--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He was a killer, a thing that preyed…" description: "\"“He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, surviving triumphant..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/jack-london-595_killer_he-was-a-killer-a-thing-that-preyed-livi_641513.jpg" --- # He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things… ![“He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, surviving triumphantly in a hostile environment where only the strong survived. Because of all this he became possessed of a great pride in himself, which communicated…” quote by Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/jack-london-595_killer_he-was-a-killer-a-thing-that-preyed-livi_641513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/jack-london-595_killer_he-was-a-killer-a-thing-that-preyed-livi_641513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/jack-london-595_killer_he-was-a-killer-a-thing-that-preyed-livi_641513.jpg) > ““He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, surviving triumphantly in a hostile environment where only the strong survived. Because of all this he became possessed of a great pride in himself, which communicated itself like a contagion to his physical being.”” [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A predator thrives on strength, pride, and domination, viewing the world as a harsh arena where only the powerful survive. **In simple terms:** Powerful beings dominate hostile environments. Key Takeaway Recognize the drive for dominance in survival. Themes survival power pride dominance nature Mood intense brooding Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - competitive sports - business leadership - military training - wildlife observation Key Concepts evolution hierarchy self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - What are the costs of relentless pride? - When does strength become tyranny? A Different Perspective Such pride can blind one to cooperation and empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer/) [Preyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preyed-1769028/) [Prowess Surviving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prowess-surviving-3592501/) [Survived Possessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survived-possessed-5148638/) [Thing Preyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-preyed-3592502/) ## Related quotes > [He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/he-was-a-killer-a-thing-that-preyed-living-on-the-things-that-lived-2/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [She still preyed upon his mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jones/she-still-preyed-upon-his-mind/) [George Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jones/) > [“I was a monster who killed and preyed on human life; I could never escape that, but at least I could choose what kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-was-a-monster-who-killed-and-preyed-on-human-life-i-could-never/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [I ain't never preyed on the weak. I ain't never gone and picked on a guy that I knew I could beat up, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/i-ain-t-never-preyed-on-the-weak-i-ain-t-never-gone-and-picked-on-a/) [Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/) > [Because the weak do not want to get preyed on by the strong, they had to evolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-the-weak-do-not-want-to-get-preyed-on-by-the-strong-they-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I could choose what kind of people I preyed on, but in the end, I had to prey on someone. The lesser of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-could-choose-what-kind-of-people-i-preyed-on-but-in-the-end-i-had/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“I inherited her. I preyed on her. I owned her life and had the piece of paper to prove it. Nila Weaver. Mine. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepper-winters/i-inherited-her-i-preyed-on-her-i-owned-her-life-and-had-the-piece-of/) [Pepper Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepper-winters/) > [“Why did this keep happening? Why her? Perhaps there was some pheromone certain people omitted, perceivable only on a wavelength unique to those individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/why-did-this-keep-happening-why-her-perhaps-there-was-some-pheromone/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Fear is a killer, when it comes to the creative process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-baldwin/fear-is-a-killer-when-it-comes-to-the-creative-process/) [Adam Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-baldwin/) > [“Serial killer aren't creative." "Watch a little Dexter and get back to me on that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/serial-killer-aren-t-creative-watch-a-little-dexter-and-get-back-to/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [“If by ‘foe’ you mean a brutal killer, then I suppose I’d fall into the ‘friend’ category,” I replied cynically. “Although in your case,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-george/if-by-foe-you-mean-a-brutal-killer-then-i-suppose-i-d-fall-into-the/) [M.A. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-a-george/) > [Sterility: killer of motherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/sterility-killer-of-motherhood/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [You know, I read the papers and I watch the news a lot. I watch 'Dateline' and '48 Hours'. And I think we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/you-know-i-read-the-papers-and-i-watch-the-news-a-lot-i-watch/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) > [I love making movies, and being in any that I can be in. I'd like to be in those giant movies, as the fifth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-love-making-movies-and-being-in-any-that-i-can-be-in-i-d-like-to-be/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I've heard from the movie marketplace that James Cameron did such a killer job with 'Titanic' that it's almost impossible to do anything better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/i-ve-heard-from-the-movie-marketplace-that-james-cameron-did-such-a/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) ## More by Jack London > [It's better to stand by someone's side than by yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/it-s-better-to-stand-by-someone-s-side-than-by-yourself/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“And all the while the four men lay beside me and watched and made no move. Nor did I move, and without shame I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/and-all-the-while-the-four-men-lay-beside-me-and-watched-and-made-no/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“As the days went by, the evolution of LIKE into LOVE was accelerated. White Fang himself began to grow aware of it, though in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/as-the-days-went-by-the-evolution-of-like-into-love-was-accelerated/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“But he knew life, its