--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Boy, you just can't kill people like you…" description: "\"Boy, you just can't kill people like you used to,\" — James Patterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/james-patterson-171_boys_boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you_567583.png" --- # Boy, you just can't kill people like you used to, ![“Boy, you just can't kill people like you used to,” quote by James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/james-patterson-171_boys_boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you_567583.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/james-patterson-171_boys_boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you_567583.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/james-patterson-171_boys_boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you_567583.png) > “Boy, you just can't kill people like you used to,” [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## 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 killing have become less overt, requiring new methods of control and prevention. **In simple terms:** Violence is changing, demanding new responses. Key Takeaway Adapt strategies to modern threats. Themes crime violence society psychology Mood cautious reflective Type literary social When to use this quote - law enforcement training - community safety programs - policy making Key Concepts behavioral change modern crime prevention tactics Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance old and new crime prevention? - What are the roots of changing violence? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on new threats may ignore persistent old dangers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“Just because you kill people doesn't mean your feet should.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/just-because-you-kill-people-doesn-t-mean-your-feet-should/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Duh, why didn't you just kill her?" Lisa asked, annoyed. "Two more seconds and it would have been justifiable vampicide." "Lis, for all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/duh-why-didn-t-you-just-kill-her-lisa-asked-annoyed-two-more-seconds/) [Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/) > [“Now there’s something you don’t see everyday. Gah, I hope there’s no human roaming around with a video recorder or cell phone. Be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/now-there-s-something-you-don-t-see-everyday-gah-i-hope-there-s-no/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“If you get killed, I swear I’ll bring you back from the dead just to kill you again myself!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-sutton/if-you-get-killed-i-swear-i-ll-bring-you-back-from-the-dead-just-to/) [Kelsey Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-sutton/) > [People who want to kill other people are the last people I want to party with, because I get mouthy when I drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/people-who-want-to-kill-other-people-are-the-last-people-i-want-to/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [“Oh get over yourself, so you can kill people, I could shoot you in your face if I wanted to, anyone can do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hood/oh-get-over-yourself-so-you-can-kill-people-i-could-shoot-you-in-your/) [Holly Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hood/) > [I love to kill people. I love to watch them die. I would shoot them in the head and they would wiggle and squirm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ramirez/i-love-to-kill-people-i-love-to-watch-them-die-i-would-shoot-them-in/) [Richard Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ramirez/) > [My name is Gin, and I kill people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/my-name-is-gin-and-i-kill-people/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE NOT GUNS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-kill-people-not-guns/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'll be teaching you the nasty, furtive, polite ways to kill people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-ll-be-teaching-you-the-nasty-furtive-polite-ways-to-kill-people/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [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 can't stand how much I love you boy. I can't stand how much I need you. I can't stand how much I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-stand-how-much-i-love-you-boy-i-can-t-stand-how-much-i-need/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You will find a boy cool than me, smarter than me, and funnier than me, but you will never find a boy just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-bansal/you-will-find-a-boy-cool-than-me-smarter-than-me-and-funnier-than-me/) Krishna Bansal > [He was a boy, just a boy, when I was a very young girl. When I was sixteen, I made the discovery - love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/he-was-a-boy-just-a-boy-when-i-was-a-very-young-girl-when-i-was/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I'm such a good good boy, I just need a new toy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/motley-crue/i-m-such-a-good-good-boy-i-just-need-a-new-toy/) [Motley Crue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/motley-crue/) ## More by James Patterson > [It was a little weird that they were friends. But then, maybe freaks just tended to find each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-a-little-weird-that-they-were-friends-but-then-maybe-freaks/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“The next forty-five minutes in that office was about as much fun as a day at Disney World—when it’s pouring rain. And all there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/the-next-forty-five-minutes-in-that-office-was-about-as-much-fun-as-a/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [You're lying through your fangs," Iggy accused. Fang tried to play innocent--but "innocent Fang" is an oxymoron, so it didn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/you-re-lying-through-your-fangs-iggy-accused-fang-tried-to-play/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [There are reasons people seek escape in books, and one of those reasons is that the boundary of what can happen is beyond what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/there-are-reasons-people-seek-escape-in-books-and-one-of-those/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I shot him the bird. (Get it? I shot him the—never mind.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-shot-him-the-bird-get-it-i-shot-him-the-never-mind/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I get up every morning and chop wood, and I pretty much do it seven days a week, and I like to do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-get-up-every-morning-and-chop-wood-and-i-pretty-much-do-it-seven/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Witihin seconds the headhunter had lost control of his car and it squealed, sliding sideways right into several other cars. Cool!' said the Gasman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/witihin-seconds-the-headhunter-had-lost-control-of-his-car-and-it/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“It was scary. More than Sara could possibly know. More than anybody ought to know, or ever would. History wasn't for the general public--it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-scary-more-than-sara-could-possibly-know-more-than-anybody/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Did I want a dog? No. Did I need a dog? Also no. We were six kids running for our lives, not knowing where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/did-i-want-a-dog-no-did-i-need-a-dog-also-no-we-were-six-kids-running/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I'm a girl who has been tamping down her emotions and keeping them tightly guarded her whole life. And that works really well for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-m-a-girl-who-has-been-tamping-down-her-emotions-and-keeping-them/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [When my son, Jack, was four, I had to make a trip to Los Angeles. I asked him if he was going to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-my-son-jack-was-four-i-had-to-make-a-trip-to-los-angeles-i-asked/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“that kid’s nothing but a little hoodlum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/that-kid-s-nothing-but-a-little-hoodlum/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Jeezum—humans were like eggshells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/jeezum-humans-were-like-eggshells/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) [Explore all 983 James Patterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More Boys quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) MrAwesome > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [She had been dragged in the most humiliating of all dusts, the dust reserved for older women who let themselves be approached, on amorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-had-been-dragged-in-the-most-humiliating-of-all-dusts-the-dust/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) [Browse all 7,168 Boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Boy, you just can't kill people like you used to,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Patterson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you-used-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boys" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you-used-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/james-patterson-171_boys_boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you_567583.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/james-patterson-171_boys_boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you_567583.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/james-patterson-171_boys_boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you_567583.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Boy, you just can't kill people like you used to,” — James Patterson", "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 Patterson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Boy, you just can't kill people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you-used-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/boy-you-just-can-t-kill-people-like-you-used-to/#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 } } ] } ```