--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man kills another man, the people…" description: "\"“When a man kills another man, the people say he is a murderer, but when the Emir kills him, the Emir is just. When a man robs a monastery, they say he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/kahlil-gibran-1330_another-man_when-a-man-kills-another-man-the-people_666459.jpg" --- # When a man kills another man, the people say he is a… ![“When a man kills another man, the people say he is a murderer, but when the Emir kills him, the Emir is just. When a man robs a monastery, they say he is a thief, but when the Emir robs him of his life, the Emir is honourable. When a woman betrays her husband, they say she is an adulteress, but…” quote by Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/kahlil-gibran-1330_another-man_when-a-man-kills-another-man-the-people_666459.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/kahlil-gibran-1330_another-man_when-a-man-kills-another-man-the-people_666459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/kahlil-gibran-1330_another-man_when-a-man-kills-another-man-the-people_666459.jpg) > ““When a man kills another man, the people say he is a murderer, but when the Emir kills him, the Emir is just. When a man robs a monastery, they say he is a thief, but when the Emir robs him of his life, the Emir is honourable. When a woman betrays her husband, they say she is an adulteress, but when the Emir makes her walk naked in the streets and stones her later, the Emir is noble. Shedding of blood is forbidden, but who made it lawful for the Emir? Stealing one's money is a crime, but taking away one's life is a noble act. Betrayal of a husband may be an ugly deed, but stoning of living souls is a beautiful sight. Shall we meet evil with evil and say this is the Law? Shall we fight corruption with greater corruption and say this is the Rule? Shall we conquer crimes with more crimes and say this is Justice? Had not the Emir killed an enemy in his past life? Had he not robbed his weak subjects of money and property? Had he not committed adultery? Was he infallible when he killed the murderer and hanged the thief in the tree? Who are those who hanged the thief in the tree? Are they angels descended from heaven, or men looting and usurping? Who cut off the murderer's head? Are they divine prophets, or soldiers shedding blood wherever they go? Who stoned that adulteress? Were they virtuous hermits who came from their monasteries, or humans who loved to commit atrocities with glee, under the protection of ignorant Law? What is Law? Who saw it coming with the sun from the depths of heaven? What human saw the heart of God and found its will or purpose? In what century did the angels walk among the people and preach to them, saying, "Forbid the weak from enjoying life, and kill the outlaws with the sharp edge of the sword, and step upon the sinners with iron feet?”” [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage critiques double standards in moral judgments, exposing how power distorts law and justice. **In simple terms:** Power corrupts definitions of right and wrong. Key Takeaway Question authority and its definitions. Themes morality justice power hypocrisy Mood critical provocative Type philosophical political controversial When to use this quote - legal analysis - activism - education - media commentary Key Concepts ethical relativism political philosophy social critique Questions to Reflect On - Who decides what is just? - How can societies prevent power abuse? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex sociopolitical dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Another man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-man/) [Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) [Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) [Emir Kills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emir-kills-5300922/) [Enjoying life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoying-life/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Killed Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed-enemy-453237/) [Kills Emir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kills-emir-5300920/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer/) [Murderer Emir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer-emir-5300919/) [Past life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-life/) [Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing/) [Thief Emir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief-emir-5300921/) ## Related quotes > [Good flying never killed an enemy yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-mannock/good-flying-never-killed-an-enemy-yet/) [Mick Mannock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-mannock/) > [“Perhaps that's why men did it. 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Anywhere else, you simply killed your enemy with a sword. Or poisoned him, if you had the honourless instincts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/this-place-sickened-him-anywhere-else-you-simply-killed-your-enemy/) [S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) > [I don't want anything negative in my life, like hate, comparison, competition, and jealousy. I think these things are very heavy and take away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-oberoi/i-don-t-want-anything-negative-in-my-life-like-hate-comparison/) [Vivek Oberoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-oberoi/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. 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They're too busy enjoying life and love and everything in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/people-who-truly-live-their-lives-don-t-have-time-to-complain-or/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [I don't want to wake up and not truly be enjoying my life and these amazing things around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-don-t-want-to-wake-up-and-not-truly-be-enjoying-my-life-and-these/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [Being stylish is about enjoying your life and expressing yourself and your inner light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/being-stylish-is-about-enjoying-your-life-and-expressing-yourself-and/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Never stop enjoying, life too short to be gloomy everyday. Smile .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-stop-enjoying-life-too-short-to-be-gloomy-everyday-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) ## More by Kahlil Gibran > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-teacher-who-walks-in-the-shadow-of-the-temple-among-his-followers/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [We stood up and bade each other farewell, but love and despair stood between us like two ghosts, one stretching his wings with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/we-stood-up-and-bade-each-other-farewell-but-love-and-despair-stood/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“Oftentimes we call Life bitter names, but only when we ourselves are bitter and dark. 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Too many fragments of the spirit have I scattered in these streets, and too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/who-can-depart-from-his-pain-and-aloneness-without-regret-too-many/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“You are my brother and I love you. I love you worshipping in your church, kneeling in your temple, and praying in your mosque.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-are-my-brother-and-i-love-you-i-love-you-worshipping-in-your/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“You need not fear, my love, for never have the stars on high told what they know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-need-not-fear-my-love-for-never-have-the-stars-on-high-told-what/) [Kahlil Gibrán](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-soul-walks-not-upon-a-line-neither-does-it-grow-like-a-reed/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“For if you should enter the temple for no other purpose than asking you shall not receive:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/for-if-you-should-enter-the-temple-for-no-other-purpose-than-asking/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/for-even-as-love-crowns-you-so-shall-he-crucify-you-even-as-he-is-for/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being,the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-deeper-that-sorrow-carves-into-your-being-the-more-joy-you-can/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“You are good when you are fully awake in your speech.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-are-good-when-you-are-fully-awake-in-your-speech/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) [Explore all 233 Kahlil Gibran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) ## More Another man quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. 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Betrayal of a husband may be an ugly deed, but stoning of living souls is a beautiful sight. Shall we meet evil with evil and say this is the Law? Shall we fight corruption with greater corruption and say this is the Rule? Shall we conquer crimes with more crimes and say this is Justice? Had not the Emir killed an enemy in his past life? Had he not robbed his weak subjects of money and property? Had he not committed adultery? Was he infallible when he killed the murderer and hanged the thief in the tree? Who are those who hanged the thief in the tree? Are they angels descended from heaven, or men looting and usurping? Who cut off the murderer's head? Are they divine prophets, or soldiers shedding blood wherever they go? Who stoned that adulteress? Were they virtuous hermits who came from their monasteries, or humans who loved to commit atrocities with glee, under the protection of ignorant Law? What is Law? Who saw it coming with the sun from the depths of heaven? What human saw the heart of God and found its will or purpose? 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