---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a killer in every cowardly man…"
description: "\"“There is a killer in every cowardly man, waiting for the right set of circumstances when the time has been drained of the possibility of reprisals and..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/m-d-lachlan-52846_consequences_there-is-a-killer-in-every-cowardly-man_3100022.jpg"
---

#  There is a killer in every cowardly man, waiting for the…

![“There is a killer in every cowardly man, waiting for the right set of circumstances when the time has been drained of the possibility of reprisals and he feels free to act.” quote by M.D. Lachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/m-d-lachlan-52846_consequences_there-is-a-killer-in-every-cowardly-man_3100022.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/m-d-lachlan-52846_consequences_there-is-a-killer-in-every-cowardly-man_3100022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/m-d-lachlan-52846_consequences_there-is-a-killer-in-every-cowardly-man_3100022.jpg)

> ““There is a killer in every cowardly man, waiting for the right set of circumstances when the time has been drained of the possibility of reprisals and he feels free to act.””

[M.D. Lachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-d-lachlan/)

## About This Quote

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

A hidden aggressive impulse can emerge in a fearful person when they think they can act without consequences.

**In simple terms:** Fearful people may become violent when they feel safe to do so.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address fear before it fuels aggression.

Themes

fear aggression selfcontrol

Mood

tense reflective

Type

advisory psychological

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- personal safety
- law enforcement
- mental health counseling

Key Concepts

psychology human nature

Questions to Reflect On

- How does perceived safety change behavior?
- What triggers aggression in fearful individuals?

A Different Perspective

Not all fear leads to violence; context matters.

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[Consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/)

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> [Suspicious.- To admit a belief merely because it is a custom - but that means to be dishonest, cowardly, lazy! - And so could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/suspicious-to-admit-a-belief-merely-because-it-is-a-custom-but-that/)

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[Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/)

> [A love to Christ which is so cowardly and selfish that it is unwilling to proclaim by a public confession its faith in Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/a-love-to-christ-which-is-so-cowardly-and-selfish-that-it-is/)

[Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/)

## More by M.D. Lachlan

> [“Men who have never had to fight love a weapon. They love to hold it in their hands, feel its balance and speculate on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-d-lachlan/men-who-have-never-had-to-fight-love-a-weapon-they-love-to-hold-it-in/)

[M.D. Lachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-d-lachlan/)

> [“He came inside, peering in with little pecking motions of the head as if he feared the dark would bite him. It did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-d-lachlan/he-came-inside-peering-in-with-little-pecking-motions-of-the-head-as/)

[M.D. Lachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-d-lachlan/)

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[M.D. Lachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-d-lachlan/)

> [“The fetters have burst”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-d-lachlan/the-fetters-have-burst/)

[M.D. Lachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-d-lachlan/)

> [“What is your name?" she asked. "Names are like clothes, lady. I have many." "And which one do you wear tonight?" The god smiled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-d-lachlan/what-is-your-name-she-asked-names-are-like-clothes-lady-i-have-many/)

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