--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The master swordsman isn't interested in…" description: "\"The master swordsman isn't interested in killing people. He only wants to perfect his art.\" — Helen DeWitt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/helen-dewitt-19555_art_the-master-swordsman-isn-t-interested-in_454311.jpg" --- # The master swordsman isn't interested in killing people… ![“The master swordsman isn't interested in killing people. He only wants to perfect his art.” quote by Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/helen-dewitt-19555_art_the-master-swordsman-isn-t-interested-in_454311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/helen-dewitt-19555_art_the-master-swordsman-isn-t-interested-in_454311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/helen-dewitt-19555_art_the-master-swordsman-isn-t-interested-in_454311.jpg) > “The master swordsman isn't interested in killing people. He only wants to perfect his art.” [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A true master seeks mastery of craft, not the act of killing. **In simple terms:** Masters focus on art. Key Takeaway Prioritize skill over violence. Themes mastery art nonviolence Mood calm inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - martial arts training - creative practice - teaching Key Concepts discipline craft purpose Questions to Reflect On - How do you define mastery? - What nonviolent paths fulfill your drive? A Different Perspective Violence may be tempting in conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Swordsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swordsman/) ## Related quotes > [“I thought of Musashi, the master swordsman, who wrote, You must think of neither victory nor of defeat, but only of cutting and killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-thought-of-musashi-the-master-swordsman-who-wrote-you-must-think-of/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [Musashi, who trained himself, became a master swordsman who was never defeated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerr-cuhulain/musashi-who-trained-himself-became-a-master-swordsman-who-was-never/) Kerr Cuhulain > [“Some vicious thing inside me stirred. I felt it in my gut, the back of my neck, my hands. I thought of Musashi, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/some-vicious-thing-inside-me-stirred-i-felt-it-in-my-gut-the-back-of/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“Vaelin knew himself to be the best swordsman among them. Dentos was master of the bow, Barkus unarmed combat, Nortah the finest rider and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/vaelin-knew-himself-to-be-the-best-swordsman-among-them-dentos-was/) [Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/) > [“An hour later it had become obvious that as a swordsman Alucius made a fine poet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/an-hour-later-it-had-become-obvious-that-as-a-swordsman-alucius-made/) [Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/) > [I collect swords, but I'm not really a swordsman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-kingston/i-collect-swords-but-i-m-not-really-a-swordsman/) [Kofi Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-kingston/) > [Our heroes are simple: they are brave, they tell the truth, they are good swordsmen and they are never in the long run really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/our-heroes-are-simple-they-are-brave-they-tell-the-truth-they-are/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [“This mulatto gentleman could powder and dress as he liked, however, because he was acknowledged to be the greatest swordsman in Europe. Over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-reiss/this-mulatto-gentleman-could-powder-and-dress-as-he-liked-however/) [Tom Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-reiss/) > [“We have our swordsman, so let's get moving. Brigan, could you attempt, at least, to make yourself presentable? I know this is a war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/we-have-our-swordsman-so-let-s-get-moving-brigan-could-you-attempt-at/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“I felt an angry flush colour my face. "I was in the middle of training. I don't need your help." "I'm the best swordsman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-felt-an-angry-flush-colour-my-face-i-was-in-the-middle-of-training/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [“Air swirled over her shoulders leaving a wake of chilled skin. To her left something stirred in the shadows. She blinked. The swordsman stood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jewel/air-swirled-over-her-shoulders-leaving-a-wake-of-chilled-skin-to-her/) [Carolyn Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jewel/) > [Scars on the back are a swordsman’s shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/scars-on-the-back-are-a-swordsman-s-shame/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke straps our vice. Where is the skillful swordsman who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-are-double-edged-blades-and-every-time-we-whet-our-virtue-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Peter was a superb swordsman, and parried with dazzling rapidity; ever and anon he followed up a feint with a lunge that got past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-barrie/peter-was-a-superb-swordsman-and-parried-with-dazzling-rapidity-ever/) [J.M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-barrie/) > [You would do well to know, Marcus, that irritating a better swordsman than yourself is a good way to end up dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/you-would-do-well-to-know-marcus-that-irritating-a-better-swordsman/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) ## More by Helen DeWitt > [“When a human being develops an argument, when a human being attempts not only to think but to speak with precision, he or she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/when-a-human-being-develops-an-argument-when-a-human-being-attempts/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [There is a strange taboo in our society against ending something merely because it is not pleasant-- life, love, a conversation, you name it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/there-is-a-strange-taboo-in-our-society-against-ending-something/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“I wish you wouldn't say the first thing that comes into your head, Ludo. There is an obvious difference between someone who works within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/i-wish-you-wouldn-t-say-the-first-thing-that-comes-into-your-head/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“So Lucille pressed the button, and a panel slid open in the wall, and the transporter came through, and sure enough here was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/so-lucille-pressed-the-button-and-a-panel-slid-open-in-the-wall-and/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“In her excitement at the idea of just walking out the door she had walked out the door without stopping to practice and without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/in-her-excitement-at-the-idea-of-just-walking-out-the-door-she-had/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“Sometimes I rode the Circle Line reading a book on organic chemistry and sometimes I read Leave It to Psmith for the 20th or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/sometimes-i-rode-the-circle-line-reading-a-book-on-organic-chemistry/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“I thought suddenly Look. If Kambei had stopped recruiting when the first samurai didn’t work out a 205-minute masterpiece of modern cinema would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/i-thought-suddenly-look-if-kambei-had-stopped-recruiting-when-the/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [The typical review makes a Teletubby look like a sabre-toothed tiger. You can economize by reading online rather than squandering $4.95, yes, but all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/the-typical-review-makes-a-teletubby-look-like-a-sabre-toothed-tiger/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [Perhaps this is the root of all evil, that gardeners are not put in charge of our schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/perhaps-this-is-the-root-of-all-evil-that-gardeners-are-not-put-in/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“Yamamoto said he thought you had to be able to hear how something did not work as part of a bigger thing to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/yamamoto-said-he-thought-you-had-to-be-able-to-hear-how-something-did/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“Something looked through my grandfather's eyes. It said Being an accountant, it's not the end of the world. Something looked at my Uncle Danny.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/something-looked-through-my-grandfather-s-eyes-it-said-being-an/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [There are people who think contraception is immoral because the object of copulation is procreation. In a similar way there are people who think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/there-are-people-who-think-contraception-is-immoral-because-the/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“Indolence, interruption, business, and pleasure; all take their turns of retardation….Perhaps no extensive and multifarious performance, said Sib, was ever effected within the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/indolence-interruption-business-and-pleasure-all-take-their-turns-of/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“If you were at school they would not let you read a book like this, they would keep you from reading it by involving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/if-you-were-at-school-they-would-not-let-you-read-a-book-like-this/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [I once read somewhere that Sean Connery left school at the age of 13 and later went on to read Proust and Finnegans Wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/i-once-read-somewhere-that-sean-connery-left-school-at-the-age-of-13/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) [Explore all 32 Helen DeWitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The master swordsman isn't interested in killing people. 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