--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He can kill anything for need but he…" description: "\"He can kill anything for need but he could not even hurt a feeling for pleasure.\" — John Steinbeck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/john-steinbeck-71_feelings_he-can-kill-anything-for-need-but-he-cou_1082770.jpg" --- # He can kill anything for need but he could not even hurt a… ![“He can kill anything for need but he could not even hurt a feeling for pleasure.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/john-steinbeck-71_feelings_he-can-kill-anything-for-need-but-he-cou_1082770.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/john-steinbeck-71_feelings_he-can-kill-anything-for-need-but-he-cou_1082770.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/john-steinbeck-71_feelings_he-can-kill-anything-for-need-but-he-cou_1082770.jpg) > “He can kill anything for need but he could not even hurt a feeling for pleasure.” [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It suggests that physical violence can be driven by necessity, but emotional harm for mere pleasure is a deeper moral failing. **In simple terms:** Violence for need is different from harming feelings for fun. Key Takeaway Prioritize empathy over gratuitous cruelty. Themes violence morality empathy Mood somber thoughtful Type literary ethical When to use this quote - war - personal conflict - bullying - media violence Key Concepts need vs pleasure emotional harm human nature Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to harm feelings without need? - Can necessity ever justify emotional cruelty? A Different Perspective People may rationalize emotional cruelty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feeling Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-pleasure-2029540/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [Kill Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-need-2758167/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted her to to go on talking and understand without me saying anything. 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