---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a way fighting was just like using…"
description: "\"In a way fighting was just like using magic. You said the words, and they altered the universe. By merely speaking you could create damage and pain, ca..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/lev-grossman-747_causes_in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-ma_3160960.png"
---

#  In a way fighting was just like using magic. You said the…

![“In a way fighting was just like using magic. You said the words, and they altered the universe. By merely speaking you could create damage and pain, cause tears to fall, drive people away, make yourself feel better, make your life worse.” quote by Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/lev-grossman-747_causes_in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-ma_3160960.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/lev-grossman-747_causes_in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-ma_3160960.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/lev-grossman-747_causes_in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-ma_3160960.png)

> “In a way fighting was just like using magic. You said the words, and they altered the universe. By merely speaking you could create damage and pain, cause tears to fall, drive people away, make yourself feel better, make your life worse.”

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Words can shape reality, making language a powerful tool for creation and destruction.

**In simple terms:** Speaking can change the world.

Key Takeaway

Choose words wisely.

Themes

power language reality responsibility

Mood

reflective thoughtful cautious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- creative writing
- personal relationships
- emotional regulation
- public speaking

Key Concepts

magical realism psychology communication

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you use language to heal or harm?
- What responsibility comes with persuasive speech?

A Different Perspective

Words alone cannot fix systemic issues; intent matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cause Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-tears-1922572/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Create Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-damage-5434765/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Feel better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-better/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fighting Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-just-274739/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Words Altered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-altered-5434764/)

## Related quotes

> [“You said the words, and they altered the universe. By merely speaking you could create damage and pain, cause tears to fall, drive people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/you-said-the-words-and-they-altered-the-universe-by-merely-speaking/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [One of the bravest things ever are TEARDROPS. Wanna know why? cause tears are not afraid to fall even for the wrong reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/one-of-the-bravest-things-ever-are-teardrops-wanna-know-why-cause/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [With all the smiles you brought me, I never thought that you could cause me so many tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany/with-all-the-smiles-you-brought-me-i-never-thought-that-you-could/)

[Brittany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany/)

> [Do the right thing cause after the tears come the cheers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmx/do-the-right-thing-cause-after-the-tears-come-the-cheers/)

[DMX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmx/)

> [MAybe Yeah... we All Men are the same maybe Is a Taboo We men are the most cause of them Tears on the eys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/maybe-yeah-we-all-men-are-the-same-maybe-is-a-taboo-we-men-are-the/)

[Junior Dè Rèál Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-d-r-l-testament/)

> [We win we lose , we bleed , we sweat we cry but you never know cause somehow the tears blend into your sweat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arish/we-win-we-lose-we-bleed-we-sweat-we-cry-but-you-never-know-cause/)

[Arish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arish/)

> [Decisions you make in your life can cause it, The tears and the fear can lose it! The lost of your life can prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-serdyuk/decisions-you-make-in-your-life-can-cause-it-the-tears-and-the-fear-2/)

[Roxanne Serdyuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxanne-serdyuk/)

> [Decisions you make in your life can cause it. The tears and the fear can lose it. The loss of your life can prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwn/decisions-you-make-in-your-life-can-cause-it-the-tears-and-the-fear/)

[Unknwn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknwn/)

> [Sometimes when I'm alone I cry. Cause I am on my own. The tears I cry are bitter and warm. They flow with life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzer-namker/sometimes-when-i-m-alone-i-cry-cause-i-am-on-my-own-the-tears-i-cry-2/)

[DenZer NamKer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzer-namker/)

> [Many people where in this world to cause your tears while few are in this world to wipe your tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juniorjk/many-people-where-in-this-world-to-cause-your-tears-while-few-are-in/)

[Juniorjk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juniorjk/)

> [“happy or not. I never want to be the cause of your tears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-or-not-i-never-want-to-be-the-cause-of-your-tears/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Smile Through The Bullshit Cause Tears Wont Fix Shit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/smile-through-the-bullshit-cause-tears-wont-fix-shit/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I am not that God who wipe off your tears, I am that God who wipe out his eyes who cause others tears”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/i-am-not-that-god-who-wipe-off-your-tears-i-am-that-god-who-wipe-out/)

[P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/)

