--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why will you take by force what you may…" description: "\"“Why will you take by force what you may have quietly by love? Why will you destroy us who supply you with food? What can you get by war? We can hide o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/howard-zinn-576_love_why-will-you-take-by-force-what-you-may_619644.jpg" --- # Why will you take by force what you may have quietly by… ![“Why will you take by force what you may have quietly by love? Why will you destroy us who supply you with food? What can you get by war? We can hide our provisions and run into the woods; then you will starve for wronging your friends. Why are you jealous of us? We are unarmed, and willing to give…” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/howard-zinn-576_love_why-will-you-take-by-force-what-you-may_619644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/howard-zinn-576_love_why-will-you-take-by-force-what-you-may_619644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/howard-zinn-576_love_why-will-you-take-by-force-what-you-may_619644.jpg) > ““Why will you take by force what you may have quietly by love? Why will you destroy us who supply you with food? What can you get by war? We can hide our provisions and run into the woods; then you will starve for wronging your friends. Why are you jealous of us? We are unarmed, and willing to give you what you ask, if you come in a friendly manner, and not so simple as not to know that it is much better to eat good meat, sleep comfortably, live quietly with my wives and children, laugh and be merry with the English, and trade for their copper and hatchets, than to run away from them, and to lie cold in the woods, feed on acorns, roots and such trash, and be so hunted that I can neither eat nor sleep. In these wars, my men must sit up watching, and if a twig break, they all cry out “Here comes Captain Smith!” So I must end my miserable life. Take away your guns and swords, the cause of all our jealousy, or you may all die in the same manner.”” [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. The speaker laments violent colonization, urging peace and mutual aid over war, highlighting the suffering caused by greed and mistrust. **In simple terms:** Violence harms both sides; peace benefits all. Key Takeaway Choose dialogue over weapons. Themes peace colonialism justice survival empathy Mood somber reflective hopeful Type political historical philosophical When to use this quote - colonial negotiations - community defense - resource sharing - conflict resolution Key Concepts mutual aid resource scarcity cultural misunderstanding Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives to violence could be pursued? - How does fear fuel conflict? 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We are unarmed, and willing to give you what you ask, if you come in a friendly manner, and not so simple as not to know that it is much better to eat good meat, sleep comfortably, live quietly with my wives and children, laugh and be merry with the English, and trade for their copper and hatchets, than to run away from them, and to lie cold in the woods, feed on acorns, roots and such trash, and be so hunted that I can neither eat nor sleep. In these wars, my men must sit up watching, and if a twig break, they all cry out “Here comes Captain Smith!” So I must end my miserable life. 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