--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a…" description: "\"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and k..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/mark-twain-22_disapprove_i-thoroughly-disapprove-of-duels-if-a-ma_100694.png" --- # I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should… ![“I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him.” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/mark-twain-22_disapprove_i-thoroughly-disapprove-of-duels-if-a-ma_100694.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/mark-twain-22_disapprove_i-thoroughly-disapprove-of-duels-if-a-ma_100694.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/mark-twain-22_disapprove_i-thoroughly-disapprove-of-duels-if-a-ma_100694.png) > “I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him.” [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker paradoxically condemns duels yet describes a courteous, lethal response to a challenge, blending civility with violence. **In simple terms:** Politeness can mask deadly intent. Key Takeaway Moral contradictions reveal complex attitudes toward honor. Themes violace honor irony social norms Mood tongue‑in‑cheek darkly humorous Type satire paradoxical statement When to use this quote - discussing historical dueling codes - analyzing honor cultures - exploring conflict resolution Key Concepts ethical paradox cultural critique Practical Applications - use irony to critique violent traditions - promote non‑violent dispute methods Questions to Reflect On - What does the courteous tone reveal about societal views on violence? - How does irony affect moral persuasion? A Different Perspective The statement may be satirical, not a genuine endorsement of killing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duels/) [Quiet place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet-place/) ## Related quotes > [But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy’ll be able to do is send sparks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-people-only-die-in-proper-duels-you-know-with-real-wizards-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I've given her signs! I've given her plenty of signs. What does she want me to do? Slap him across the face with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringle/i-ve-given-her-signs-i-ve-given-her-plenty-of-signs-what-does-she/) [Molly Ringle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringle/) > [If all seconds were as averse to duels as their principals, very little blood would be shed in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/if-all-seconds-were-as-averse-to-duels-as-their-principals-very/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“Under the Republic dueling was forbidden, but it was not in the German character to forego a custom so dear to our young fire-eaters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathrine-kressmann-taylor/under-the-republic-dueling-was-forbidden-but-it-was-not-in-the-german/) [Kathrine Kressmann Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathrine-kressmann-taylor/) > [“No doubt a majority of the duels fought have been for want of moral courage on the part of those engaged to decline.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/no-doubt-a-majority-of-the-duels-fought-have-been-for-want-of-moral/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Nothing is more dreadful than private duels in America. The two adversaries attack each other like wild beasts. Then it is that they might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/nothing-is-more-dreadful-than-private-duels-in-america-the-two/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [I can't win all my duels or be perfect all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordi-alba/i-can-t-win-all-my-duels-or-be-perfect-all-the-time/) [Jordi Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordi-alba/) > [“It was a damned near-run thing, I must admit,' said Jack, modestly; then after a pause he laughed and said, 'I remember your using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-was-a-damned-near-run-thing-i-must-admit-said-jack-modestly-then/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Sometimes pitchers' duels are just as interesting as home-run affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-collinsworth/sometimes-pitchers-duels-are-just-as-interesting-as-home-run-affairs/) [Cris Collinsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-collinsworth/) > [“Brave men don't fight for nothing, like children.' protested Howell's (Major Joe Howell) friend. 'We want to know what we are fighting about. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-asbury/brave-men-don-t-fight-for-nothing-like-children-protested-howell-s/) Herbert Asbury > [“True, duels were fought by convention at dawn in isolated locations to ensure the privacy of the gentlemen involved. But were they fought behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/true-duels-were-fought-by-convention-at-dawn-in-isolated-locations-to/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [With respect to duels, indeed, I have my own ideas. Few things in this so surprising world strike me with more surprise. Two little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/with-respect-to-duels-indeed-i-have-my-own-ideas-few-things-in-this/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I go hunting for my opponents high up the field, and I put stock in physical one-on-ones and winning individual duels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/i-go-hunting-for-my-opponents-high-up-the-field-and-i-put-stock-in/) [Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/) > [I've been involved in more Georgian period duels than I ever thought I would in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rege-jean-page/i-ve-been-involved-in-more-georgian-period-duels-than-i-ever-thought/) [Rege-Jean Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rege-jean-page/) > [It's hard for people to understand that when five or six guys are together working intensely, they can really get into some duels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dickey-betts/it-s-hard-for-people-to-understand-that-when-five-or-six-guys-are/) [Dickey Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dickey-betts/) ## More by Mark Twain > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“The Creator sat upon the throne, thinking. Behind him stretched the illimitable continent of heaven, steeped in a glory of light and color; before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-creator-sat-upon-the-throne-thinking-behind-him-stretched-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It's easy to quit smoking. I've done it hundreds of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-s-easy-to-quit-smoking-i-ve-done-it-hundreds-of-times/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It is never wrong to do the right thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-never-wrong-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A