--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Find the enemy that wants to end this…" description: "\"Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they're so sick of the killing that they leav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/james-mattis-9515_american-democracy_find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-ex_1186746.png" --- # Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in… ![“Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they're so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact.” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/james-mattis-9515_american-democracy_find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-ex_1186746.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/james-mattis-9515_american-democracy_find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-ex_1186746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/james-mattis-9515_american-democracy_find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-ex_1186746.png) > “Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they're so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact.” [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Eliminate those who threaten democracy by force until they abandon violent tactics, preserving freedom. **In simple terms:** Kill threats to protect liberty. Key Takeaway Use decisive force against anti‑democratic enemies. Themes politics security freedom Mood strategic controversial Type political military When to use this quote - national defense - political activism - law enforcement Key Concepts counterterrorism authoritarianism military strategy Questions to Reflect On - Is lethal force always justified? - What non‑violent alternatives exist? A Different Perspective Violence may create martyrs or backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Usmc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usmc/) ## Related quotes > [The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/the-most-important-six-inches-on-the-battlefield-is-between-your-ears/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [There are hunters and there are victims. By your discipline, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/there-are-hunters-and-there-are-victims-by-your-discipline-you-will/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [It's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/it-s-quite-fun-to-fight-them-you-know-it-s-a-hell-of-a-hoot-it-s-fun/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/you-go-into-afghanistan-you-got-guys-who-slap-women-around-for-five-2/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [“There is nothing like suspense and anxiety for barricading a human’s mind against the Enemy. He wants men to be concerned with what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-nothing-like-suspense-and-anxiety-for-barricading-a-human-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The last thing the enemy wants to see is Jesus and His tribe of twenty-first-century, Internet-savvy followers gaining ground online. So he turns up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-birdsong/the-last-thing-the-enemy-wants-to-see-is-jesus-and-his-tribe-of/) Toni Birdsong > [The Enemy wants to bring the man to a state of mind in which he could design the best cathedral in the world, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-enemy-wants-to-bring-the-man-to-a-state-of-mind-in-which-he-could/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The enemy wants you to believe that you are powerless over the circumstance of life, that God or no one else loves you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-word-hollis/the-enemy-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-are-powerless-over-the/) [Michelle Word Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-word-hollis/) > [Grunts on the line, where the enemy wants them dead, still goof off - even knowing that by letting their guard down they might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/grunts-on-the-line-where-the-enemy-wants-them-dead-still-goof-off/) [David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/) > [Your enemy wants to strip you, make sport of you, and merchandise your body, but your heavenly Father wants to clothe you with beauty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/your-enemy-wants-to-strip-you-make-sport-of-you-and-merchandise-your/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [“To beat your enemy, you must understand what your enemy wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-chercover/to-beat-your-enemy-you-must-understand-what-your-enemy-wants/) [Sean Chercover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-chercover/) > [“To anticipate the Enemy’s strategy, we must consider His aims. The Enemy wants to bring the man to a state of mind in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/to-anticipate-the-enemy-s-strategy-we-must-consider-his-aims-the/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“One must face the fact that all the talk about His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/one-must-face-the-fact-that-all-the-talk-about-his-love-for-men-and/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“To us a human is primarily food; our aim is the absorption of its will into ours, the increase of our own area of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/to-us-a-human-is-primarily-food-our-aim-is-the-absorption-of-its-will/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [There is a rule of Sharia: If the enemy wants to suppress you, you are supposed to put up a strong resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhmad-kadyrov/there-is-a-rule-of-sharia-if-the-enemy-wants-to-suppress-you-you-are/) [Akhmad Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhmad-kadyrov/) ## More by James Mattis > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event. That said, there are some \*\*\*\*\*\*\*s in the world that just need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/the-first-time-you-blow-someone-away-is-not-an-insignificant-event/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [With respect to the outlines of what's in the Army Field Manual, there's no doubt in my mind about the limitations it places not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/with-respect-to-the-outlines-of-what-s-in-the-army-field-manual-there/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We can kill lots of people. We do kill lots of people. We can destroy virtually anything we choose to destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/we-can-kill-lots-of-people-we-do-kill-lots-of-people-we-can-destroy/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [I just hope we can find our way back to engaging with one another, arguing strongly with one another, and then going down