---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Are terrorists going to be deterred - are…"
description: "\"Are terrorists going to be deterred - are terrorists going to be scared if we react violently? No. They love it. That's what they dote on. They dote on..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/howard-zinn-576_commit_are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are_3075347.jpg"
---

#  Are terrorists going to be deterred - are terrorists going…

![“Are terrorists going to be deterred - are terrorists going to be scared if we react violently? No. They love it. That's what they dote on. They dote on violence. They dote on having more reasons to commit more terrorism.” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/howard-zinn-576_commit_are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are_3075347.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/howard-zinn-576_commit_are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are_3075347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/howard-zinn-576_commit_are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are_3075347.jpg)

> “Are terrorists going to be deterred - are terrorists going to be scared if we react violently? No. They love it. That's what they dote on. They dote on violence. They dote on having more reasons to commit more terrorism.”

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Violent retaliation fuels terrorism; aggression be the cause, not the solution.

**In simple terms:** Violence be more terrorism.

Key Takeaway

Seek non‑violent solutions.

Themes

violence terrorism deterrence

Mood

critical reflective

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- counter‑terrorism
- activism
- education

Key Concepts

psychology of aggression conflict resolution political strategy

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives to violence exist?
- How can societies address root causes of terrorism?

A Different Perspective

Non‑violent approaches may be seen as weak.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Commit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commit/) [Commit Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commit-terrorism-5221337/) [Deterred Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deterred-terrorists-5221336/) [Dote Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dote-violence-5221339/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Terrorists Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorists-going-2861520/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Dote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-dote-5221338/)

## Related quotes

> [The terrorists are going to believe the worst about America. They think we spy on everything. They think we kill everyone. They think -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/the-terrorists-are-going-to-believe-the-worst-about-america-they/)

[Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/)

> [A terrorist can attack at any time at any place using a range of techniques. It is physically impossible to defend at every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/a-terrorist-can-attack-at-any-time-at-any-place-using-a-range-of/)

[Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/)

> [There's no question that the next generation of terrorists, rather than going for small, little dramas, will go for the big one. They now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holbrooke/there-s-no-question-that-the-next-generation-of-terrorists-rather/)

[Richard Holbrooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holbrooke/)

> [A man must commit a crime at least once in his life-time. Only then will his virtue be recognized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girish-karnad/a-man-must-commit-a-crime-at-least-once-in-his-life-time-only-then/)

[Girish Karnad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girish-karnad/)

> [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/)

[Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/)

> [Ok, look. I'm honest. Girl I can't lie I miss you. You and the music were the only things that I'd commit to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/ok-look-i-m-honest-girl-i-can-t-lie-i-miss-you-you-and-the-music-were/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/)

[James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/)

> [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [I like to always wash the slate clean, and reinvigorate my spirit to be connected to the characters that I am doing. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-like-to-always-wash-the-slate-clean-and-reinvigorate-my-spirit-to/)

[Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/)

> [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless-you-re-willing-to-do-it/)

[Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/)

> [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/)

[Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

## More by Howard Zinn

> [“A black man, Benjamin Banneker, who taught himself mathematics and astronomy, predicted accurately a solar eclipse, and was appointed to plan the new city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-black-man-benjamin-banneker-who-taught-himself-mathematics-and/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/there-is-no-flag-large-enough-to-cover-the-shame-of-killing-innocent/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [“a good education is a synthesis of book learning and involvement in social action, because each enrich the other. The accumulation of knowledge, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-good-education-is-a-synthesis-of-book-learning-and-involvement-in/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [The mountain of history books under which we all stand leans so heavily in the other direction-so tremblingly respectful of states and statesmen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-mountain-of-history-books-under-which-we-all-stand-leans-so/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [Let's face a historical truth: we have never had a "free market", we have always had government intervention in the economy, and indeed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/let-s-face-a-historical-truth-we-have-never-had-a-free-market-we-have/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [I can UNDERSTAND pessimism, but I don't BELIEVE in it. It's not simply a matter of faith, but of historical EVIDENCE. Not overwhelming evidence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-can-understand-pessimism-but-i-don-t-believe-in-it-it-s-not-simply/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it. It is a corrective to the sluggishness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/protest-beyond-the-law-is-not-a-departure-from-democracy-it-is/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [Now I have been studying very closely what happens every day in the courts in Boston, Massachusetts. You would be astounded--maybe you wouldn't, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/now-i-have-been-studying-very-closely-what-happens-every-day-in-the/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [“Sexual purity was to be the special virtue of a woman. It was assumed that men, as a matter of biological nature, would sin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/sexual-purity-was-to-be-the-special-virtue-of-a-woman-it-was-assumed/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [“Middle-class Americans might be invited to join a new elite by attacks against the corruption of the established rich. The New Yorker Cadwallader Colden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/middle-class-americans-might-be-invited-to-join-a-new-elite-by/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/if-those-in-charge-of-our-society-politicians-corporate-executives/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [We were not born critical of existing society. There was a moment in our lives (or a month, or a year) when certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/we-were-not-born-critical-of-existing-society-there-was-a-moment-in/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [Behind the deceptive words designed to entice people into supporting violence -- words like democracy, freedom, self-defense, national security -- there is the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/behind-the-deceptive-words-designed-to-entice-people-into-supporting/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [“George Washington had turned down the requests of blacks, seeking freedom, to fight in the Revolutionary army. So when the British military commander in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/george-washington-had-turned-down-the-requests-of-blacks-seeking/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

[Explore all 461 Howard Zinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

## More Commit quotes

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/)

[Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/)

> [Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless-you-re-willing-to-do-it/)

[Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/)

> [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [I like to always wash the slate clean, and reinvigorate my spirit to be connected to the characters that I am doing. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-like-to-always-wash-the-slate-clean-and-reinvigorate-my-spirit-to/)

[Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/)

> [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/)

[James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/)

> [Ok, look. I'm honest. Girl I can't lie I miss you. You and the music were the only things that I'd commit to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/ok-look-i-m-honest-girl-i-can-t-lie-i-miss-you-you-and-the-music-were/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/)

[Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/)

> [A man must commit a crime at least once in his life-time. Only then will his virtue be recognized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girish-karnad/a-man-must-commit-a-crime-at-least-once-in-his-life-time-only-then/)

[Girish Karnad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girish-karnad/)

> [“A man, who does not commit an evil act either, has no opportunity or the stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/a-man-who-does-not-commit-an-evil-act-either-has-no-opportunity-or/)

[M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/)

> [One day I may commit to a city and settle down and do the restaurant thing - when I'm ready and however and whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-kish/one-day-i-may-commit-to-a-city-and-settle-down-and-do-the-restaurant/)

[Kristen Kish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-kish/)

> [Love and commit. Not hit and quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhecky/love-and-commit-not-hit-and-quit/)

[Jhecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhecky/)

[Browse all 1,824 Commit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commit/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Are terrorists going to be deterred - are terrorists going to be scared if we react violently? No. They love it. That's what they dote on. They dote on violence. They dote on having more reasons to commit more terrorism.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Howard Zinn"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are-terrorists-going-to-be-scared/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Commit"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are-terrorists-going-to-be-scared/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/howard-zinn-576_commit_are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are_3075347.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/howard-zinn-576_commit_are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are_3075347.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/howard-zinn-576_commit_are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are_3075347.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Are terrorists going to be deterred - are terrorists going to be scared if we react violently? No. They love…” — Howard Zinn",
                "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": "Howard Zinn",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Are terrorists going to be deterred...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are-terrorists-going-to-be-scared/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/are-terrorists-going-to-be-deterred-are-terrorists-going-to-be-scared/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