man accustomed to American food and American domestic cookery would not starve to death suddenly in Europe, but I think he would gradually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-man-accustomed-to-american-food-and-american-domestic-cookery-would/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [There is nothing training can't cannot do. Nothing is above its reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-nothing-training-can-t-cannot-do-nothing-is-above-its-reach/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I never write Metropolis for seven cents because I can get the same price for city. I never write policeman because I can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-never-write-metropolis-for-seven-cents-because-i-can-get-the-same/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The higher animals get their teeth without pain or inconvenience. Man gets his through months and months of cruel torture; he will never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-higher-animals-get-their-teeth-without-pain-or-inconvenience-man/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“As far as I can see, Italy, for fifteen hundred years, has turned all her energies, all her finances, and all her industry to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/as-far-as-i-can-see-italy-for-fifteen-hundred-years-has-turned-all/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Begin with the determination to succeed and the work is half done already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/begin-with-the-determination-to-succeed-and-the-work-is-half-done/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Many public-school children seem to know only two dates—1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/many-public-school-children-seem-to-know-only-two-dates-1492-and-4th/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If we could imagine such a man, that is a man who could invent the fly and send him out on his mission and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-we-could-imagine-such-a-man-that-is-a-man-who-could-invent-the-fly/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [You perceive, now, that these things are all impossible except in a dream. You perceive that they are pure and puerile insanities, the silly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/you-perceive-now-that-these-things-are-all-impossible-except-in-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Lord save us all from a hope tree that has lost the faculty of putting out blossoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/lord-save-us-all-from-a-hope-tree-that-has-lost-the-faculty-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) [Explore all 3,277 Mark Twain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More Disapprove quotes > [When people with power see things happen of which they disapprove, they drop bombs and send in tanks. When people without power see things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-with-power-see-things-happen-of-which-they-disapprove/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I’ll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/i-ll-promise-to-think-twice-before-i-take-any-important-step-you/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“Never disapprove the good things you get and never scornfully look on the bad things you get. You don't know who has it worse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-scovell/never-disapprove-the-good-things-you-get-and-never-scornfully-look-on/) Andrew Scovell > [On the whole, I rather disapprove of cookbooks, except for the literary ones, like Elizabeth David's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/on-the-whole-i-rather-disapprove-of-cookbooks-except-for-the-literary/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“I would disapprove of another hospitable man who was excessive in friendship, as of one excessive in hate. In all things balance is better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/i-would-disapprove-of-another-hospitable-man-who-was-excessive-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Nothing should lessen our satisfaction with ourselves as much as when we notice that we disapprove of something at one time that we approve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/nothing-should-lessen-our-satisfaction-with-ourselves-as-much-as-when/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“If you can't set a better example for progress, don't show disapproval against the worse tradition!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-can-t-set-a-better-example-for-progress-don-t-show-disapproval/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Seeking approval of others is away to avoid how deeply we disapprove of ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-approval-of-others-is-away-to-avoid-how-deeply-we-disapprove/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People will disapprove of you if you're unhappy, or if you're happy in The Wrong Way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/people-will-disapprove-of-you-if-you-re-unhappy-or-if-you-re-happy-in/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [“The tragedy is that what you disapprove of in others is the very thing you disapprove of in yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/the-tragedy-is-that-what-you-disapprove-of-in-others-is-the-very/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [I don't really do things to make other people approve or disapprove of my decisions. I'm too grown for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larsa-pippen/i-don-t-really-do-things-to-make-other-people-approve-or-disapprove/) [Larsa Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larsa-pippen/) > [“Whenever they are condemning weaves or breast implants, some people speak so passionately that their false teeth almost fall out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whenever-they-are-condemning-weaves-or-breast-implants-some-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I disapprove of what you say, but I defend to the death your right to say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/i-disapprove-of-what-you-say-but-i-defend-to-the-death-your-right-to/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Nothing is so capable of diminishing self-love as the observation that we disapprove at one time what we approve at another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/nothing-is-so-capable-of-diminishing-self-love-as-the-observation/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Life may have no meaning. Or even worse, it may have a meaning of which I disapprove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/life-may-have-no-meaning-or-even-worse-it-may-have-a-meaning-of-which/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) Browse all 42 Disapprove quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thoroughly disapprove of duels. 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