--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Greatest Happiness is to scatter your…" description: "\"The Greatest Happiness is to scatter your enemy and drive him before you. To see his cities reduced to ashes. To see those who love him shrouded and in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/genghis-khan-13891_ashes_the-greatest-happiness-is-to-scatter-you_1385494.jpg" --- # The Greatest Happiness is to scatter your enemy and drive… ![“The Greatest Happiness is to scatter your enemy and drive him before you. To see his cities reduced to ashes. To see those who love him shrouded and in tears. And to gather to your bosom his wives and daughters.” quote by Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/genghis-khan-13891_ashes_the-greatest-happiness-is-to-scatter-you_1385494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/genghis-khan-13891_ashes_the-greatest-happiness-is-to-scatter-you_1385494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/genghis-khan-13891_ashes_the-greatest-happiness-is-to-scatter-you_1385494.jpg) > “The Greatest Happiness is to scatter your enemy and drive him before you. To see his cities reduced to ashes. To see those who love him shrouded and in tears. And to gather to your bosom his wives and daughters.” [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote glorifies total war, describing the joy of destroying enemies and seizing their families. **In simple terms:** It praises violent domination. Key Takeaway Understand the brutal mindset of conquest. Themes war domination violence psychology history Mood grim historical Type history politics When to use this quote - military campaigns - political strategy - historical analysis Key Concepts Mongol tactics psychology of power war ethics Questions to Reflect On - What drives leaders to glorify violence? - How can societies reject such narratives? A Different Perspective Such cruelty is morally reprehensible and fuels cycles of revenge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashes/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Wife and daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife-and-daughter/) ## Related quotes > [As I enter on the path of happiness, I scatter the dregs and shreds and clippings of the past behind me. I divest myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-locke/as-i-enter-on-the-path-of-happiness-i-scatter-the-dregs-and-shreds/) [William John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-locke/) > [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [Let tears gather in your eyes. You haven’t tears enough for what you’ve done to me. Six more mortal years, seven, eight…I might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/let-tears-gather-in-your-eyes-you-haven-t-tears-enough-for-what-you/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So much tears I gather fr few years.bt I didn't let them fall from my eyes.bcoz they also love u as I am.and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nilesh/so-much-tears-i-gather-fr-few-years-bt-i-didn-t-let-them-fall-from-my/) Nilesh > [Happiness lies in conquering one's enemies, in driving them in front of oneself, in taking their property, in savoring their despair, in outraging their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/happiness-lies-in-conquering-one-s-enemies-in-driving-them-in-front/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [Man's highest joy is in victory: to conquer one's enemies; to pursue them; to deprive them of their possessions; to make their beloved weep;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/man-s-highest-joy-is-in-victory-to-conquer-one-s-enemies-to-pursue/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [A man's greatest moment in life is when his enemy lays vanquished, his village aflame, his herds driven before you and his weeping wives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/a-man-s-greatest-moment-in-life-is-when-his-enemy-lays-vanquished-his/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [Nature satisfies my thirst; it feeds my hunger; it finds me clothing; it affords me shelter; it wraps me around when I sleep with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/nature-satisfies-my-thirst-it-feeds-my-hunger-it-finds-me-clothing-it/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Ambition is frequently the only refuge which life has left to the denied or mortified affections. 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Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [“Instead, he stared at every woman he saw in hijab, his anger flaring when he saw a fundamentalist, dressed in black from head to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-drew/instead-he-stared-at-every-woman-he-saw-in-hijab-his-anger-flaring/) Alan Drew > [I guess the worst day I have had was when I had to stand up in rehab in front of my wife and daughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-guess-the-worst-day-i-have-had-was-when-i-had-to-stand-up-in-rehab/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [A man with wife and daughters has no place losing his temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/a-man-with-wife-and-daughters-has-no-place-losing-his-temper/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [I went to see President Nixon at the White House. It wasn't difficult to get a meeting because I was heavyweight champion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frazier/i-went-to-see-president-nixon-at-the-white-house-it-wasn-t-difficult/) [Joe Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frazier/) > [“Dear Alexis, Last week at our debate, I talked about the essential unfairness that my friend and colleague Levon Helm had to continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-taplin/dear-alexis-last-week-at-our-debate-i-talked-about-the-essential/) [Jonathan Taplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-taplin/) ## More by Genghis Khan > [There is no good in anything until it is finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/there-is-no-good-in-anything-until-it-is-finished/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [Oh people, know that you have committed great sins. If you ask me what proof I have for these words, I say it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/oh-people-know-that-you-have-committed-great-sins-if-you-ask-me-what/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [You have chosen war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/you-have-chosen-war/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [An action comitted in anger is an action doomed to failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/an-action-comitted-in-anger-is-an-action-doomed-to-failure/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [Despite all expectations, the time of my last campaign and of my passing is near. I wish to die at home. Let not my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/despite-all-expectations-the-time-of-my-last-campaign-and-of-my/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [Those who were adept and brave fellows I have made military commanders. 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Had you not created great sins, god would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/i-am-the-flail-of-god-had-you-not-created-great-sins-god-would-not/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [One of the joys of travel is visiting new towns and meeting new people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/one-of-the-joys-of-travel-is-visiting-new-towns-and-meeting-new-people/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [People conquered on different sides of the lake should be ruled on different sides of the lake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/people-conquered-on-different-sides-of-the-lake-should-be-ruled-on/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [Just as God gave different fingers to the hand so has He given different ways to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/just-as-god-gave-different-fingers-to-the-hand-so-has-he-given/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [A leader can never be happy until his people are happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/a-leader-can-never-be-happy-until-his-people-are-happy/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [Heaven grew weary of the excessive pride and luxury of China... I am from the Barbaric North. I wear the same clothing and eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/heaven-grew-weary-of-the-excessive-pride-and-luxury-of-china-i-am/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [In the space of seven years I have succeeded in accomplishing a great work and uniting the whole world in one Empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/in-the-space-of-seven-years-i-have-succeeded-in-accomplishing-a-great/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) [Explore all 48 Genghis Khan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) ## More Ashes quotes > [You can flush my ashes down the toilet, for all I care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-flush-my-ashes-down-the-toilet-for-all-i-care/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-that-is-gold-does-not-glitter-not-all-those-who-wander-are-lost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to have a gravestone. I want to have all my friends burn me and then snort the ashes. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-don-t-want-to-have-a-gravestone-i-want-to-have-all-my-friends-burn/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [He said that he will never let you cry,he will always be there for you no matter how hard the situation is,that he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhra/he-said-that-he-will-never-let-you-cry-he-will-always-be-there-for/) Zhra > [“The past is to be learned from but not lived in. 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Meaning—human meaning, that is—is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-any-civilization-is-dust-and-ashes-he-said-art-is-all-that-s/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/man-is-a-noble-animal-splendid-in-ashes-and-pompous-in-the-grave/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [“Bury us, and mark our names above. Let us be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/bury-us-and-mark-our-names-above-let-us-be-free/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [There is nothing quite like an Ashes trip Down Under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anderson/there-is-nothing-quite-like-an-ashes-trip-down-under/) [James Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anderson/) > [I think momentum is huge in sport, especially in a series like the Ashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stokes/i-think-momentum-is-huge-in-sport-especially-in-a-series-like-the/) [Ben Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stokes/) > [Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man-yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. 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