--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not if we kill them—” I began, only to…" description: "\"“Not if we kill them—” I began, only to cut off when a sudden rushing noise filled the air. And Ray grabbed my gun and went ballistic on something on t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/karen-chance-1416_kill_not-if-we-kill-them-i-began-only-to-cut_1649795.jpg" --- # Not if we kill them—” I began, only to cut off when a… ![“Not if we kill them—” I began, only to cut off when a sudden rushing noise filled the air. And Ray grabbed my gun and went ballistic on something on the wall over our heads. “Die! Die! Die!” he screamed, emptying the clip and causing spent shells to rain down all around us. And okay, maybe I’d…” quote by Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/karen-chance-1416_kill_not-if-we-kill-them-i-began-only-to-cut_1649795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/karen-chance-1416_kill_not-if-we-kill-them-i-began-only-to-cut_1649795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/karen-chance-1416_kill_not-if-we-kill-them-i-began-only-to-cut_1649795.jpg) > ““Not if we kill them—” I began, only to cut off when a sudden rushing noise filled the air. And Ray grabbed my gun and went ballistic on something on the wall over our heads. “Die! Die! Die!” he screamed, emptying the clip and causing spent shells to rain down all around us. And okay, maybe I’d been wrong about the calm thing. Because he was just standing there, trembling and panting and staring— At the air-conditioning vent that he’d just shot the crap out of. “—first.” I took my smoking gun out of his limp fingers and patted him on the back. “See? That’s the spirit.”” [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A chaotic confrontation escalates, showing how aggression can be misdirected and then rewarded with false praise. **In simple terms:** Violence leads to misguided encouragement. Key Takeaway Beware of praising reckless actions. Themes violence misdirection false praise Mood tense adrenaline conflicted Type narrative dramatic When to use this quote - combat - stressful encounters - leadership challenges Key Concepts aggression psychology group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to celebrate aggression? - How could the scene be resolved peacefully? A Different Perspective The quote glorifies violent behavior, which can be harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Die Screamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-screamed-640542/) [Gun Went](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-went-640543/) [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [Kill Began](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-began-640541/) [Went Ballistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-ballistic-640544/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't have a childhood, really, because I worked my whole life and... other reasons. So when I had some success, I went ballistic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rourke/i-didn-t-have-a-childhood-really-because-i-worked-my-whole-life-and/) [Mickey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rourke/) > [“I stepped free of Isambard and shoved Michael in the chest. I caught him off guard. He tumbled to the dock, and rolled into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-habel/i-stepped-free-of-isambard-and-shoved-michael-in-the-chest-i-caught/) [Lia Habel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-habel/) > [“One day about a month ago, I really hit bottom. You know, I just felt that in a Godless universe, I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/one-day-about-a-month-ago-i-really-hit-bottom-you-know-i-just-felt/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“I got up on my feet and went over to the bowl in the corner and threw cold water on my face. After a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/i-got-up-on-my-feet-and-went-over-to-the-bowl-in-the-corner-and-threw/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [The gun went off accidentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-spector/the-gun-went-off-accidentally/) [Phil Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-spector/) > [“After a little while I felt a little better, but very little. I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/after-a-little-while-i-felt-a-little-better-but-very-little-i-needed/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [“The gun went off again with a second deafening bang. Bill Denbrough shouted, “YOU KILLED MY BROTHER, YOU FUCKER!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-gun-went-off-again-with-a-second-deafening-bang-bill-denbrough/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/i-needed-a-drink-i-needed-a-lot-of-life-insurance-i-needed-a-vacation/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Boredom is vastly underrated. Boredom means that nothing is trying to kill you every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/boredom-is-vastly-underrated-boredom-means-that-nothing-is-trying-to/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“The only ones who kill are those prepared to be killed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lelouch-vi-britannia/the-only-ones-who-kill-are-those-prepared-to-be-killed/) [Lelouch Vi Britannia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lelouch-vi-britannia/) > [Don't smoke. Don't kill yourselves. Don't maim yourselves. Tell your friends. Please don't smoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-eszterhas/don-t-smoke-don-t-kill-yourselves-don-t-maim-yourselves-tell-your/) [Joe Eszterhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-eszterhas/) > [Curiosity Can Kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anison/curiosity-can-kill/) [Anison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anison/) > [What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubbly/what-doesnt-kill-you-makes-you-stronger/) [Bubbly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubbly/) > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Karen Chance > [ I glanced at Radu. "What, exactly is Louis-Cesare's problem?'. \[..\] Suddenly a speculative gleam lit his eyes. It made me nervous. 'He tends to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-glanced-at-radu-what-exactly-is-louis-cesare-s-problem-suddenly-a/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“He had all the self-preservation instincts of a bug near a shiny windshield.