foulness as well as its fairness, its greatness in spite of the slime that infested it, and by God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/but-he-knew-life-its-foulness-as-well-as-its-fairness-its-greatness/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [more you drink more you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/more-you-drink-more-you-want/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Of her own experience she had no memory of the thing happening; but in her instinct, which was the experience of all mothers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/of-her-own-experience-she-had-no-memory-of-the-thing-happening-but-in/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Socialism, when the last word is said, is merely a new economic and political system whereby more men can get food to eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/socialism-when-the-last-word-is-said-is-merely-a-new-economic-and/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“As I, my real self, grew older, I entered more and more into the substance of my dreams. One may dream, and even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/as-i-my-real-self-grew-older-i-entered-more-and-more-into-the/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [A good soldier is a blind, heartless, soulless, murderous machine. He is not a man. His is not a brute, for brutes kill only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/a-good-soldier-is-a-blind-heartless-soulless-murderous-machine-he-is/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [I would rather be ashes than dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-would-rather-be-ashes-than-dust/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“I believe that when I am dead, I am dead. I believe that with my death I am just as much obliterated as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-believe-that-when-i-am-dead-i-am-dead-i-believe-that-with-my-death/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“He wastes his time over his writing, trying to accomplish what geniuses and rare men with college educations sometimes accomplish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/he-wastes-his-time-over-his-writing-trying-to-accomplish-what/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“Strength is an empty shell. One cannot violate the promptings of one’s nature without having that nature recoil upon itself. Show me a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/strength-is-an-empty-shell-one-cannot-violate-the-promptings-of-one-s/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [I'd rather sing one wild song and burst my heart with it, than live a thousand years watching my digestion and being afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-d-rather-sing-one-wild-song-and-burst-my-heart-with-it-than-live-a/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) [Explore all 425 Jack London quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) ## More Killer quotes > [I've heard from the movie marketplace that James Cameron did such a killer job with 'Titanic' that it's almost impossible to do anything better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/i-ve-heard-from-the-movie-marketplace-that-james-cameron-did-such-a/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [I love making movies, and being in any that I can be in. I'd like to be in those giant movies, as the fifth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-love-making-movies-and-being-in-any-that-i-can-be-in-i-d-like-to-be/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [You know, I read the papers and I watch the news a lot. I watch 'Dateline' and '48 Hours'. And I think we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/you-know-i-read-the-papers-and-i-watch-the-news-a-lot-i-watch/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) > [Sterility: killer of motherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/sterility-killer-of-motherhood/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“If by ‘foe’ you mean a brutal killer, then I suppose I’d fall into the ‘friend’ category,” I replied cynically. “Although in your case,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-george/if-by-foe-you-mean-a-brutal-killer-then-i-suppose-i-d-fall-into-the/) [M.A. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-a-george/) > [“Serial killer aren't creative." "Watch a little Dexter and get back to me on that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/serial-killer-aren-t-creative-watch-a-little-dexter-and-get-back-to/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [Fear is a killer, when it comes to the creative process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-baldwin/fear-is-a-killer-when-it-comes-to-the-creative-process/) [Adam Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-baldwin/) > [I stepped on a Cornflake, and now I am a cereal killer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-stepped-on-a-cornflake-and-now-i-am-a-cereal-killer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That was...horrifying. I was better than that... ...Calling human beings 'it' was a common trait of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-had-called-brooke-it-that-was-stupid-that-was-horrifying-i-was/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > ['Killer Joe' provides a lot of red meat for the theater. Pam MacKinnon is the perfect director to shepherd a group of actors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/killer-joe-provides-a-lot-of-red-meat-for-the-theater-pam-mackinnon/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Greg Jackson is a sport killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-white/greg-jackson-is-a-sport-killer/) [Dana White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-white/) > [The trainee knew he should leave, but he was unable to look away. He'd never seen anything snap out so fast or strike so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-trainee-knew-he-should-leave-but-he-was-unable-to-look-away-he-d/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“A real friend is not always busy.Not when he has all your money. -The killer(comics).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matz/a-real-friend-is-not-always-busy-not-when-he-has-all-your-money-the/) [Matz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matz/) > [I bought tiny infant onesies while still in college and compiled a killer toy collection throughout my 20s and 30s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/i-bought-tiny-infant-onesies-while-still-in-college-and-compiled-a/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [“There are questions that run through your head when you find out that you’re a serial killer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-human/there-are-questions-that-run-through-your-head-when-you-find-out-that/) [Charlie Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-human/) [Browse all 506 Killer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, surviving triumphantly in a hostile environment where only the strong survived. 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