--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thwart,\" I said. \"To prevent someone from…" description: "\"Thwart,\" I said. \"To prevent someone from accomplishing something by means of visiting gratuitous violence upon his smarmy person.\" \"I'm pretty sure th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/jim-butcher-151_accomplishing-someth_thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-ac_1459244.png" --- # Thwart," I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing… ![“Thwart," I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something by means of visiting gratuitous violence upon his smarmy person." "I'm pretty sure that isn't the definition." Sarissa said. "It is today.” quote by Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/jim-butcher-151_accomplishing-someth_thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-ac_1459244.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/jim-butcher-151_accomplishing-someth_thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-ac_1459244.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/jim-butcher-151_accomplishing-someth_thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-ac_1459244.png) > “Thwart," I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something by means of visiting gratuitous violence upon his smarmy person." "I'm pretty sure that isn't the definition." Sarissa said. "It is today.” [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence used to stop someone is a perverse way of achieving control, but it often backfires and creates more chaos. **In simple terms:** Using violence to prevent something often creates more problems. Key Takeaway Seek non‑violent solutions before resorting to force. Themes conflict control violence ethics Mood tense critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - law enforcement - personal disputes - political negotiations - self‑defense situations Key Concepts strategy psychology morality Questions to Reflect On - When is force justified? - What alternatives exist to violent intervention? A Different Perspective Violence may solve a problem temporarily but can cause long‑term damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishing something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishing-something/) [Cold days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-days/) [Thwart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thwart/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [“Thwart: to prevent someone from accomplishing something by means of visiting gratuitous violence upon his smarmy person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/thwart-to-prevent-someone-from-accomplishing-something-by-means-of/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Pat yourself on the back for what you do get done. Use to-do lists, alarm clocks, and other ways of booby-trapping your environment. Form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-perry/pat-yourself-on-the-back-for-what-you-do-get-done-use-to-do-lists/) [John R. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-perry/) > [Don't let excuses prevent you from accomplishing your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-excuses-prevent-you-from-accomplishing-your-goals/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't ever want anyone to hear my music and look at it as just gratuitous violence, or hustling and money-getting - I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pusha-t/i-don-t-ever-want-anyone-to-hear-my-music-and-look-at-it-as-just/) [Pusha T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pusha-t/) > [A little bit of gratuitous violence in a well-thought-out story is fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-wise/a-little-bit-of-gratuitous-violence-in-a-well-thought-out-story-is/) [Ray Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-wise/) > [I don't like gratuitous violence. I don't like the 'Saw' movies. I don't like the 'Hostel' movies. I don't like anything that is violence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/i-don-t-like-gratuitous-violence-i-don-t-like-the-saw-movies-i-don-t/) [Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/) > [My moral compass swings far to the left, but when it comes to gratuitous violence, I have trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/my-moral-compass-swings-far-to-the-left-but-when-it-comes-to/) [Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/) > [Nowadays, everything is so gratuitous. The violence is suggested, and it's much more impactful than showing everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-jackson-cohen/nowadays-everything-is-so-gratuitous-the-violence-is-suggested-and-it/) [Oliver Jackson-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-jackson-cohen/) > [I don't think that swearing or gratuitous violence or sex make a show better. I just think there are natural rhythms to a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-winchester/i-don-t-think-that-swearing-or-gratuitous-violence-or-sex-make-a-show/) [Philip Winchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-winchester/) > [The problem is that the same technological tools we use to thwart terrorists can also be used against the people whose job it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronen-bergman/the-problem-is-that-the-same-technological-tools-we-use-to-thwart/) [Ronen Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronen-bergman/) > [I so hate it when I'm quoted to thwart the juices and desires of the great interior design public at large - Daily Express](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-llewelyn-bowen/i-so-hate-it-when-i-m-quoted-to-thwart-the-juices-and-desires-of-the/) Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen > [I really don't want to do anything that resembles stand-up comedy. But I will agree to say that I am doing it, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-neff/i-really-don-t-want-to-do-anything-that-resembles-stand-up-comedy-but/) [Lucas Neff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-neff/) > [To work with undaunted energy! What fear! Who is powerful enough to thwart you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/to-work-with-undaunted-energy-what-fear-who-is-powerful-enough-to/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Adults, who outnumber kids four or five to one, are in charge. We wield the resources, run the world, and completely thwart kids' creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/adults-who-outnumber-kids-four-or-five-to-one-are-in-charge-we-wield/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More by Jim Butcher > [“I stared at MacFinn for a long moment. I believed that he was telling me the truth. That he didn’t have much control, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-stared-at-macfinn-for-a-long-moment-i-believed-that-he-was-telling/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“So you really could die. Your godmother is right, you know. You are mad as a hatter. Nutty as a fruitcake.” “Crazy like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/so-you-really-could-die-your-godmother-is-right-you-know-you-are-mad/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I knew I didn't have much of a chance of getting away from that swarm of fae piranha, but it was an infinitely larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-knew-i-didn-t-have-much-of-a-chance-of-getting-away-from-that-swarm/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I told you," Molly said, never looking toward me. "It's in the past. Leave it there." "You listening to my head, kiddo?" Her mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-told-you-molly-said-never-looking-toward-me-it-s-in-the-past-leave/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Punctuality is for people with nothing better to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/punctuality-is-for-people-with-nothing-better-to-do/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Look,” I said. “Me and the island are . . . kind of partners.” “Oh, right,” Thomas said. He looked at Karrin and said, “Harry’s a geosexual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/look-i-said-me-and-the-island-are-kind-of-partners-oh-right-thomas/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I swear , this stupid town. Why does every hideous supernatural thing that happens happen here ? I'm gone for a few months