and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-just-hope-we-can-find-our-way-back-to-engaging-with-one-another/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We've backed off in good faith to try and give you a chance to straighten this problem out. But I am going to beg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/we-ve-backed-off-in-good-faith-to-try-and-give-you-a-chance-to/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [You've been told that you're broken. That you're damaged goods ... there is also Post-Traumatic Growth. You come back from war stronger and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/you-ve-been-told-that-you-re-broken-that-you-re-damaged-goods-there/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [It's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/it-s-quite-fun-to-fight-them-you-know-it-s-a-hell-of-a-hoot-it-s-fun/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it's going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/you-cannot-allow-any-of-your-people-to-avoid-the-brutal-facts-if-they/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [You can overcome wrong technology. Your people have the initiative, they see the problem, no big deal ... you can't overcome bad culture. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/you-can-overcome-wrong-technology-your-people-have-the-initiative/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/you-go-into-afghanistan-you-got-guys-who-slap-women-around-for-five-2/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We have the most skillful, firecest, and certainly the most ethical ground forces in the world... I'm not saying we have to commit right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/we-have-the-most-skillful-firecest-and-certainly-the-most-ethical/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [I don't see lethality as the problem. I mean, the lethality of US forces is quite remarkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-don-t-see-lethality-as-the-problem-i-mean-the-lethality-of-us/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [The United States has been essentially engaged in an ongoing war that most people date from 2001. That war has taken us to Afghanistan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/the-united-states-has-been-essentially-engaged-in-an-ongoing-war-that/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Explore all 72 James Mattis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) ## More American democracy quotes > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [That's what separates out American democracy from dictators and horrible governments across the world and the reason why that works is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-chamberlain/that-s-what-separates-out-american-democracy-from-dictators-and/) Charles R. Chamberlain > [This will be the day when we shall bring into full realization the dream of American democracy -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/this-will-be-the-day-when-we-shall-bring-into-full-realization-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [This has all the appearance of a foreign power trying to undermine structures of legitimacy of an American election. That is a serious matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerson/this-has-all-the-appearance-of-a-foreign-power-trying-to-undermine/) [Michael Gerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerson/) > [Men like Abraham Lincoln recognized that if the slaveholders were not stopped, it would only be a question of time until they spread their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/men-like-abraham-lincoln-recognized-that-if-the-slaveholders-were-not/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [These communities that are losing local news coverage are losing something deeper. They're losing a connection to American democracy. And those connections must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/these-communities-that-are-losing-local-news-coverage-are-losing/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [“Today you go into make a modern recording with all this technology. The bass plays first, then the drums come in later, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/today-you-go-into-make-a-modern-recording-with-all-this-technology/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-a-result-of-the-citizens-united-supreme-court-decision-american/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If everyone on the Court always voted for the prosecution against the defendant, for the corporation against the plaintiffs, and for the government against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/if-everyone-on-the-court-always-voted-for-the-prosecution-against-the/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Political violence has no place in Pennsylvania - the birthplace of American democracy - nor anywhere else across this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/political-violence-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-the-birthplace-of/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [The atomic weapons race and the secrecy surrounding it crushed American democracy. It induced us to conduct government according to lies. It distorted justice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/the-atomic-weapons-race-and-the-secrecy-surrounding-it-crushed/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. They're troublemaking efforts. 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The working theory behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric-2/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Browse all 168 American democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they're so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Mattis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-experiment-in-american/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-experiment-in-american/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/james-mattis-9515_american-democracy_find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-ex_1186746.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/james-mattis-9515_american-democracy_find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-ex_1186746.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/james-mattis-9515_american-democracy_find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-ex_1186746.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until…” — James Mattis", "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": "James Mattis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Find the enemy that wants to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-experiment-in-american/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/find-the-enemy-that-wants-to-end-this-experiment-in-american/#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 } } ] } ```