--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What if away from the bad guy, she’s not…" description: "\"“What if away from the bad guy, she’s not a bad guy? Oh, hell, I don’t know. The only thing I know for certain is that it isn’t my job to worry about h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/laurell-k-hamilton-199_bad-guy_what-if-away-from-the-bad-guy-she-s-not_2309332.jpg" --- # What if away from the bad guy, she’s not a bad guy? Oh… ![“What if away from the bad guy, she’s not a bad guy? Oh, hell, I don’t know. The only thing I know for certain is that it isn’t my job to worry about how the poor bastard turned into a killer. It’s my job to make sure they never kill anyone else again. That’s what I do. I am the executioner. Murder…” quote by Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/laurell-k-hamilton-199_bad-guy_what-if-away-from-the-bad-guy-she-s-not_2309332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/laurell-k-hamilton-199_bad-guy_what-if-away-from-the-bad-guy-she-s-not_2309332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/laurell-k-hamilton-199_bad-guy_what-if-away-from-the-bad-guy-she-s-not_2309332.jpg) > ““What if away from the bad guy, she’s not a bad guy? Oh, hell, I don’t know. The only thing I know for certain is that it isn’t my job to worry about how the poor bastard turned into a killer. It’s my job to make sure they never kill anyone else again. That’s what I do. I am the executioner. Murder someone in my town, and I’m the one that you get to see. Once.”” [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator sees themselves as an executioner, tasked with stopping killers, regardless of personal feelings about the perpetrator. **In simple terms:** I stop killers, no matter who they are. Key Takeaway Focus on protecting others. Themes justice duty detachment Mood serious reflective tense Type ethical philosophical narrative When to use this quote - law enforcement - private security - vigilante actions - moral conflicts Key Concepts ethical dilemmas vigilantism Questions to Reflect On - Who decides who deserves execution? - Can justice be impartial? A Different Perspective It may ignore the humanity of both victim and perpetrator. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Executioner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executioner/) [Executioner Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executioner-murder-4391630/) [Kill Executioner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-executioner-3765274/) [Killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer/) [Turned Killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-killer-5478844/) ## Related quotes > [I am the Executioner. Murder someone in my town, and I’m the one that you get to see. Once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-am-the-executioner-murder-someone-in-my-town-and-i-m-the-one-that/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“It is wrong to kill anyone. It is wrong to kill those who kill. It is wrong to kill the executioner. The laws on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nodier/it-is-wrong-to-kill-anyone-it-is-wrong-to-kill-those-who-kill-it-is/) [Charles Nodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nodier/) > [“If you're not able to see all the other parts of me that I shamelessly wear on my sleeve, lass... I'm happy to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-b-elliott/if-you-re-not-able-to-see-all-the-other-parts-of-me-that-i/) [H.B. Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-b-elliott/) > [I know who and what I am. I am the Executioner, and I don't date vampires. I kill them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-who-and-what-i-am-i-am-the-executioner-and-i-don-t-date/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I am an animator. I am the Executioner. But now I know I’m something else. The one thing my Grandmother Flores feared most. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-am-an-animator-i-am-the-executioner-but-now-i-know-i-m-something/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“They didn’t call me the Executioner for nothing. So how did I end up being safer in the depths of the Circus of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/they-didn-t-call-me-the-executioner-for-nothing-so-how-did-i-end-up/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I try to be a good cop. I try to be a good little soldier and follow orders up to a point. But in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-try-to-be-a-good-cop-i-try-to-be-a-good-little-soldier-and-follow/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Most people spend their lives avoiding things they fear. You run after them. That’s crazy.” He had a point. I closed the door and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/most-people-spend-their-lives-avoiding-things-they-fear-you-run-after/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I knew without doubt that if any more of the vampires tried to attack us I’d kill them, too, regardless of apparent age, race,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-knew-without-doubt-that-if-any-more-of-the-vampires-tried-to-attack/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“You smell of other people's blood, ma petite." I smiled at him, sweetly. "It was no one you knew." His voice when it came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-smell-of-other-people-s-blood-ma-petite-i-smiled-at-him-sweetly/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I shut the door behind me and locked it, though truthfully with Edward inside I might have been safer locking myself out rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-shut-the-door-behind-me-and-locked-it-though-truthfully-with-edward/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I knew from the moment I heard you, the moment I saw the gun and realized that this lovely, petit woman was the executioner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-knew-from-the-moment-i-heard-you-the-moment-i-saw-the-gun-and/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Tell that to the BTK killer,” I said. “He was a churchgoer, raised two kids, married, and resisted the urge to kill for decades.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/tell-that-to-the-btk-killer-i-said-he-was-a-churchgoer-raised-two/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Look, nothing personal, guys, but you look like the top half of an S and M wedding cake. Cops don’t like people who look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/look-nothing-personal-guys-but-you-look-like-the-top-half-of-an-s-and/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“How long will you need?” “Two hours, no more.” “This had better work,” Gaynor said. “Do not threaten me,” Dominga said. Oh, goody, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/how-long-will-you-need-two-hours-no-more-this-had-better-work-gaynor/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## More by Laurell K. Hamilton > [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [So many wonderful books to write, and not enough hours in the day. An embarrassment of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/so-many-wonderful-books-to-write-and-not-enough-hours-in-the-day-an/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Money doesn't spend in hell… The devil deals in a different coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/money-doesn-t-spend-in-hell-the-devil-deals-in-a-different-coin/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I slowed, just a little, one to save energy, and one to let Russell catch up sooner. I took a big breath and prepared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-slowed-just-a-little-one-to-save-energy-and-one-to-let-russell/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“It wasn't just my beast's hunger, but Jean-Claude's blood thirst and Richard's craving for flesh. It was all that and the ardeur running through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/it-wasn-t-just-my-beast-s-hunger-but-jean-claude-s-blood-thirst-and/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Just another day in my life. This was one of those days when I thought that maybe a new life, a different life, wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/just-another-day-in-my-life-this-was-one-of-those-days-when-i-thought/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“What is that old children’s rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Anyone who says that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/what-is-that-old-children-s-rhyme-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [...you don't need ghosts to be haunted. Memory does that just fine without any supernatural help at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-don-t-need-ghosts-to-be-haunted-memory-does-that-just-fine/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I hated missing the end of anything. I was always convinced that the bit I'd miss would be the best part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-hated-missing-the-end-of-anything-i-was-always-convinced-that-the/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He made a small sigh, as he swallowed the first blood, then his mouth closed over my earlobe, mouth working at the wound, tongue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-made-a-small-sigh-as-he-swallowed-the-first-blood-then-his-mouth/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He gave a small nod, and I smiled back, and that was it. He understood that I'd understood that he'd understood. It took us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-gave-a-small-nod-and-i-smiled-back-and-that-was-it-he-understood/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) [Explore all 921 Laurell K. Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## More Bad guy quotes > [“This is what is called "honor among thieves," for the really dangerous people are those who do not recognize that they are thieves— the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/this-is-what-is-called-honor-among-thieves-for-the-really-dangerous/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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