---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know something about killing. I don't…"
description: "\"I know something about killing. I don't like killing. And I don't think a state honors life by turning around and sanctioning killing. Now, that's just..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/john-f-kerry-996_belief_i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-l_229498.png"
---

#  I know something about killing. I don't like killing. And…

![“I know something about killing. I don't like killing. And I don't think a state honors life by turning around and sanctioning killing. Now, that's just a personal belief that I have.” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/john-f-kerry-996_belief_i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-l_229498.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/john-f-kerry-996_belief_i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-l_229498.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/john-f-kerry-996_belief_i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-l_229498.png)

> “I know something about killing. I don't like killing. And I don't think a state honors life by turning around and sanctioning killing. Now, that's just a personal belief that I have.”

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

## 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 expresses personal discomfort with killing and doubts that state-sanctioned killing honors life.

**In simple terms:** Killing feels wrong; state killing may not honor life.

Key Takeaway

Question personal beliefs about violence.

Themes

ethics state power life value

Mood

reflective serious

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- military decisions
- policy debates
- personal conscience
- human rights

Key Concepts

moral philosophy political theory

Questions to Reflect On

- Do personal morals outweigh state duties?
- When is lethal force justified?

A Different Perspective

State actions may be justified despite personal discomfort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Death penalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-penalty/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I know something about killing. I don't like killing. And I don't think a state honors life by turning around and sanctioning killing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-like-killing-and-i-don-t-think-2/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [Killing a being just to satiate your taste buds is the most criminal act ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangram-singh/killing-a-being-just-to-satiate-your-taste-buds-is-the-most-criminal/)

[Sangram Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangram-singh/)

> [“Because that’s how you become a bounty hunter. It’s not that you like the killing work. That’s just to begin with. It’s that, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cole/because-that-s-how-you-become-a-bounty-hunter-it-s-not-that-you-like/)

[Nick Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cole/)

> [The idea of retiring is like killing yourself. It's almost like Hari Kari. I intend to live to a 100 and go down in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/the-idea-of-retiring-is-like-killing-yourself-it-s-almost-like-hari/)

[Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/)

> [“Even if Douglas was trying to sacrifice me and harvest my creepy powers at the time, I feel like killing people for doing awful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lish-mcbride/even-if-douglas-was-trying-to-sacrifice-me-and-harvest-my-creepy/)

[Lish McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lish-mcbride/)

> [You can't break a broken heart. It's like killing what's dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhi-shuen/you-can-t-break-a-broken-heart-it-s-like-killing-what-s-dead/)

Zhi Shuen

> [“For you it may be enjoyable to betraying but do you know you are killing one innocent person who trusted on you. So keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/for-you-it-may-be-enjoyable-to-betraying-but-do-you-know-you-are/)

[Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/)

> [“Just because they didn't know they were killing human beings doesn't mean they weren't killing human beings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/just-because-they-didn-t-know-they-were-killing-human-beings-doesn-t/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [So?" Bob said. "Hat up, go kill her. Problem solved." "Bob," I said. "You can't just go around killing people." "I know. That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/so-bob-said-hat-up-go-kill-her-problem-solved-bob-i-said-you-can-t/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“the one who was killed would not know why he was killed, and the one who was killing would not know why he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-who-was-killed-would-not-know-why-he-was-killed-and-the-one/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Everything you need to know about killing is on television these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hillier/everything-you-need-to-know-about-killing-is-on-television-these-days/)

[Jennifer Hillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hillier/)

> [Do not attempt to challenge my authority. I have eight weeks to turn you gaggle of maggots into a well-discipline cadet unit. From this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans/do-not-attempt-to-challenge-my-authority-i-have-eight-weeks-to-turn/)

[Damon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans/)

> [“Jezzet there isn't a man in this room who hasn't spent at least some time staring at you and you're without doubt the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-j-hayes/jezzet-there-isn-t-a-man-in-this-room-who-hasn-t-spent-at-least-some/)

[Rob J. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-j-hayes/)

> [Judicial execution can never cancel or remove the atrocity it seeks to punish; it can only add a second atrocity to the original one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auberon-waugh/judicial-execution-can-never-cancel-or-remove-the-atrocity-it-seeks/)

[Auberon Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-waugh/)

> [What says the law? You will not kill. How does it say it? By killing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/what-says-the-law-you-will-not-kill-how-does-it-say-it-by-killing/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

## More by John F. Kerry

> [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [ People talk about \[Bashar\] Assad running Syria. He doesn't control his own country. He's down to about 20, 25 percent of the country. What… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/people-talk-about-bashar-assad-running-syria-he-doesn-t-control-his/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [I'm an internationalist. I'd like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-m-an-internationalist-i-d-like-to-see-our-troops-dispersed-through/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [ You cannot bring peace in Syria as long as \[Bashar\] Assad is, in fact, there. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/you-cannot-bring-peace-in-syria-as-long-as-bashar-assad-is-in-fact/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [There's an agreement that Syria should be a unified country, united; that it needs to be secular; that ISIL needs to be taken on;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/there-s-an-agreement-that-syria-should-be-a-unified-country-united/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [It's very hard to get other countries to give up their weapons when you're busy developing a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/it-s-very-hard-to-get-other-countries-to-give-up-their-weapons-when/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [There is no bigger judgment for a president of the United States than how you take a nation to war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/there-is-no-bigger-judgment-for-a-president-of-the-united-states-than/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [I have confidence in my campaign. I have assembled a great team that is going to beat George W. Bush, and any rumors to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-have-confidence-in-my-campaign-i-have-assembled-a-great-team-that/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [In a few years, you should be able to plug your American-made plug-in hybrid into the outlet in your garage, so that you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/in-a-few-years-you-should-be-able-to-plug-your-american-made-plug-in/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [Unlike Washington, which is stuck in ideological gridlock, Americans feel the impact of climate change in their own hometowns and they know something must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/unlike-washington-which-is-stuck-in-ideological-gridlock-americans/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [America must always be the world's paramount military power, but we can magnify our power through alliances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/america-must-always-be-the-world-s-paramount-military-power-but-we/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [We should not allow a tiny minority of shoddy scientists and science and extreme ideologues to compete with scientific facts,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/we-should-not-allow-a-tiny-minority-of-shoddy-scientists-and-science/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [Jesus did not help just the sick who could afford to pay for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/jesus-did-not-help-just-the-sick-who-could-afford-to-pay-for-it/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [War should be not a war of choice; it should be a war of necessity. And it should be a last resort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/war-should-be-not-a-war-of-choice-it-should-be-a-war-of-necessity-and/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

[Explore all 312 John F. Kerry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

## More Belief quotes

> [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/)

[Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/)

> [“MIND &amp; GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/)

[Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/)

[Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/)

> [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/)

[Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/)

> [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/)

[Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/)

> [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/)

[David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/)

> [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/)

[J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/)

> [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/)

[LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/)

> [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

[Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I know something about killing. I don't like killing. And I don't think a state honors life by turning around and sanctioning killing. Now, that's just a personal belief that I have.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John F. Kerry"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-like-killing-and-i-don-t-think/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Belief"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-like-killing-and-i-don-t-think/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/john-f-kerry-996_belief_i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-l_229498.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/john-f-kerry-996_belief_i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-l_229498.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/john-f-kerry-996_belief_i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-l_229498.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I know something about killing. I don't like killing. And I don't think a state honors life by turning…” — John F. Kerry",
                "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": "John F. Kerry",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I know something about killing. I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-like-killing-and-i-don-t-think/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-know-something-about-killing-i-don-t-like-killing-and-i-don-t-think/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