and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-swear-this-stupid-town-why-does-every-hideous-supernatural-thing/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Well. We’ll just have to hope that this wasn’t a loup-garou, I guess.” “If it was a louper, you’d know,” Bob said wisely. “In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/well-we-ll-just-have-to-hope-that-this-wasn-t-a-loup-garou-i-guess-if/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“But you can't go around changing your definition of right and wrong (or smart and stupid) just because doing the wrong thing happens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/but-you-can-t-go-around-changing-your-definition-of-right-and-wrong/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Not everyone can be equally right, Harry.” “But believe you me, everyone can be equally wrong,” I said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/not-everyone-can-be-equally-right-harry-but-believe-you-me-everyone/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [You are a drug dealer. To tiny faeries. Shame." Sanya to Dresden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/you-are-a-drug-dealer-to-tiny-faeries-shame-sanya-to-dresden/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“He fell into step beside me and we both got into the Blue Beetle — he got in the red door. I got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/he-fell-into-step-beside-me-and-we-both-got-into-the-blue-beetle-he/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Something like this will test you like nothing else," Mac said. "You're going to find out who you are, Harry. You're going to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/something-like-this-will-test-you-like-nothing-else-mac-said-you-re/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Mort looked at the cat and sighed. “Oh, sure. Professional ectomancer with a national reputation as a medium tells you what’s going on, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/mort-looked-at-the-cat-and-sighed-oh-sure-professional-ectomancer/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) [Explore all 1,110 Jim Butcher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) ## More Accomplishing something quotes > [Even though I'm resting I'm accomplishing something by sewing that shirt that I've been meaning to sew for weeks. And it's relaxing. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/even-though-i-m-resting-i-m-accomplishing-something-by-sewing-that/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [The only test of possession is use. The talent that is buried is not owned. The napkin and the hole in the ground are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/the-only-test-of-possession-is-use-the-talent-that-is-buried-is-not/) [Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/) > [I didn't originally intend on writing a book. I started writing during the day to feel like I was accomplishing something creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-dratch/i-didn-t-originally-intend-on-writing-a-book-i-started-writing-during/) [Rachel Dratch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-dratch/) > [Being on a ship is something like being pregnant. You can sit there and do absolutely nothing but stare at the water and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/being-on-a-ship-is-something-like-being-pregnant-you-can-sit-there/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [When you use an excuse for not accomplishing something or not completing a project, you are actually giving power to someone or something outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/when-you-use-an-excuse-for-not-accomplishing-something-or-not/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [I did 50 takes on Robert Shaw assembling the Greener Gun on 'Jaws.' The shark wasn't working, so I just kept shooting to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-did-50-takes-on-robert-shaw-assembling-the-greener-gun-on-jaws-the/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I think my favorite thing is the mystery of life - it makes you feel that much better about accomplishing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lang/i-think-my-favorite-thing-is-the-mystery-of-life-it-makes-you-feel/) [Jonny Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lang/) > [Leadership is accomplishing something through other people that wouldn't have happened if you weren't there. . . Leadership is being able to mobilize ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-tichy/leadership-is-accomplishing-something-through-other-people-that/) [Noel Tichy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-tichy/) > [Life is short, and potential studies infinite. We have a much better chance of accomplishing something significant when we follow our passionate interests and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/life-is-short-and-potential-studies-infinite-we-have-a-much-better/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [There's a difference between standing up and telling people what you're planning to do and standing up and going and accomplishing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-stanley/there-s-a-difference-between-standing-up-and-telling-people-what-you/) [Paul Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-stanley/) > [Rush, that most exciting perversion of life, the necessity of accomplishing something in less time than should be truly allowed for its doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/rush-that-most-exciting-perversion-of-life-the-necessity-of/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I enjoy the idea that even though I'm resting, I'm accomplishing something by reading a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-enjoy-the-idea-that-even-though-i-m-resting-i-m-accomplishing/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I don't care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don't harness it and focus it on a specific target, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/i-don-t-care-how-much-power-brilliance-or-energy-you-have-if-you-don/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Given the choice between accomplishing something and just lying around, I'd rather lie around. No contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/given-the-choice-between-accomplishing-something-and-just-lying/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Life is meant for living.. I know that sounds simplistic, but how many days do you let slip by without really doing something, accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivana-trump/life-is-meant-for-living-i-know-that-sounds-simplistic-but-how-many/) [Ivana Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivana-trump/) [Browse all 28 Accomplishing something quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishing-something/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thwart,\" I said. \"To prevent someone from accomplishing something by means of visiting gratuitous violence upon his smarmy person.\" \"I'm pretty sure that isn't the definition.\" Sarissa said. \"It is today.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Butcher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-accomplishing-something-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplishing something" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-accomplishing-something-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/jim-butcher-151_accomplishing-someth_thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-ac_1459244.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/jim-butcher-151_accomplishing-someth_thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-ac_1459244.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/jim-butcher-151_accomplishing-someth_thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-ac_1459244.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thwart,\" I said. \"To prevent someone from accomplishing something by means of visiting gratuitous violence…” — Jim Butcher", "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": "Jim Butcher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Thwart,\" I said. \"To prevent someone...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-accomplishing-something-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/thwart-i-said-to-prevent-someone-from-accomplishing-something-by/#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 } } ] } ```