resistance - community defense Key Concepts moral philosophy social justice revolutionary tactics Questions to Reflect On - When is it acceptable to break the law for survival? - What alternatives exist to violent resistance? A Different Perspective Justification can be abused to excuse harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Traitor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traitor/) ## Related quotes > [I forgive those who murder and steal because they did it out of necessity, but a traitor never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/i-forgive-those-who-murder-and-steal-because-they-did-it-out-of/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [We can forgive you for killing our children, but we can never forgive you for making us kill your children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golda-meir/we-can-forgive-you-for-killing-our-children-but-we-can-never-forgive/) [Golda Meir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golda-meir/) > [“It followed then that when Hitler burned a book I felt it as keenly, please forgive me, as his killing a human, for in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/it-followed-then-that-when-hitler-burned-a-book-i-felt-it-as-keenly/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“You will never be able to forgive me for killing your father, so don’t waste your time trying. Instead, you need to see past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franca-storm/you-will-never-be-able-to-forgive-me-for-killing-your-father-so-don-t/) [Franca Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franca-storm/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“To save our dying earth, any government which is not environmentalist must go because on earth there are thousands of governments but there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-save-our-dying-earth-any-government-which-is-not-environmentalist/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I shall not lie!" Eilonwy cried, "not for this traitor and deserter." "It is not for him," Taran said quietly, "but for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/i-shall-not-lie-eilonwy-cried-not-for-this-traitor-and-deserter-it-is/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [But Time is a great traitor who teaches us to accept loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-borton-de-trevino/but-time-is-a-great-traitor-who-teaches-us-to-accept-loss/) [Elizabeth Borton de Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-borton-de-trevino/) > [This time we'll hate, alright - but we'll hate the enemy - the vicious gang of colored scum attackers and Jewish-Communist traitors - rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lincoln-rockwell/this-time-we-ll-hate-alright-but-we-ll-hate-the-enemy-the-vicious/) [George Lincoln Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lincoln-rockwell/) > [When contemplating college liberals, you really regret once again that John Walker is not getting the death penalty.We need to execute people like John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/when-contemplating-college-liberals-you-really-regret-once-again-that/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, Working so grossly in a natural cause That admiration did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/treason-and-murder-ever-kept-together-as-two-yoke-devils-sworn-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Whistleblowers is another aspect that needs to be addressed. We have to restore the protections of whistleblowers and also the encouragement and rewards. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/whistleblowers-is-another-aspect-that-needs-to-be-addressed-we-have/) [Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/) > [I would be a traitor to these poor burned bodies if I came here to talk good fellowship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-schneiderman/i-would-be-a-traitor-to-these-poor-burned-bodies-if-i-came-here-to/) [Rose Schneiderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-schneiderman/) > [Less of me and all I'm trying to be. Building my kingdom just to find it so short of your glory I'm a traitor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-y-lennox/less-of-me-and-all-i-m-trying-to-be-building-my-kingdom-just-to-find/) [Zion Y Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-y-lennox/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## More by Emiliano Zapata > [One of the happiest days of my life is when I made five or six hundred pesos from a crop of watermelons I raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/one-of-the-happiest-days-of-my-life-is-when-i-made-five-or-six/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [I forgive those who murder and steal because they did it out of necessity, but a traitor never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/i-forgive-those-who-murder-and-steal-because-they-did-it-out-of/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [I would rather die on my feet than continue living on my knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/i-would-rather-die-on-my-feet-than-continue-living-on-my-knees/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [“It is better to die fighting than to die on your knees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/it-is-better-to-die-fighting-than-to-die-on-your-knees/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [If there is not justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/if-there-is-not-justice-for-the-people-let-there-be-no-peace-for-the/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [“It’s better to die upon your feet than to live upon your knees!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/it-s-better-to-die-upon-your-feet-than-to-live-upon-your-knees/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [“It is better to die on your feet than to live a lifetime on your knees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/it-is-better-to-die-on-your-feet-than-to-live-a-lifetime-on-your-knees/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [The enemies of the country and of freedom of the people have always denounced as bandits those who sacrifice themselves for the noble causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/the-enemies-of-the-country-and-of-freedom-of-the-people-have-always/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [The land belongs to those who work it with their hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/the-land-belongs-to-those-who-work-it-with-their-hands/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [“It's better to die standing than live on your knees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/it-s-better-to-die-standing-than-live-on-your-knees/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [We do not want the peace of slaves nor the peace of the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/we-do-not-want-the-peace-of-slaves-nor-the-peace-of-the-grave/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [The land belongs to the people who work it,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/the-land-belongs-to-the-people-who-work-it/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [I want to die a slave to principles. Not to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/i-want-to-die-a-slave-to-principles-not-to-men/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [The land free, the land free for all, land without overseers and without masters ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/the-land-free-the-land-free-for-all-land-without-overseers-and/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [“TIERRA Y LIBERTAD”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/tierra-y-libertad/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) [Explore all 20 Emiliano Zapata quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) ## More Forgiveness quotes > [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/) Serge Kahili King > [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/) Enhance Dreams > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [Friendship means understanding, not argument. it means forgiveness, not forgetting. it means the memories last, even if contact is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sokhom/friendship-means-understanding-not-argument-it-means-forgiveness-not/) [Sokhom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sokhom/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Have an open mind and heart. Learn to journey in understanding and forgiveness. It's not always going to be easy but it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elle/have-an-open-mind-and-heart-learn-to-journey-in-understanding-and/) [Alexandra Elle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elle/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) [Browse all 8,311 Forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Stealing to forgive the killing, because maybe they do out of necessity, but the traitor ever”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emiliano Zapata" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because-maybe-they-do-out-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forgiveness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because-maybe-they-do-out-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/emiliano-zapata-25533_forgiveness_stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because_1703595.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/emiliano-zapata-25533_forgiveness_stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because_1703595.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/emiliano-zapata-25533_forgiveness_stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because_1703595.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Stealing to forgive the killing, because maybe they do out of necessity, but the traitor ever” — Emiliano Zapata", "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": "Emiliano Zapata", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Stealing to forgive the killing, because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because-maybe-they-do-out-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/stealing-to-forgive-the-killing-because-maybe-they-do-out-of/#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 } } ] } ```