---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...Have they been cruelly kill'd for what…"
description: "\"“...Have they been cruelly kill'd for what I want?/So shall I never want again if in/ The wanting all I love shall be destroy'd. -Luke II,4 lines 56-58..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ian-doescher-14274_quote_have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i_104749.jpg"
---

#  ...Have they been cruelly kill'd for what I want?/So shall…

![“...Have they been cruelly kill'd for what I want?/So shall I never want again if in/ The wanting all I love shall be destroy'd. -Luke II,4 lines 56-58” quote by Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ian-doescher-14274_quote_have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i_104749.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ian-doescher-14274_quote_have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i_104749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ian-doescher-14274_quote_have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i_104749.jpg)

> ““...Have they been cruelly kill'd for what I want?/So shall I never want again if in/ The wanting all I love shall be destroy'd. -Luke II,4 lines 56-58””

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

## 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 fears that desire leads to loss, and that losing what he loves would erase his yearning entirely.

**In simple terms:** Desire can destroy what we cherish.

Key Takeaway

Unfulfilled longing can annihilate love.

Themes

desire loss existential angst

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

- grieving a lost relationship
- facing a career setback

Key Concepts

psychology of yearning nihilism

Practical Applications

- reflect on what you truly value before pursuing

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it mean to want nothing?
- Can loss ever deepen appreciation?

A Different Perspective

It assumes love and desire are mutually exclusive, ignoring that desire can also motivate growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [You never kill any one that you want to kill in a war, he said to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-never-kill-any-one-that-you-want-to-kill-in-a-war-he-said-to/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“But the princes, putting the words of their wise men to naught, thought each to himself: If I but strike quickly enough, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr/but-the-princes-putting-the-words-of-their-wise-men-to-naught-thought/)

[Walter M. Miller Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr/)

> [If a man destroys the eye of another man, they shall destroy his eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hammurabi/if-a-man-destroys-the-eye-of-another-man-they-shall-destroy-his-eye/)

[Hammurabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hammurabi/)

> [...in war, they will kill some of us; we shall destroy all of them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-war-they-will-kill-some-of-us-we-shall-destroy-all-of-them/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [For the turning away of the simple, shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/for-the-turning-away-of-the-simple-shall-slay-them-and-the-prosperity/)

[Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/)

> [If ever we are constrained to lift the hatchet against any tribe, we will never lay it down till that tribe is exterminated, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-ever-we-are-constrained-to-lift-the-hatchet-against-any-tribe-we/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [We dread the future only when we are not sure we can kill ourselves when we want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-dread-the-future-only-when-we-are-not-sure-we-can-kill-ourselves/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you want to take over a city, you have to destroy the illusion of safety it provides. You have to hit the large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/when-you-want-to-take-over-a-city-you-have-to-destroy-the-illusion-of/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“Stay away from the ones you love too much. Those are the ones who will kill you. What you want to live and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/stay-away-from-the-ones-you-love-too-much-those-are-the-ones-who-will/)

[Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/)

> [Call me selfish, but I do not want you to cut yourself or kill yourself because I want to have your company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/call-me-selfish-but-i-do-not-want-you-to-cut-yourself-or-kill/)

[Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/)

> [I'm not trying to kill you, I only want to make you stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-thompson/i-m-not-trying-to-kill-you-i-only-want-to-make-you-stronger/)

[Shaun Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-thompson/)

> [“Here is my experience. Stay away from the ones you love too much. Those are the ones who will kill you. What you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/here-is-my-experience-stay-away-from-the-ones-you-love-too-much-those/)

[Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/)

> [“I could love you, I could kill you. I want this. This is how I make my mark, this is where I plant my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-dean/i-could-love-you-i-could-kill-you-i-want-this-this-is-how-i-make-my/)

Louise Dean

> [Ooh, there is something...I see in you. It might kill me, I want it to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramore/ooh-there-is-something-i-see-in-you-it-might-kill-me-i-want-it-to-be/)

[Paramore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramore/)

> [“I want to know what it is to love, to hate, to lust, to kill. I want it all. And I shouldn't”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-fonseca/i-want-to-know-what-it-is-to-love-to-hate-to-lust-to-kill-i-want-it/)

[Christine Fonseca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-fonseca/)

