--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unlike some older brothers, I never set…" description: "\"Unlike some older brothers, I never set him on fire, or cut off an arm or leg, or drowned him in the tub.\" — John Elder Robison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/john-elder-robison-15225_arms_unlike-some-older-brothers-i-never-set-h_2562327.jpg" --- # Unlike some older brothers, I never set him on fire, or… ![“Unlike some older brothers, I never set him on fire, or cut off an arm or leg, or drowned him in the tub.” quote by John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/john-elder-robison-15225_arms_unlike-some-older-brothers-i-never-set-h_2562327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/john-elder-robison-15225_arms_unlike-some-older-brothers-i-never-set-h_2562327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/john-elder-robison-15225_arms_unlike-some-older-brothers-i-never-set-h_2562327.jpg) > “Unlike some older brothers, I never set him on fire, or cut off an arm or leg, or drowned him in the tub.” [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker contrasts violent sibling behavior with his own restraint, highlighting personal choice over inherited aggression. **In simple terms:** I chose restraint over violence. Key Takeaway Choose calm over aggression. Themes self‑control family dynamics violence choice Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - parenting - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts psychology personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you choose restraint in tense moments? - What influences your response to aggression? A Different Perspective Violence can be a learned response, not inevitable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers/) [Brothers Set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-set-1617320/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Drowned Tub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drowned-tub-1617319/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Older brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-brother/) [Older brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-brothers/) [Tubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tubs/) [Unlike Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlike-older-1617318/) ## Related quotes > [You don't know anything about pain until you've seen your own baby drowned in a tub... and you definitely don't know anything about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/you-don-t-know-anything-about-pain-until-you-ve-seen-your-own-baby/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [I was the youngest and only girl in a family of two older brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-was-the-youngest-and-only-girl-in-a-family-of-two-older-brothers/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I had so many older brothers who beat up on me, so I'm a tough kid. 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Building a strength can take you to the top of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/building-up-a-weakness-just-makes-you-less-disabled-building-a/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Sociopath” and “psycho” were two of the most common field diagnoses for my look and expression. I heard it all the time: “I’ve read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/sociopath-and-psycho-were-two-of-the-most-common-field-diagnoses-for/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Nice people like them by children like him and raise them as pets. But he didn't want to be a pet today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/nice-people-like-them-by-children-like-him-and-raise-them-as-pets-but/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Girls are the trickiest and most unpredictable creatures a fellow like me will ever talk to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/girls-are-the-trickiest-and-most-unpredictable-creatures-a-fellow/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Find Your Strengths and Interests”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/find-your-strengths-and-interests/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [This is a f\*\*\*ing mess," I said tactfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/this-is-a-f-ing-mess-i-said-tactfully/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“I used to fear barking dogs. I would cringe and say to myself, 'Nice doggie please don't bite me I'll just go away,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/i-used-to-fear-barking-dogs-i-would-cringe-and-say-to-myself-nice/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Soon I was spending all my time in the basement, and I had moved from taking things apart to putting new things together. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/soon-i-was-spending-all-my-time-in-the-basement-and-i-had-moved-from/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) [Explore all 43 John Elder Robison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. 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Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? 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