--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm not a murderer,\" asked Corny, \"how…" description: "\"If I'm not a murderer,\" asked Corny, \"how come I keep killing people?\" — Holly Black" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/holly-black-329_corny_if-i-m-not-a-murderer-asked-corny-how-co_2409521.png" --- # If I'm not a murderer," asked Corny, "how come I keep… ![“If I'm not a murderer," asked Corny, "how come I keep killing people?” quote by Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/holly-black-329_corny_if-i-m-not-a-murderer-asked-corny-how-co_2409521.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/holly-black-329_corny_if-i-m-not-a-murderer-asked-corny-how-co_2409521.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/holly-black-329_corny_if-i-m-not-a-murderer-asked-corny-how-co_2409521.png) > “If I'm not a murderer," asked Corny, "how come I keep killing people?” [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker questions their own morality, implying a paradox between self‑identity and actions. **In simple terms:** Questioning self‑identity versus deeds. Key Takeaway Examine motives behind harmful actions. Themes identityity self‑reflection morality Mood conflicted thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal introspection - psychological analysis - fictional dialogue Key Concepts Paradox self‑concept ethical dilemma Questions to Reflect On - Do you separate intent from outcome? - How does self‑labeling affect accountability? A Different Perspective The line blurs between literal and figurative killing, creating ambiguity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Corny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-corny-6060670/) [Corny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corny/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Killing people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing-people/) [Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer/) [Murderer Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer-asked-6060671/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Taking somebody's money without permission is stealing, unless you work for the IRS; then it's taxation. Killing people en masse is homicidal mania, unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/taking-somebody-s-money-without-permission-is-stealing-unless-you/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [“It’s so dreadfully easy...killing people… And you begin to feel that it doesn’t matter…That it’s only you that matters! It’s dangerous...that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-s-so-dreadfully-easy-killing-people-and-you-begin-to-feel-that-it/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Even if Douglas was trying to sacrifice me and harvest my creepy powers at the time, I feel like killing people for doing awful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lish-mcbride/even-if-douglas-was-trying-to-sacrifice-me-and-harvest-my-creepy/) [Lish McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lish-mcbride/) > [If it was up to the U.N., Saddam Hussein would still be killing his own people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/if-it-was-up-to-the-u-n-saddam-hussein-would-still-be-killing-his-own/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [The United States of America is still run by its citizens. The government works for us. Rank imperialism and warmongering are not American traditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-united-states-of-america-is-still-run-by-its-citizens-the/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The main objection to killing people as a punishment...is that killing people is wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auberon-waugh/the-main-objection-to-killing-people-as-a-punishment-is-that-killing/) [Auberon Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-waugh/) > [I've never had a car. Like I can drive, but I'm always at the risk of killing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-ve-never-had-a-car-like-i-can-drive-but-i-m-always-at-the-risk-of/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [Even the best weapon is an unhappy tool, hateful to living things. So the follower of the Way stays away from it. Weapons are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/even-the-best-weapon-is-an-unhappy-tool-hateful-to-living-things-so/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Don't fret. We'll just have to find something else you're good at besides killing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-b-dunkle/don-t-fret-we-ll-just-have-to-find-something-else-you-re-good-at/) [Clare B. Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-b-dunkle/) > [You've got this world, these pathologists that are, day in and day out, taking apart bodies, coming up with theories about how they died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-ventimiglia/you-ve-got-this-world-these-pathologists-that-are-day-in-and-day-out/) [Milo Ventimiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-ventimiglia/) > [If you think about it, Washington's overwhelming power in the world is founded on death, the awesome arsenal for killing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/if-you-think-about-it-washington-s-overwhelming-power-in-the-world-is/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [Kira is evil ... There's no denying that ... But lately I've been starting to think of it more like this ... The real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsugumi-ohba/kira-is-evil-there-s-no-denying-that-but-lately-i-ve-been-starting-to/) [Tsugumi Ohba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsugumi-ohba/) > [A lot of people heard 'Murda Business' and thought it was about killing people, trying to be tough and hardcore. If you actually listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/a-lot-of-people-heard-murda-business-and-thought-it-was-about-killing/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [What? Had a dry spell of killing people lately? (Susan) As a matter of fact, yes. If it doesn’t end soon, I might get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/what-had-a-dry-spell-of-killing-people-lately-susan-as-a-matter-of/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) ## More by Holly Black > [“What they don’t realize is this: Yes, they frighten me, but I have always been scared, since the day I got here. