--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can argue about violence. It's…" description: "\"You can argue about violence. It's destructive, but people are inherently violent in a lot of ways. Abusing drugs is always bad for people and bad for ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/irvine-welsh-843_arguing_you-can-argue-about-violence-it-s-destru_1988842.png" --- # You can argue about violence. It's destructive, but people… ![“You can argue about violence. It's destructive, but people are inherently violent in a lot of ways. Abusing drugs is always bad for people and bad for society, but the whole notion of festival is tied up with intoxication.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/irvine-welsh-843_arguing_you-can-argue-about-violence-it-s-destru_1988842.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/irvine-welsh-843_arguing_you-can-argue-about-violence-it-s-destru_1988842.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/irvine-welsh-843_arguing_you-can-argue-about-violence-it-s-destru_1988842.png) > “You can argue about violence. It's destructive, but people are inherently violent in a lot of ways. Abusing drugs is always bad for people and bad for society, but the whole notion of festival is tied up with intoxication.” [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence and intoxication are pervasive human traits, yet they cause societal harm; acknowledging this paradox is essential for ethical reflection. **In simple terms:** People are naturally violent and often intoxicated, which is harmful. Key Takeaway Recognize and mitigate harmful impulses. Themes violence intoxication human nature ethics Mood conflicted thoughtful Type analytical critical When to use this quote - personal relationships - public policy - community events - substance regulation Key Concepts psychology social harm addiction Questions to Reflect On - How can society balance innate aggression with peaceful coexistence? - What role should regulation play in festival intoxication? A Different Perspective Violence and intoxication can also be channeled positively in controlled environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abusing Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusing-drugs-1725292/) [Argue Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue-violence-3437732/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Destructive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destructive/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drugs Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-bad-478720/) [Festivals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/festivals/) [Intoxication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intoxication/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Tied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tied/) [Tied up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tied-up/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [I think when people are abusing drugs it is probably a symptom of a bigger problem that they need to address.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pontius/i-think-when-people-are-abusing-drugs-it-is-probably-a-symptom-of-a/) [Chris Pontius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pontius/) > [The worst drugs are as bad as anybody's told you. It's just a dumb trip, which I can't condemn people if they get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-worst-drugs-are-as-bad-as-anybody-s-told-you-it-s-just-a-dumb/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“Drugs are bad for you. They will fuck you up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/drugs-are-bad-for-you-they-will-fuck-you-up/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Drugs are bad...Unless they're curing a disease, executing a murderer, clearing a clouded mind, inspiring art and music...Never mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/drugs-are-bad-unless-they-re-curing-a-disease-executing-a-murderer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Drugs are bad, because they hurt the people you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/drugs-are-bad-because-they-hurt-the-people-you-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Okay, smoking is bad; you shouldn't smoke. And alcohol is bad; you shouldn't drink alcohol. And as for drugs, well, drugs are bad; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/south-park/okay-smoking-is-bad-you-shouldn-t-smoke-and-alcohol-is-bad-you/) [South Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/south-park/) > [If drugs are bad, any respectable society should do something to deal with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/if-drugs-are-bad-any-respectable-society-should-do-something-to-deal/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [Drugs are bad for you, they jus make you feel good sometimes. I hate when people try to defend a drug...That's what fiends do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/drugs-are-bad-for-you-they-jus-make-you-feel-good-sometimes-i-hate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hip-hop culture is deeply rooted in the wrong things. Hip-hop is about drugs right now. It's more so about drugs - about selling drugs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-staples/hip-hop-culture-is-deeply-rooted-in-the-wrong-things-hip-hop-is-about/) [Vince Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-staples/) > [I think the 'Just say no' mentality is so crazed. I saw a thing in a women's magazine the other day. 'He smokes cannabis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-think-the-just-say-no-mentality-is-so-crazed-i-saw-a-thing-in-a/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [“I promise, you about to have a lot of overdosed muthafuckers on your watch.” “Nah, dead motherfuckers can’t buy drugs; that’s bad for business,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-balark/i-promise-you-about-to-have-a-lot-of-overdosed-muthafuckers-on-your/) [Patrice Balark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-balark/) > [I used to find myself goofed out in the street on drugs. And I had such a bad problem with addiction at the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/i-used-to-find-myself-goofed-out-in-the-street-on-drugs-and-i-had/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [I've had good times on drugs...bad times on drugs...But I've had good and bad relationships...and I'm not giving up pussy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ve-had-good-times-on-drugs-bad-times-on-drugs-but-i-ve-had-good-and/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Trying to convince drug users drugs are bad is harder than teaching an armless man piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-convince-drug-users-drugs-are-bad-is-harder-than-teaching/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Look I'm not saying drugs are good but I'm not saying drugs are bad. What I am saying is that if you take them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/look-i-m-not-saying-drugs-are-good-but-i-m-not-saying-drugs-are-bad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Irvine Welsh > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Without this kickstart to my day, I'd be lost. A day without a morning run is a day you fumble through, rather than one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/without-this-kickstart-to-my-day-i-d-be-lost-a-day-without-a-morning/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“There's nae reasoning wi some cats. You say 'reason', they mew 'treason'. Ken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nae-reasoning-wi-some-cats-you-say-reason-they-mew-treason-ken/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [It's crazy for somebody who's kind of empowered and wealthy like myself to say, "Oh, I don't need to be patronized by the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-crazy-for-somebody-who-s-kind-of-empowered-and-wealthy-like/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [When you go away, you see where you come from in a different light. I see Scotland, and the rest of Britain, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/when-you-go-away-you-see-where-you-come-from-in-a-different-light-i/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If it's something that I feel uncomfortable with, that's a reason for me to write it. I kind of like to make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-it-s-something-that-i-feel-uncomfortable-with-that-s-a-reason-for/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [There's nothing worse than a violent beating from an unremarkable person. Physical violence with someone is too much like shagging them. Too much id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-violent-beating-from-an-unremarkable/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If I stop working and publishing, and TV, and film and all that, I would be dead within a couple of weeks. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-i-stop-working-and-publishing-and-tv-and-film-and-all-that-i-would/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I can see why the Russians love Robert Burns, I think that Russians and Koreans have a very similar outlook to Scots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-why-the-russians-love-robert-burns-i-think-that-russians/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If you continue to transfer the wealth of the population of the planet to a very small amount of people, it becomes untenable at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-you-continue-to-transfer-the-wealth-of-the-population-of-the/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Most middle-class people I know don't really live like me. Middle-class people worry a lot about money. They worry a lot about job security,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/most-middle-class-people-i-know-don-t-really-live-like-me-middle/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [As soon as you've written it, you're thinking about how it can move into different mediums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/as-soon-as-you-ve-written-it-you-re-thinking-about-how-it-can-move/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Begbie doesnae even notice; he's in his element, particularly good at funerals in the way a lot ay psychopaths tend tae be. Ah suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/begbie-doesnae-even-notice-he-s-in-his-element-particularly-good-at/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I'm more of a warrior than you'll ever be. I believe in the class war. I believe in the battle of the sexes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-m-more-of-a-warrior-than-you-ll-ever-be-i-believe-in-the-class-war/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) [Explore all 348 Irvine Welsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) [Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can argue about violence. It's destructive, but people are inherently violent in a lot of ways. 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