## More by Ian Doescher

> [I do a lot of writing in my capacity as the creative director for a marketing agency. These days, though, I'm trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/i-do-a-lot-of-writing-in-my-capacity-as-the-creative-director-for-a/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“A plague on 3PO for action slow,/ A plague upon my quest that led us here,/ A plague on both our circuit boards, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/a-plague-on-3po-for-action-slow-a-plague-upon-my-quest-that-led-us/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“LUKE But unto Tosche Station would I go, And there obtain some pow’r converters. Fie!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/luke-but-unto-tosche-station-would-i-go-and-there-obtain-some-pow-r/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“The final curtain of life’s play is dropp’d.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/the-final-curtain-of-life-s-play-is-dropp-d/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“LEIA —Thy vanity Hath puff’d up thine imagination. HAN —Aye? Then why dost thou yet follow me? Wert thou Afraid I would depart without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/leia-thy-vanity-hath-puff-d-up-thine-imagination-han-aye-then-why/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“At early morn, with eager wills they rise, A shar’d endeavor binding them anew. The fast landspeeder o’er the desert flies— They go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/at-early-morn-with-eager-wills-they-rise-a-shar-d-endeavor-binding/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“Discover thou shalt/That wherever good is found,/Evil is nearby.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/discover-thou-shalt-that-wherever-good-is-found-evil-is-nearby/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“HAN Ha, ha! Thy errant systems of belief— Thy weapons ancient, all thy mysteries, Thy robes and meditations o’er the air, Thy superstitions, e’en…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/han-ha-ha-thy-errant-systems-of-belief-thy-weapons-ancient-all-thy/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“LEIA Ah! Gov’nor Tarkin, scurvy knave art thou.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/leia-ah-gov-nor-tarkin-scurvy-knave-art-thou/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“It is a period of civil war. The spaceships of the rebels, striking swift From base unseen, have gain’d a vict’ry o’er The cruel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/it-is-a-period-of-civil-war-the-spaceships-of-the-rebels-striking/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [I watched the Star Wars trilogy with some good friends of mine for the first time in a few years, I read Pride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/i-watched-the-star-wars-trilogy-with-some-good-friends-of-mine-for/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [ “\[They shoot, Greedo dies. \[To innkeeper:\] Pray, goodly Sir, forgive me for the mess. \[Aside:\] And whether I shot first, I’ll ne’er confess! \[Exeunt.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/they-shoot-greedo-dies-to-innkeeper-pray-goodly-sir-forgive-me-for/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [“This door is lock’d. And as my father oft Hath said, a lockèd door no mischief makes. So sure am I that, thus, behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/this-door-is-lock-d-and-as-my-father-oft-hath-said-a-lock-d-door-no/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [True it is,/ That these are not the droids for which thou search'st. -Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/true-it-is-that-these-are-not-the-droids-for-which-thou-search-st-obi/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

> [Trying to write while I'm distracted definitely doesn't work for me. I'm also a compulsive saver of my files, so every writing session ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/trying-to-write-while-i-m-distracted-definitely-doesn-t-work-for-me-i/)

[Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

[Explore all 47 Ian Doescher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/)

## More Kill quotes

> [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubbly/what-doesnt-kill-you-makes-you-stronger/)

Bubbly

> [Curiosity Can Kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anison/curiosity-can-kill/)

[Anison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anison/)

> [Don't smoke. Don't kill yourselves. Don't maim yourselves. Tell your friends. Please don't smoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-eszterhas/don-t-smoke-don-t-kill-yourselves-don-t-maim-yourselves-tell-your/)

[Joe Eszterhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-eszterhas/)

> [“The only ones who kill are those prepared to be killed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lelouch-vi-britannia/the-only-ones-who-kill-are-those-prepared-to-be-killed/)

[Lelouch Vi Britannia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lelouch-vi-britannia/)

> [Boredom is vastly underrated. Boredom means that nothing is trying to kill you every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/boredom-is-vastly-underrated-boredom-means-that-nothing-is-trying-to/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“I’m going to kill Mr. Mysterious for this. Kill that crazy motherfucker. Why does he have to live on the edge all the time?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/i-m-going-to-kill-mr-mysterious-for-this-kill-that-crazy-motherfucker/)

[J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/)

> [“Be that as it may, we do need you in particular to complete this assignment. (Syd) What is it with you government assholes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/be-that-as-it-may-we-do-need-you-in-particular-to-complete-this/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“I'm only one kill away from Command Assassin. Be a damn shame for that kill to be you" (Darion)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-only-one-kill-away-from-command-assassin-be-a-damn-shame-for-that/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“Well, let's say you heard a fight in the boys' bathroom, and you broke it up. What would you do naturally if you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/well-let-s-say-you-heard-a-fight-in-the-boys-bathroom-and-you-broke/)

[Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/)

> [Nothing will kill what you've been called to do more than comparing yourself to someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/nothing-will-kill-what-you-ve-been-called-to-do-more-than-comparing/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [I imagine that in a closed, hermetic society like the mob, where everybody knows each other, it must be really, really unpleasant to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dominik/i-imagine-that-in-a-closed-hermetic-society-like-the-mob-where/)

[Andrew Dominik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dominik/)

> [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [“Fuck, Princess. You kill me. Every damn time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen/fuck-princess-you-kill-me-every-damn-time/)

[Sarina Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarina-bowen/)

Browse all 3,038 Kill quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“...Have they been cruelly kill'd for what I want?/So shall I never want again if in/ The wanting all I love shall be destroy'd. -Luke II,4 lines 56-58”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ian Doescher"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i-want-so-shall-i-never-want/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Kill"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i-want-so-shall-i-never-want/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ian-doescher-14274_quote_have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i_104749.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ian-doescher-14274_quote_have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i_104749.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ian-doescher-14274_quote_have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i_104749.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“...Have they been cruelly kill'd for what I want?/So shall I never want again if in/ The wanting all I love…” — Ian Doescher",
                "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": "Ian Doescher",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“...Have they been cruelly kill'd for...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i-want-so-shall-i-never-want/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/have-they-been-cruelly-kill-d-for-what-i-want-so-shall-i-never-want/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
