--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was one lesson he never forgot.You…" description: "\"It was one lesson he never forgot.You don't sit back when you or a loved one is being assaulted.And you don't act like the goverment with their \"propor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/harlan-coben-847_assaulted_it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-do_2186720.png" --- # It was one lesson he never forgot.You don't sit back when… ![“It was one lesson he never forgot.You don't sit back when you or a loved one is being assaulted.And you don't act like the goverment with their "proportional responses" and all that nonsense.If someone hurts you,mercy and pity must be put aside,You eliminate the enemy.You scorch the earth.” quote by Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/harlan-coben-847_assaulted_it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-do_2186720.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/harlan-coben-847_assaulted_it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-do_2186720.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/harlan-coben-847_assaulted_it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-do_2186720.png) > “It was one lesson he never forgot.You don't sit back when you or a loved one is being assaulted.And you don't act like the goverment with their "proportional responses" and all that nonsense.If someone hurts you,mercy and pity must be put aside,You eliminate the enemy.You scorch the earth.” [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In extreme conflict, the narrative urges ruthless retaliation, dismissing compassion and emphasizing total destruction of the opponent. **In simple terms:** Violence is presented as the only solution, ignoring mercy. Key Takeaway Consider the costs of total war. Themes conflict morality revenge Mood grim serious Type warning philosophical When to use this quote - personal danger - political oppression - military strategy - personal vendetta Key Concepts dehumanization total war Questions to Reflect On - Is total destruction ever justified? - What alternatives exist to violent retaliation? A Different Perspective Such absolutism can lead to endless cycles of violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assaulted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assaulted/) [Assaulted Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assaulted-don-4747811/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesson/) [Lesson Forgot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesson-forgot-2065390/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Loved Assaulted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-assaulted-4747810/) [Loved ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-ones/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) ## Related quotes > [listen to the silence inside the illusion of the world, and you will remember the lesson you forgot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/listen-to-the-silence-inside-the-illusion-of-the-world-and-you-will/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“They say possesions own you. Not so. Loved ones own you. You are forever held hostage once you care so much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/they-say-possesions-own-you-not-so-loved-ones-own-you-you-are-forever/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [The media character-assassinated me and perceived me as this monster. When you look at my record ... I jumped a taxi as a 21-year-old,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mason/the-media-character-assassinated-me-and-perceived-me-as-this-monster/) [Willie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mason/) > [“Did I really just get assaulted by a big scary man, then get saved by my stalker? …Yeah. That about sums it up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-aurora/did-i-really-just-get-assaulted-by-a-big-scary-man-then-get-saved-by/) [Belle Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-aurora/) > [I walk alone, assaulted it seems, by tears from heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-walk-alone-assaulted-it-seems-by-tears-from-heaven/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“...after twenty-five years of treating trauma survivors, I have learned that getting hit is actually one of the more bearable ways a person can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/after-twenty-five-years-of-treating-trauma-survivors-i-have-learned/) [Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/) > [“Aiden… I can’t see anything.” “That’s the point.” “Well, thanks, Captain Obvious.” I reached out blindly, but only felt air. “What do you expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/aiden-i-can-t-see-anything-that-s-the-point-well-thanks-captain/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [I've met my share of guys who have insulted and assaulted my intelligence with their stories and games. I say hello and goodbye!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aretha-franklin/i-ve-met-my-share-of-guys-who-have-insulted-and-assaulted-my/) [Aretha Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aretha-franklin/) > [ \[Donald Trump\] held a number of big rallies where he said that he could not possibly have done those things to those women because… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/donald-trump-held-a-number-of-big-rallies-where-he-said-that-he-could/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“I have been assaulted by cleverness on all fronts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-have-been-assaulted-by-cleverness-on-all-fronts/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [“Isn’t it sad that when a girl says she was sexually assaulted, our first instinct is to think she’s probably lying? Statistics and facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/isn-t-it-sad-that-when-a-girl-says-she-was-sexually-assaulted-our/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [i was raped, too sexually assaulted in seventh grade, tenth grade. the summer after graduation, at a party i was 16 i was 14…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-was-raped-too-sexually-assaulted-in-seventh-grade-tenth-grade-the/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [If a girl gets assaulted, it's not because she was drunk. It's because somebody decided to assault her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-shenk/if-a-girl-gets-assaulted-it-s-not-because-she-was-drunk-it-s-because/) [Jon Shenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-shenk/) > [I don't know how I can feel safe with Donald Trump, who bragged about sexual assault having the most power of anyone in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-pozner/i-don-t-know-how-i-can-feel-safe-with-donald-trump-who-bragged-about/) [Jennifer Pozner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-pozner/) > [I assaulted Stone Cold Steve Austin and got away with it! It was indeed a very special night for me...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-mcmahon/i-assaulted-stone-cold-steve-austin-and-got-away-with-it-it-was/) [Vince McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-mcmahon/) ## More by Harlan Coben > [“He flipped through the music stations as he drove, searching for some nonexistent perfect song that would be, as Stevie Nicks might sing, “hauntingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/he-flipped-through-the-music-stations-as-he-drove-searching-for-some/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“The whole place had a feel and aura about as warm as a cold sore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-whole-place-had-a-feel-and-aura-about-as-warm-as-a-cold-sore/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [When I was seventeen, I worked as a counsellor at a co-ed sleep-away camp for eight weeks. I loved it but it could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/when-i-was-seventeen-i-worked-as-a-counsellor-at-a-co-ed-sleep-away/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [Man plans. God laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/man-plans-god-laughs/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“You could trust nature but not man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/you-could-trust-nature-but-not-man/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [I like to see the difference between good and evil as kind of like the foul line at a baseball game. It's very thin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-like-to-see-the-difference-between-good-and-evil-as-kind-of-like/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [The state of New Jersey is really two places - terrible cities and wonderful suburbs. I live in the suburbs, the final battleground of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-state-of-new-jersey-is-really-two-places-terrible-cities-and/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“Esperanza's side had so many colors, Crayola sent a scout.