--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Heroes understand the vast moral gulf…" description: "\"Heroes understand the vast moral gulf between those who target the innocent and those who target those who target the innocent.\" — John Nolte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/john-nolte-72910_character_heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-be_2766429.jpg" --- # Heroes understand the vast moral gulf between those who… ![“Heroes understand the vast moral gulf between those who target the innocent and those who target those who target the innocent.” quote by John Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/john-nolte-72910_character_heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-be_2766429.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/john-nolte-72910_character_heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-be_2766429.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/john-nolte-72910_character_heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-be_2766429.jpg) > “Heroes understand the vast moral gulf between those who target the innocent and those who target those who target the innocent.” [John Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nolte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the deep ethical divide between attacking harmless people and attacking those who themselves attack innocents, emphasizing moral complexity. **In simple terms:** It points out a big moral difference between harming innocents and harming their attackers. Key Takeaway Recognize and question the moral layers in conflict. Themes ethics conflict morality justice Mood thoughtful serious Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - war zones - law enforcement - activism - personal vendettas - political protests Key Concepts moral relativism just war theory victim‑perpetrator dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Who decides who is the true target? - Can violence ever be justified against those who harm innocents? A Different Perspective The distinction can blur when victims become aggressors, complicating clear moral judgments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Heroes Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroes-understand-1261222/) [Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent/) [Innocent Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent-target-3210124/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Gulf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-gulf-3210123/) [Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target/) [Target Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target-innocent-3210125/) [Vast Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vast-moral-3210122/) ## Related quotes > [These often unsung heroes understand...that poverty, disease and famine are just as deadly and destructive as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis. Individuals ...are taking on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/these-often-unsung-heroes-understand-that-poverty-disease-and-famine/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The United States of America is a flawed society. As it comprises human beings, it must be flawed. But in terms of the goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-united-states-of-america-is-a-flawed-society-as-it-comprises/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Man must get his thoughts, words and actions out of this vast moral jungle. We are not predators. We are, hopefully, more than instinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jay-dinshah/man-must-get-his-thoughts-words-and-actions-out-of-this-vast-moral/) [H. Jay Dinshah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jay-dinshah/) > [“Life is much bigger than we think, cause and effect intertwined in a vast moral structure that keeps pushing us to do better, become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/life-is-much-bigger-than-we-think-cause-and-effect-intertwined-in-a/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [The human. Now you know all about your target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/the-human-now-you-know-all-about-your-target/) [Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/) > [“Who flies high, easily chooses his target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/who-flies-high-easily-chooses-his-target/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [I only wear underwear from Target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannie-mai/i-only-wear-underwear-from-target/) [Jeannie Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannie-mai/) > [“project starts to go off target the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-moore/project-starts-to-go-off-target-the/) [Simon Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-moore/) > [Sometimes you're running toward your target so hard that you don't stop to reassess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-scott/sometimes-you-re-running-toward-your-target-so-hard-that-you-don-t/) [Jonathan Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-scott/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I don't know why, but I'm an easy target. And I don't do anything to dispel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mcginley/i-don-t-know-why-but-i-m-an-easy-target-and-i-don-t-do-anything-to/) [Ted McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mcginley/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [We will also target tax evasion and off-shore tax havens... Everyone must pay their share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/we-will-also-target-tax-evasion-and-off-shore-tax-havens-everyone/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) ## More by John Nolte > [I'm old enuf to remember when Dems considered a UN resolution and an actual coalition nothing more than Bushy McHitler going it alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nolte/i-m-old-enuf-to-remember-when-dems-considered-a-un-resolution-and-an/) [John Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nolte/) > [How to become a media star: Be a Republican who bucks the party line. How to be ignored by media: Be a Democrat who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nolte/how-to-become-a-media-star-be-a-republican-who-bucks-the-party-line/) [John Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nolte/) > [Miracles are short-term solutions, it's wisdom that helps you go the distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nolte/miracles-are-short-term-solutions-it-s-wisdom-that-helps-you-go-the/) [John Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nolte/) [Explore all 4 John Nolte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nolte/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Heroes understand the vast moral gulf between those who target the innocent and those who target those who target the innocent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Nolte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nolte/heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-between-those-who-target-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nolte/heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-between-those-who-target-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/john-nolte-72910_character_heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-be_2766429.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/john-nolte-72910_character_heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-be_2766429.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/john-nolte-72910_character_heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-be_2766429.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Heroes understand the vast moral gulf between those who target the innocent and those who target those who…” — John Nolte", "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 Nolte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nolte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Heroes understand the vast moral gulf...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nolte/heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-between-those-who-target-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nolte/heroes-understand-the-vast-moral-gulf-between-those-who-target-the/#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 } } ] } ```