--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Violence begets violence, you know. And…" description: "\"Violence begets violence, you know. And you can't kill off all the violent people or all the murderers. We'd have to kill off the government.\" — John L..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/john-lennon-322_begets_violence-begets-violence-you-know-and-yo_2241004.jpg" --- # Violence begets violence, you know. And you can't kill off… ![“Violence begets violence, you know. And you can't kill off all the violent people or all the murderers. We'd have to kill off the government.” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/john-lennon-322_begets_violence-begets-violence-you-know-and-yo_2241004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/john-lennon-322_begets_violence-begets-violence-you-know-and-yo_2241004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/john-lennon-322_begets_violence-begets-violence-you-know-and-yo_2241004.jpg) > “Violence begets violence, you know. And you can't kill off all the violent people or all the murderers. We'd have to kill off the government.” [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence breeds more violence; eliminating violent individuals alone cannot end systemic aggression. **In simple terms:** Violence leads to more violence; killing people won’t stop it. Key Takeaway Address root causes, not just individuals. Themes violence systemic oppression justice Mood somber reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy reform - community building - education - conflict resolution Key Concepts cycle of retaliation social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What systemic factors sustain violence? - How can we reduce retaliation cycles? A Different Perspective Violence may persist despite individual removal; systemic change is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begets/) [Begets Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begets-violence-453158/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Kill Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-violent-593980/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Begets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-begets-914773/) [Violence Begets Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-begets-violence/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Violent People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent-people-731552/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing to be gained by being unnecessarily nasty. Violence begets violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/there-is-nothing-to-be-gained-by-being-unnecessarily-nasty-violence/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Unfortunately, violence begets violence. And this is how the war on terrorism seems to be going at this juncture. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/unfortunately-violence-begets-violence-and-this-is-how-the-war-on/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [I think violence begets violence. I don't think a way to solve any sort of conflict is with violence because nothing ever ends up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-think-violence-begets-violence-i-don-t-think-a-way-to-solve-any/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [Violence begets violence, and then you get leaders who are violent men. And you don't want that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/violence-begets-violence-and-then-you-get-leaders-who-are-violent-men/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [Violence begets violence by whomever used. War is a dirty business and entails the use of degrading means, whoever wages it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-muste/violence-begets-violence-by-whomever-used-war-is-a-dirty-business-and/) [A. J. Muste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-muste/) > [“Violence begets violence, and if I want to be a cog in that wheel, I have to accept when it stops on me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-mcginnis/violence-begets-violence-and-if-i-want-to-be-a-cog-in-that-wheel-i/) [Mindy McGinnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-mcginnis/) > [Yes, violence begets more violence, but historically this has been the way of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/yes-violence-begets-more-violence-but-historically-this-has-been-the/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [One bleeding-heart type asked me in a recent interview if I did not agree that 'violence begets violence.' I told him that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/one-bleeding-heart-type-asked-me-in-a-recent-interview-if-i-did-not/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/hate-begets-hate-violence-begets-violence-toughness-begets-a-greater/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Violence only begets violence when we allow it to. We always have a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-denys/violence-only-begets-violence-when-we-allow-it-to-we-always-have-a/) [P.T. Denys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-denys/) > [Violence begets violence, and hate begets hate. Both hate and violence beget a society that harms, and makes impossible the healing necessary for us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/violence-begets-violence-and-hate-begets-hate-both-hate-and-violence/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) > [“The thing is, you cannot ask people to coexist by having one side bow their heads and rely on a solution that is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izzeldin-abuelaish/the-thing-is-you-cannot-ask-people-to-coexist-by-having-one-side-bow/) [Izzeldin Abuelaish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izzeldin-abuelaish/) > [It just was a gradual development over the years. I mean last year was 'all you need is love.' This year, it's 'all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/it-just-was-a-gradual-development-over-the-years-i-mean-last-year-was/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [At this crucial crossroads of history, we join to call on the world to recognize that violence begets violence; that nuclear proliferation benefits no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/at-this-crucial-crossroads-of-history-we-join-to-call-on-the-world-to/) [David Saperstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-saperstein/) > [The use of violence in our struggle would be both impractical and immoral. To meet hate with retaliatory hate would do nothing but intensify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-use-of-violence-in-our-struggle-would-be-both-impractical-and/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by John Lennon > [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I never went to high school reunions. My thing is, out of sight, out of mind. That's my attitude toward life. So I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-never-went-to-high-school-reunions-my-thing-is-out-of-sight-out-of/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Today's folk song is rock and roll. 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Think peace, live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-want-to-get-peace-you-can-get-it-as-soon-as-you-like-if-we-all/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The reason why kids are crazy is because nobody can face the responsibility of bringing them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-reason-why-kids-are-crazy-is-because-nobody-can-face-the/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Imagine there's no heaven... it's easy if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-heaven-it-s-easy-if-you-try/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/man-you-should-have-seen-them-kicking-edgar-allan-poe/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Love is like a flower - you've got to let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/love-is-like-a-flower-you-ve-got-to-let-it-grow/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first-rock-n-roll-or-christianity/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-main-hangup-in-the-world-today-is-hypocrisy-and-insecurity-if/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) [Explore all 681 John Lennon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## More Begets quotes > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. 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Those who are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-heckman/cognitive-and-character-skills-work-together-as-dynamic-complements/) [James Heckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-heckman/) > [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Energy begets energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/energy-begets-energy/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [War destroys. War obliterates. War is ruination. And war begets more war. 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I've been offered a lot of movies now that '30 Rock' has been successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/success-begets-success-i-ve-been-offered-a-lot-of-movies-now-that-30/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) > [“Prayer begets peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/prayer-begets-peace/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“One evil begets another and another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronwen-griffiths/one-evil-begets-another-and-another/) [Bronwen Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronwen-griffiths/) > [Sport begets tumultuous strife and wrath, and wrath begets fierce quarrels and war to the death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/sport-begets-tumultuous-strife-and-wrath-and-wrath-begets-fierce/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [They maintain that only a dictatorship - their dictatorship, of course - can create the will of the people, while our answer to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/they-maintain-that-only-a-dictatorship-their-dictatorship-of-course/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [Fortunately work begets work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-warburton/fortunately-work-begets-work/) [Patrick Warburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-warburton/) > [Trust begets trust and untrust begets untrust. It's natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munshi-premchand/trust-begets-trust-and-untrust-begets-untrust-it-s-natural/) [Munshi Premchand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munshi-premchand/) [Browse all 257 Begets quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begets/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Violence begets violence, you know. And you can't kill off all the violent people or all the murderers. 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