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/esperanza-s-side-had-so-many-colors-crayola-sent-a-scout/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [You know, people call mystery novels or thrillers 'puzzles.' I never understood that, because when I buy a puzzle, I already know what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/you-know-people-call-mystery-novels-or-thrillers-puzzles-i-never/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“Awareness started to creep in, clawing its way past the pain and numbness. He was lying on cold ground, his right cheek on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/awareness-started-to-creep-in-clawing-its-way-past-the-pain-and/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“Her smile shames the sun”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/her-smile-shames-the-sun/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [This is the price you pay for having a great father. You get the wonder, the joy, the tender moments - and you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/this-is-the-price-you-pay-for-having-a-great-father-you-get-the/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“The words kept landing like punches, dazing Adam, sapping his resistance, leaving him shaken and confused and ready to take a standing eight count.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-words-kept-landing-like-punches-dazing-adam-sapping-his/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [I'm not very happy idle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-m-not-very-happy-idle/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“Making friends?” Tripp asked. “I’m a people person,” Adam said. “You know he’s the VP of the board, right?” “I must remember to genuflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/making-friends-tripp-asked-i-m-a-people-person-adam-said-you-know-he/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) [Explore all 351 Harlan Coben quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) ## More Assaulted quotes > [I assaulted Stone Cold Steve Austin and got away with it! It was indeed a very special night for me...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-mcmahon/i-assaulted-stone-cold-steve-austin-and-got-away-with-it-it-was/) [Vince McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-mcmahon/) > [I don't know how I can feel safe with Donald Trump, who bragged about sexual assault having the most power of anyone in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-pozner/i-don-t-know-how-i-can-feel-safe-with-donald-trump-who-bragged-about/) [Jennifer Pozner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-pozner/) > [If a girl gets assaulted, it's not because she was drunk. It's because somebody decided to assault her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-shenk/if-a-girl-gets-assaulted-it-s-not-because-she-was-drunk-it-s-because/) [Jon Shenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-shenk/) > [i was raped, too sexually assaulted in seventh grade, tenth grade. the summer after graduation, at a party i was 16 i was 14…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-was-raped-too-sexually-assaulted-in-seventh-grade-tenth-grade-the/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“Isn’t it sad that when a girl says she was sexually assaulted, our first instinct is to think she’s probably lying? Statistics and facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/isn-t-it-sad-that-when-a-girl-says-she-was-sexually-assaulted-our/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [“I have been assaulted by cleverness on all fronts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-have-been-assaulted-by-cleverness-on-all-fronts/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [ \[Donald Trump\] held a number of big rallies where he said that he could not possibly have done those things to those women because… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/donald-trump-held-a-number-of-big-rallies-where-he-said-that-he-could/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I've met my share of guys who have insulted and assaulted my intelligence with their stories and games. I say hello and goodbye!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aretha-franklin/i-ve-met-my-share-of-guys-who-have-insulted-and-assaulted-my/) [Aretha Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aretha-franklin/) > [“Aiden… I can’t see anything.” “That’s the point.” “Well, thanks, Captain Obvious.” I reached out blindly, but only felt air. “What do you expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/aiden-i-can-t-see-anything-that-s-the-point-well-thanks-captain/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“...after twenty-five years of treating trauma survivors, I have learned that getting hit is actually one of the more bearable ways a person can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/after-twenty-five-years-of-treating-trauma-survivors-i-have-learned/) [Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/) > [I walk alone, assaulted it seems, by tears from heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-walk-alone-assaulted-it-seems-by-tears-from-heaven/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“Did I really just get assaulted by a big scary man, then get saved by my stalker? …Yeah. That about sums it up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-aurora/did-i-really-just-get-assaulted-by-a-big-scary-man-then-get-saved-by/) [Belle Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-aurora/) > [The media character-assassinated me and perceived me as this monster. When you look at my record ... I jumped a taxi as a 21-year-old,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mason/the-media-character-assassinated-me-and-perceived-me-as-this-monster/) [Willie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mason/) > [I've been physically assaulted several times in the street. Somebody once pushed me into traffic. I've been followed into gay clubs, for example, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wylie/i-ve-been-physically-assaulted-several-times-in-the-street-somebody/) [Christopher Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wylie/) > [You can be a victim of a crime and not exercise great judgment. And when women have been sexually assaulted, they feel like they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/you-can-be-a-victim-of-a-crime-and-not-exercise-great-judgment-and/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) [Browse all 43 Assaulted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assaulted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was one lesson he never forgot.You don't sit back when you or a loved one is being assaulted.And you don't act like the goverment with their \"proportional responses\" and all that nonsense.If someone hurts you,mercy and pity must be put aside,You eliminate the enemy.You scorch the earth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harlan Coben" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-don-t-sit-back-when-you-or-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assaulted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-don-t-sit-back-when-you-or-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/harlan-coben-847_assaulted_it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-do_2186720.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/harlan-coben-847_assaulted_it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-do_2186720.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/harlan-coben-847_assaulted_it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-do_2186720.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was one lesson he never forgot.You don't sit back when you or a loved one is being assaulted.And you…” — Harlan Coben", "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": "Harlan Coben", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It was one lesson he never...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-don-t-sit-back-when-you-or-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/it-was-one-lesson-he-never-forgot-you-don-t-sit-back-when-you-or-a/#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 } } ] } ```