--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The keel-mounted rail gun pushed the…" description: "\"“The keel-mounted rail gun pushed the whole ship backward in a solid mathematical relationship to the mass of the two-kilo tungsten round moving at a m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/james-s-a-corey-861_violence_the-keel-mounted-rail-gun-pushed-the-who_3097707.jpg" --- # The keel-mounted rail gun pushed the whole ship backward… ![“The keel-mounted rail gun pushed the whole ship backward in a solid mathematical relationship to the mass of the two-kilo tungsten round moving at a measurable fraction of c. Newton’s third law expressed as violence.” quote by James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/james-s-a-corey-861_violence_the-keel-mounted-rail-gun-pushed-the-who_3097707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/james-s-a-corey-861_violence_the-keel-mounted-rail-gun-pushed-the-who_3097707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/james-s-a-corey-861_violence_the-keel-mounted-rail-gun-pushed-the-who_3097707.jpg) > ““The keel-mounted rail gun pushed the whole ship backward in a solid mathematical relationship to the mass of the two-kilo tungsten round moving at a measurable fraction of c. Newton’s third law expressed as violence.”” [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A powerful weapon demonstrates Newton’s third law, turning force into equal and opposite reaction, illustrating cause and effect in physics and storytelling. **In simple terms:** Force creates opposite reaction, showing cause and effect. Key Takeaway Recognize that actions have equal and opposite consequences. Themes physics cause and effect technology conflict storytelling Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical illustrative When to use this quote - space battles - engineering design - military strategy - fictional worldbuilding Key Concepts Newtonian mechanics energy transfer weaponry Questions to Reflect On - How do you see cause and effect in your own decisions? - What unintended reactions might your actions provoke? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex social dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gun Pushed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-pushed-5355070/) [Newton Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newton-law-315324/) [Pushed Ship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pushed-ship-5355071/) [Rail Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rail-gun-983569/) [Ship Backward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ship-backward-5355072/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [“We have expended two-thirds of our rail-gun ammunition,” the weapons tech announced. “Shall I maintain fire?” “Yes,” Drummer said. “Then start putting chairs in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/we-have-expended-two-thirds-of-our-rail-gun-ammunition-the-weapons/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“Avasarala: "... and I understand that you've got a few after-market add-ons?" "Keel-mounted rail gun!" Alex said with a grin. "That scream of overcompensating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/avasarala-and-i-understand-that-you-ve-got-a-few-after-market-add-ons/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“Billy coughed when the door was opened, and when he coughed he shit thin gruel. 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If you are crying, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-you-are-sad-you-will-later-be-happy-if-you-are-dissatisfied-you/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [For example: (1) As if governed by Newton's First Law of Motion, an institution will resist any change in its current direction; (2) Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/for-example-1-as-if-governed-by-newton-s-first-law-of-motion-an/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Love should be according to Newton's third law that states: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-boldisor/love-should-be-according-to-newton-s-third-law-that-states-for-every/) [Stefan Boldisor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-boldisor/) > [“Newton found the law of gravitation not in a written page, but in a falling apple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/newton-found-the-law-of-gravitation-not-in-a-written-page-but-in-a/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Anybody who has done high school physics knows Newton’s Third Law. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. You push against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-j-halford/anybody-who-has-done-high-school-physics-knows-newton-s-third-law-for/) [Sean J. Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-j-halford/) > [“Listen - on the tenth night the peg was pulled out of the hasp on Billy's boxcar door, and the door was opened. Billy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/listen-on-the-tenth-night-the-peg-was-pulled-out-of-the-hasp-on-billy/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [“Claire dropped Willie on the cobbles and caught the girl by the back of her combies as she spun to escape. It was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-adina/claire-dropped-willie-on-the-cobbles-and-caught-the-girl-by-the-back/) [Shelley Adina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-adina/) > [Although a science fair can seem like a big "pain" it can help you understand important scientific principles, such as Newton's First Law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/although-a-science-fair-can-seem-like-a-big-pain-it-can-help-you/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Newton's law is nothing but the statistics of gravitation, it