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/what-they-don-t-realize-is-this-yes-they-frighten-me-but-i-have/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [When you don't know what you're searching for, you have to look absolutely everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/when-you-don-t-know-what-you-re-searching-for-you-have-to-look/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Madoc makes a snorting sound, then turns to me. 'I am sure that Wren here wouldn't mind taking Lady Nore's castle and lands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-makes-a-snorting-sound-then-turns-to-me-i-am-sure-that-wren/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [That’s family for you. Can’t live with them, can’t murder them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/that-s-family-for-you-can-t-live-with-them-can-t-murder-them/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“No, I won't help you. No I won't hear you explain why I should. It really is a magical word: no. You say whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/no-i-won-t-help-you-no-i-won-t-hear-you-explain-why-i-should-it/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Let her alone,' said the enkanto, 'or I will curse you blind, lame, and worse.' The old man laughed. 'I'm a curse breaker, fool.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/let-her-alone-said-the-enkanto-or-i-will-curse-you-blind-lame-and/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“lt's an honor and a delight to meet you and a tragedy you're here”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/lt-s-an-honor-and-a-delight-to-meet-you-and-a-tragedy-you-re-here/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“No fire at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/no-fire-at-all/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“His wax-white skin was cool to the touch when she brushed his neck to find the knot of cloth. She'd never been this close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/his-wax-white-skin-was-cool-to-the-touch-when-she-brushed-his-neck-to/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [So what are you really wearing?" The words left her mouth before she could consider them. She winced. He didn't seem to mind; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/so-what-are-you-really-wearing-the-words-left-her-mouth-before-she/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I grab a chair. "I don't mean to pry," I say, "but we're in a hospital. You sure you're fine?" She sighs heavily. "No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-grab-a-chair-i-don-t-mean-to-pry-i-say-but-we-re-in-a-hospital-you/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Kaye: You know what the sun looks like? Janet: No, What? Kaye: Like he slit his wrists in a bathtub and the blood is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/kaye-you-know-what-the-sun-looks-like-janet-no-what-kaye-like-he-slit/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“That was how she felt, right then. As if there was too much of her, as if her skin was tight with muchness. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/that-was-how-she-felt-right-then-as-if-there-was-too-much-of-her-as/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“It was a vow, a piece of a chant, their scripture, something they took so seriously that saying it aloud embarrassed them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-was-a-vow-a-piece-of-a-chant-their-scripture-something-they-took/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Some broken things stay broken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/some-broken-things-stay-broken/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) [Explore all 666 Holly Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## More Corny quotes > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [Relationships nowadays = First week: I love you so much baby; Second week: Together forever; Third week: Single..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/relationships-nowadays-first-week-i-love-you-so-much-baby-second-week/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I know it's corny - but I love 'Jingle Bells!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-it-s-corny-but-i-love-jingle-bells/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I like grit, I like love and death, I'm tired of irony. ... A lot of good fiction is sentimental. ... The novelist who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/i-like-grit-i-like-love-and-death-i-m-tired-of-irony-a-lot-of-good/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [It's perfectly okay to fail. It sounds corny, but it truly is about the journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urijah-faber/it-s-perfectly-okay-to-fail-it-sounds-corny-but-it-truly-is-about-the/) [Urijah Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urijah-faber/) > [I write songs like "The Sweetest Love." Of course I'm a little cheesy. Love is cheesy. Love is corny. But it's also the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-thicke/i-write-songs-like-the-sweetest-love-of-course-i-m-a-little-cheesy/) [Robin Thicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-thicke/) > [The bill would ban human cloning, and any attempts at human cloning, for both reproductive purposes and medical research. Also forbidden is the importing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-calvert/the-bill-would-ban-human-cloning-and-any-attempts-at-human-cloning/) [Ken Calvert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-calvert/) > [If I'm playing a violin thing, for instance, I tend to respond to that sound with the way I finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/if-i-m-playing-a-violin-thing-for-instance-i-tend-to-respond-to-that/) [Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/) > [The referee will now keep track of the time on the field and the shootouts have finally been banned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobi-jones/the-referee-will-now-keep-track-of-the-time-on-the-field-and-the/) [Cobi Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobi-jones/) > [It sounds corny, but I don't know what my life would be like without AEW... 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