--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am quite certain that the crimes of…" description: "\"I am quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think vainly, flattered myself that wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/john-brown-15897_american-civil-war_i-am-quite-certain-that-the-crimes-of-th_2552224.jpg" --- # I am quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land… ![“I am quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think vainly, flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.” quote by John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/john-brown-15897_american-civil-war_i-am-quite-certain-that-the-crimes-of-th_2552224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/john-brown-15897_american-civil-war_i-am-quite-certain-that-the-crimes-of-th_2552224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/john-brown-15897_american-civil-war_i-am-quite-certain-that-the-crimes-of-th_2552224.jpg) > “I am quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think vainly, flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.” [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence may be seen as necessary to eradicate deep-rooted injustice, though it is a grim solution. **In simple terms:** Violence may be needed to end injustice. Key Takeaway Consider nonviolent alternatives first. Themes justice violence revolution Mood somber reflective Type political ethical When to use this quote - civil rights movements - political protests - legal reforms Key Concepts moral calculus historical context ethical dilemma Questions to Reflect On - Is bloodshed ever justified? - What are the costs of violent change? A Different Perspective Violence often be more harm than good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-civil-war/) [Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood/) [Blood Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood-think-319534/) [Bloodshed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bloodshed/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-guilty-1531434/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Flattered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattered/) [Flattered Bloodshed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattered-bloodshed-1531432/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Land Purged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land-purged-1531435/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vainly Flattered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vainly-flattered-1531433/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with Blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-john-brown-am-now-quite-certain-that-the-crimes-of-this-guilty-land/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Strange how we decorate pain. 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With some the word liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-all-declare-for-liberty-but-in-using-the-same-word-we-do-not-all/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/strange-is-it-not-that-battles-martyrs-blood-even-assassination/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [It cost about 75 cents to kill a man in Ceasar's time. The price rose to about $3,000 per man during the Napoleonic wars;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-bone/it-cost-about-75-cents-to-kill-a-man-in-ceasar-s-time-the-price-rose/) [Homer Bone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-bone/) > [“For my part I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us of proving that popular government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/for-my-part-i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) ## More by John Brown > [Whereas, Slavery, throughout its entire existence in the United States is none other than a most barbarous, unprovoked, and unjustifiable War of one portion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/whereas-slavery-throughout-its-entire-existence-in-the-united-states/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [When I strike, the bees will begin to swarm, and I want you to help hive them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/when-i-strike-the-bees-will-begin-to-swarm-and-i-want-you-to-help/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Be mild with the mild, shrewd with the crafty, confiding to the honest, rough to the ruffian, and a thunderbolt to the liar. 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I am eternally tired of hearing that word caution. It is nothing but the word of cowardice!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/caution-sir-i-am-eternally-tired-of-hearing-that-word-caution-it-is/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [So far as I ever observed God's dealings with my soul, the flights of preachers sometimes entertained me, but it was Scripture expressions which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/so-far-as-i-ever-observed-god-s-dealings-with-my-soul-the-flights-of/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Holiness does not consist in mystic speculations, enthusiastic fervours, or uncommanded austerities; it consists in thinking as God thinks, and willing as God wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/holiness-does-not-consist-in-mystic-speculations-enthusiastic/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Now let us thank th' eternal power, convinced That Heaven but tries our virtue by affliction: That oft the cloud that wraps the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/now-let-us-thank-th-eternal-power-convinced-that-heaven-but-tries-our/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [I dont think the people of the slave states will ever consider the subject of slavery in its true light till some other argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/i-dont-think-the-people-of-the-slave-states-will-ever-consider-the/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [No man, with a man's heart in him, gets far on his way without some bitter, soul-searching disappointment. - Happy he who is brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/no-man-with-a-man-s-heart-in-him-gets-far-on-his-way-without-some-2/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [There is a shrine in the temple of age, where lie forever embalmed the memories of such as have deserved well of their country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/there-is-a-shrine-in-the-temple-of-age-where-lie-forever-embalmed-the/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [The angels are ministering spirits; they are not governing spirits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/the-angels-are-ministering-spirits-they-are-not-governing-spirits/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) [Explore all 41 John Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) ## More American civil war quotes > [It cost about 75 cents to kill a man in Ceasar's time. The price rose to about $3,000 per man during the Napoleonic wars;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-bone/it-cost-about-75-cents-to-kill-a-man-in-ceasar-s-time-the-price-rose/) [Homer Bone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-bone/) > [Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/strange-is-it-not-that-battles-martyrs-blood-even-assassination/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-all-declare-for-liberty-but-in-using-the-same-word-we-do-not-all/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The 1860 election became a referendum on the southern way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/the-1860-election-became-a-referendum-on-the-southern-way-of-life/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [What began as a bitter dispute over Union and States' Rights, ended as a struggle over the meaning of freedom in America. At Gettysburg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/what-began-as-a-bitter-dispute-over-union-and-states-rights-ended-as/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [Its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-h-stephens/its-foundations-are-laid-its-cornerstone-rests-upon-the-great-truth/) [Alexander H. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-h-stephens/) > [“For my part I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us of proving that popular government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/for-my-part-i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/my-paramount-object-in-this-struggle-is-to-save-the-union-and-is-not/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The triumph of the Confederacy... would be a victory for the powers of evil which would give courage to the enemies of progress and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-triumph-of-the-confederacy-would-be-a-victory-for-the-powers-of/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-i-could-save-the-union-without-freeing-any-slave-i-would-do-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Across the river he could see the burnt and crushed buildings of Fredericksburg, the debris piled along the streets, the scattered ruins of people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-shaara/across-the-river-he-could-see-the-burnt-and-crushed-buildings-of/) [Jeff Shaara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-shaara/) > [Grant stood by me when I was crazy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/grant-stood-by-me-when-i-was-crazy/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [You people speak so lightly of war; you don't know what you're talking about. 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