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/he-had-all-the-self-preservation-instincts-of-a-bug-near-a-shiny/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“I liked Pritkin loud and bitching, in other words, his normal state. I didn't like it when he got quiet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-liked-pritkin-loud-and-bitching-in-other-words-his-normal-state-i/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“A courteous war mage. The world really was coming to an end. And then Pritkin ran back around the corner followed by half a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/a-courteous-war-mage-the-world-really-was-coming-to-an-end-and-then/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [..."I ran out of stock around midnight and dropped by a place, got some Chinese." I hoped he meant takeout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-ran-out-of-stock-around-midnight-and-dropped-by-a-place-got-some/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“When good Americans die, they go to Paris,' the ghost said, after taking a drag on a small cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/when-good-americans-die-they-go-to-paris-the-ghost-said-after-taking/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [Where. Is. He?" Alphonse repeated, although it sounded more like "Don't make me eat your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/where-is-he-alphonse-repeated-although-it-sounded-more-like-don-t/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“Because the next moment, when I was hauled out from under the bed and up to a pair of so-familiar green eyes, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/because-the-next-moment-when-i-was-hauled-out-from-under-the-bed-and/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“I drank some too-hot coffee and scowled at him, annoyed although I couldn't remember why. The light from the lounge was leaking in, highlighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-drank-some-too-hot-coffee-and-scowled-at-him-annoyed-although-i/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [They don’t eat that much.” “In comparison to what? Starving marines?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/they-don-t-eat-that-much-in-comparison-to-what-starving-marines/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“I rotated my eyeball—and, goddamnit, even that hurt—to see the leader of my bodyguards peering at me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-rotated-my-eyeball-and-goddamnit-even-that-hurt-to-see-the-leader/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [I was alive, they were not. Go Me. (Touch the Dark)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-was-alive-they-were-not-go-me-touch-the-dark/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [There are things we want, and things we may have… Sanity lies in knowing the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/there-are-things-we-want-and-things-we-may-have-sanity-lies-in/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [You know, I was gutting this loser the other day, and I thought, It’d be more fun fighting that little dhampir. I wonder if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/you-know-i-was-gutting-this-loser-the-other-day-and-i-thought-it-d-be/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [One day, you will say it to me again. You will be sober. And you will mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/one-day-you-will-say-it-to-me-again-you-will-be-sober-and-you-will/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) [Explore all 243 Karen Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) ## More Kill quotes > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubbly/what-doesnt-kill-you-makes-you-stronger/) [Bubbly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubbly/) > [Curiosity Can Kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anison/curiosity-can-kill/) [Anison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anison/) > [Don't smoke. Don't kill yourselves. Don't maim yourselves. Tell your friends. Please don't smoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-eszterhas/don-t-smoke-don-t-kill-yourselves-don-t-maim-yourselves-tell-your/) [Joe Eszterhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-eszterhas/) > [“The only ones who kill are those prepared to be killed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lelouch-vi-britannia/the-only-ones-who-kill-are-those-prepared-to-be-killed/) [Lelouch Vi Britannia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lelouch-vi-britannia/) > [Boredom is vastly underrated. Boredom means that nothing is trying to kill you every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/boredom-is-vastly-underrated-boredom-means-that-nothing-is-trying-to/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“I’m going to kill Mr. Mysterious for this. Kill that crazy motherfucker. Why does he have to live on the edge all the time?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/i-m-going-to-kill-mr-mysterious-for-this-kill-that-crazy-motherfucker/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [“Be that as it may, we do need you in particular to complete this assignment. (Syd) What is it with you government assholes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/be-that-as-it-may-we-do-need-you-in-particular-to-complete-this/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I'm only one kill away from Command Assassin. Be a damn shame for that kill to be you" (Darion)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-only-one-kill-away-from-command-assassin-be-a-damn-shame-for-that/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Well, let's say you heard a fight in the boys' bathroom, and you broke it up. What would you do naturally if you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/well-let-s-say-you-heard-a-fight-in-the-boys-bathroom-and-you-broke/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [Nothing will kill what you've been called to do more than comparing yourself to someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/nothing-will-kill-what-you-ve-been-called-to-do-more-than-comparing/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I imagine that in a closed, hermetic society like the mob, where everybody knows each other, it must be really, really unpleasant to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dominik/i-imagine-that-in-a-closed-hermetic-society-like-the-mob-where/) [Andrew Dominik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dominik/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Fuck, Princess. You kill me. Every damn time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen/fuck-princess-you-kill-me-every-damn-time/) [Sarina Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarina-bowen/) [Browse all 3,038 Kill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Not if we kill them—” I began, only to cut off when a sudden rushing noise filled the air. And Ray grabbed my gun and went ballistic on something on the wall over our heads. “Die! Die! Die!” he screamed, emptying the clip and causing spent shells to rain down all around us. And okay, maybe I’d been wrong about the calm thing. Because he was just standing there, trembling and panting and staring— At the air-conditioning vent that he’d just shot the crap out of. “—first.” I took my smoking gun out of his limp fingers and patted him on the back. “See? 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