--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think violence begets violence. I don't…" description: "\"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 solved, that way.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/joseph-gordon-levitt-1583_begets_i-think-violence-begets-violence-i-don-t_1676611.jpg" --- # I think violence begets violence. I don't think a way to… ![“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 solved, that way.” quote by Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/joseph-gordon-levitt-1583_begets_i-think-violence-begets-violence-i-don-t_1676611.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/joseph-gordon-levitt-1583_begets_i-think-violence-begets-violence-i-don-t_1676611.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/joseph-gordon-levitt-1583_begets_i-think-violence-begets-violence-i-don-t_1676611.jpg) > “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 solved, that way.” [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence creates a cycle, never truly solving disputes. **In simple terms:** Violence begets violence. Key Takeaway Seek non‑violent solutions. Themes conflict peace non‑violence cycle Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal disputes - community tensions - political negotiations Key Concepts ethical decision‑making peace studies Questions to Reflect On - How can you break the cycle? - What alternatives exist to force? A Different Perspective Non‑violent approaches can be slower and harder to implement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Begets Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-begets-violence/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/violence-begets-violence-you-know-and-you-can-t-kill-off-all-the/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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 > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I've been trying to understand conflict and violence ever since I was a kid. You know. There were a few things that happened even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-ve-been-trying-to-understand-conflict-and-violence-ever-since-i-was/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [Violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/violence-ends-up-defeating-itself-it-creates-bitterness-in-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/violence-is-immoral-because-it-thrives-on-hatred-rather-than-love-it/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by Joseph Gordon-Levitt > [Let's face it, most pretty girls aren't funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/let-s-face-it-most-pretty-girls-aren-t-funny/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [Most of what Hollywood puts out is crap anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/most-of-what-hollywood-puts-out-is-crap-anyway/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [If you're going to put yourself above everybody else, you might end up alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/if-you-re-going-to-put-yourself-above-everybody-else-you-might-end-up/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I think, honestly, that the word 'indie' is a false gimmick. 'Independent' used to mean a movie that was financed outside corporate Hollywood, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-think-honestly-that-the-word-indie-is-a-false-gimmick-independent/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I like making little videos and little records. I've always loved video cameras and four-track cassette recorders, still cameras, anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-like-making-little-videos-and-little-records-i-ve-always-loved/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [You usually get one or the other, you get someone who knows how to tell a story but they don't necessarily know about light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/you-usually-get-one-or-the-other-you-get-someone-who-knows-how-to/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [That is very different from how it used to be in the 20th century. Media was very one way. There's a small little industry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/that-is-very-different-from-how-it-used-to-be-in-the-20th-century/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I knew that if I wanted to really maintain control, I would have to keep the budget down. And I did. And I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-knew-that-if-i-wanted-to-really-maintain-control-i-would-have-to/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [When I was a teenager I loved acting, but I really just loved it for myself. I didn't like the fact that anyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-loved-acting-but-i-really-just-loved-it-for/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I don't buy into the glory days thing. I think every time has its great things to it. The '60s were such a glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-don-t-buy-into-the-glory-days-thing-i-think-every-time-has-its/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I didn't really like doing commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-didn-t-really-like-doing-commercials/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I just need some time away to remember why I stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-just-need-some-time-away-to-remember-why-i-stay/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I love Kimberly Peirce. Incredibly intense is a good way of describing her. Brutally honest. Really sharp. She's a director for actors. That's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-love-kimberly-peirce-incredibly-intense-is-a-good-way-of-describing/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I think there is something beautiful in reveling in sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-think-there-is-something-beautiful-in-reveling-in-sadness/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [That's sort of what I wanted to make fun of a little bit with Don Jon. And I think oftentimes, if you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/that-s-sort-of-what-i-wanted-to-make-fun-of-a-little-bit-with-don-jon/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) [Explore all 226 Joseph Gordon-Levitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) ## More Begets quotes > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Neatness begets order; but from order to taste there is the same difference as from taste to genius, or from love to friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/neatness-begets-order-but-from-order-to-taste-there-is-the-same/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Cognitive and character skills work together as dynamic complements; they are inseparable. Skills beget skills. More motivated children learn more. 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. After thousands of years of experience proving this, and reams of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-simeone/war-destroys-war-obliterates-war-is-ruination-and-war-begets-more-war/) Lisa Simeone > [Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch/come-let-us-choose-us-wives-from-among-the-children-of-men-and-beget/) [Enoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch/) > [ The messiness \[in my books\] is nothing like an Atwood novel. For me, the deeper subjects are secrets versus intimacy, and how both beget… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edan-lepucki/the-messiness-in-my-books-is-nothing-like-an-atwood-novel-for-me-the/) [Edan Lepucki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edan-lepucki/) > [Success begets success. 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 > [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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think violence begets violence. 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