Man Kill Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““One man may not kill. If he kills a fellow-creature, he is a murderer. If two, ten, a hundred men do so, they, too, are murderers. But a government or a nation may kill as many men as it chooses, and that will not be murder, but a great and noble action.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: War and Peace, 1869
The quote contrasts individual murder with state‑sanctioned killing, suggesting that mass violence by governments is framed as noble, not criminal.
In simple terms: State killing is seen as noble while personal killing is murder.
Key Takeaway
Question the morality of state violence.
Themes
ethics
politics
violence
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- war
- policy decisions
- human rights activism
- political protest
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
moral relativism
state power
just war
Questions to Reflect On
- Is killing by a government ever morally justified?
- How does language shape our view of violence?
A Different Perspective
It ignores the victims’ perspectives and the legal definitions of murder.