has no power whatever. Let us get rid of the idea of power from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/newton-s-law-is-nothing-but-the-statistics-of-gravitation-it-has-no/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) ## More by James S.A. Corey > [“If life transcends death, then I will seek for you there. If not, then there too.” He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/if-life-transcends-death-then-i-will-seek-for-you-there-if-not-then/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [Violence is what people do when they run out of good ideas. It's attractive because it's simple, it's direct, it's almost always available as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/violence-is-what-people-do-when-they-run-out-of-good-ideas-it-s/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“This was the difference, she thought, between solitude and isolation. And now she knew something about herself she hadn’t known before. It was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/this-was-the-difference-she-thought-between-solitude-and-isolation/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“Oh, I’m not dying out here,” Amos said, and pointed toward the interior of the ship with his chin. “Worst-case scenario, I’m dying inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/oh-i-m-not-dying-out-here-amos-said-and-pointed-toward-the-interior/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“My love is a pure love,” Alex said with a grin. “I wouldn’t sully it by actually, you know, doin’ anything about it.” “The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/my-love-is-a-pure-love-alex-said-with-a-grin-i-wouldn-t-sully-it-by/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“The mech hadn’t been designed for violence, but it was suited for it. That made her and it the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/the-mech-hadn-t-been-designed-for-violence-but-it-was-suited-for-it/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“For another thing, we’re under martial law, so I can do very nearly whatever the fuck I want. Including march through your precious little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/for-another-thing-we-re-under-martial-law-so-i-can-do-very-nearly/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“This attack is the greatest tragedy in human history,” Avasarala said. “They want the belt to rise up so they can hide behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/this-attack-is-the-greatest-tragedy-in-human-history-avasarala-said/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“Church of Humanity Ascendant, a religion that eschewed supernaturalism in all forms, and whose theology boiled down to Humans can be better than they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/church-of-humanity-ascendant-a-religion-that-eschewed-supernaturalism/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“Oh good,” Amos replied. “Somebody got killed there. That’s how we claim stuff, you know. This planet is officially ours now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/oh-good-amos-replied-somebody-got-killed-there-that-s-how-we-claim/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“Alamogordo and worked his two-year service stripping down ancient solar electricity stations from the bad old days before fusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/alamogordo-and-worked-his-two-year-service-stripping-down-ancient/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“But humans hadn’t been living and working in space nearly long enough for the primitive part of the brain not to say, I’ll fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/but-humans-hadn-t-been-living-and-working-in-space-nearly-long-enough/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“I like the backup plan better,” Amos said. “Backup plan?” Prax asked. “The backup plan is I grab the first guy we see, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/i-like-the-backup-plan-better-amos-said-backup-plan-prax-asked-the/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“She had seen Holden on the newsfeeds and reports. At the beginning of the war between Mars and the Belt, he had been the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/she-had-seen-holden-on-the-newsfeeds-and-reports-at-the-beginning-of/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“the lizard living at the base of her spine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/the-lizard-living-at-the-base-of-her-spine/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) [Explore all 341 James S.A. Corey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) ## More Violence quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“Here, need blurs the line between good and bad, and a constant promise of random violence sticks like humidity down your back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-syjuco/here-need-blurs-the-line-between-good-and-bad-and-a-constant-promise/) [Miguel Syjuco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-syjuco/) > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [... the unnatural ways we substitute for the natural prove not enough and soon there must be more and more unnaturalness, more and more violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-freeman/the-unnatural-ways-we-substitute-for-the-natural-prove-not-enough-and/) [Lucy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-freeman/) > ['Pompeii' will be PG-13. I think it has to have a level of violence and death in it because you've got a volcano exploding.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/pompeii-will-be-pg-13-i-think-it-has-to-have-a-level-of-violence-and/) [Paul W. S. 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