Causes Quote by Howard Zinn
“War is terrorism ... Terrorism is the willingness to kill large numbers of people for some presumably good cause. That's what terrorists are about.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “A People’s History of the United States”, 1980
War and terrorism both involve mass violence for perceived justice
In simple terms: Violence justified by ideology harms humanity
Key Takeaway
Question the morality of violent means
Themes
war
terrorism
ethics
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
ethical
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- policy analysis
- peace activism
- education
Key Concepts
political theory
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a “good cause”?
- Can non‑violent methods achieve similar goals?
A Different Perspective
Violence may be seen as necessary by some parties
![“Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from ear to ear. So I don’t want to mess up, [be]cause she’s smiling. Seeing my mom happy is kind of like an overwhelming feeling.” quote by Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/477/chris-brown-1887_causes_well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-w_4699.jpg)