> [Sometimes when I'm alone I Cry, Cause I am on my own. The tears I cry are bitter and warm. They flow with life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/sometimes-when-i-m-alone-i-cry-cause-i-am-on-my-own-the-tears-i-cry/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [You can't force any one to love you, and fighting it, you just gonna hurt yourself badly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mongotleng/you-can-t-force-any-one-to-love-you-and-fighting-it-you-just-gonna/)

[Edward Mongotleng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mongotleng/)

## More by Lev Grossman

> [“It was about damn time something happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/it-was-about-damn-time-something-happened/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [We're wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it actually is. And when we realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/we-re-wired-to-expect-the-world-to-be-brighter-and-more-meaningful/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [“He was going to sign the papers and he was going to be a motherfucking magician.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/he-was-going-to-sign-the-papers-and-he-was-going-to-be-a/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [“Being brave was easy when you would rather die than give up. Fatigue meant nothing when you actually wanted to suffer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/being-brave-was-easy-when-you-would-rather-die-than-give-up-fatigue/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [As a writer I'm more drawn to villains who are just slightly mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/as-a-writer-i-m-more-drawn-to-villains-who-are-just-slightly-mad/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [“He wasn't in a safe little story where wrongs were automatically righted; he was still in the real world, where bad bitter things happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/he-wasn-t-in-a-safe-little-story-where-wrongs-were-automatically/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [I love rare books. Not that I own a lot of them, mind you. You couldn't quite call me a rare-book collector. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-love-rare-books-not-that-i-own-a-lot-of-them-mind-you-you-couldn-t/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [By now he had learned enough to know that when he was getting annoyed at somebody else, it was usually because there was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/by-now-he-had-learned-enough-to-know-that-when-he-was-getting-annoyed/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [About as close you can get to the perfect cerebral thriller: searingly smart, ridiculously funny, and fast as hell... I defy anybody to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/about-as-close-you-can-get-to-the-perfect-cerebral-thriller-searingly/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [“It's true," Eliot said. "Statistically, historically, and however else you want to look at it, you are almost never right. A monkey making life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/it-s-true-eliot-said-statistically-historically-and-however-else-you/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [“God, I hope we don’t have to use that,” was all he said out loud. “Oh, come on, Quentina. We’re not looking for trouble.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/god-i-hope-we-don-t-have-to-use-that-was-all-he-said-out-loud-oh-come/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [I mean, when you're tired of book reviews, you're tired of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-mean-when-you-re-tired-of-book-reviews-you-re-tired-of-life/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [My specialty as a collector is books that almost have value. When I love a book, I don't buy the first edition, because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/my-specialty-as-a-collector-is-books-that-almost-have-value-when-i/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [I used to write in a local coffee shop, but there was another guy, another writer, who kept sitting in my favorite seat. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-used-to-write-in-a-local-coffee-shop-but-there-was-another-guy/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [I don't know if I've ever derived such an immediate sense of calm and well-being from any book as I did from 'Right Ho,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-ever-derived-such-an-immediate-sense-of-calm-and/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

[Explore all 379 Lev Grossman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

## More Causes quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/)

[Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/)

> [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/)

[Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/)

> [Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/)

[Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/)

> [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/)

[Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/)

> [I don't wear rubbers cause you can't catch it twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-don-t-wear-rubbers-cause-you-can-t-catch-it-twice/)

[Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/)

> [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/)

[Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/)

> [I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things / Like / My cousin comes to visit and you know he's from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloise-greenfield/i-love-a-lot-of-things-a-whole-lot-of-things-like-my-cousin-comes-to/)

[Eloise Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloise-greenfield/)

> [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/)

[Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/)

[Browse all 9,070 Causes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In a way fighting was just like using magic. You said the words, and they altered the universe. By merely speaking you could create damage and pain, cause tears to fall, drive people away, make yourself feel better, make your life worse.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lev Grossman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-magic-you-said-the-words-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Causes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-magic-you-said-the-words-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/lev-grossman-747_causes_in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-ma_3160960.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/lev-grossman-747_causes_in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-ma_3160960.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/lev-grossman-747_causes_in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-ma_3160960.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In a way fighting was just like using magic. You said the words, and they altered the universe. By merely…” — Lev Grossman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Lev Grossman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In a way fighting was just...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-magic-you-said-the-words-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/in-a-way-fighting-was-just-like-using-magic-you-said-the-words-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
