--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If anything in this life is certain, if…" description: "\"If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone.\" — Michael Corleone" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/michael-corleone-71674_certain_if-anything-in-this-life-is-certain-if-h_2876428.jpg" --- # If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught… ![“If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone.” quote by Michael Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/michael-corleone-71674_certain_if-anything-in-this-life-is-certain-if-h_2876428.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/michael-corleone-71674_certain_if-anything-in-this-life-is-certain-if-h_2876428.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/michael-corleone-71674_certain_if-anything-in-this-life-is-certain-if-h_2876428.jpg) > “If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone.” [Michael Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-corleone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power and mortality are inevitable; no one can escape death, but actions define legacy. **In simple terms:** You can kill anyone, but you cannot control how they are remembered. Key Takeaway Focus on the impact you leave behind. Themes mortality power legacy Mood somber reflective Type philosophical dramatic When to use this quote - politics - organized crime - personal reputation Key Concepts existential risk human agency Questions to Reflect On - How will you ensure your actions matter? - What legacy do you want to leave? A Different Perspective Even if death is certain, meaning can be shaped by choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-taught-944290/) [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-certain/) [Mafia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mafia/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Taught Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-kill-1764303/) ## Related quotes > [If anything in this life is certain...if history has taught us anything, it's that you cn kill anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/if-anything-in-this-life-is-certain-if-history-has-taught-us-anything/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“But the Gospels actually taught this: Before you kill somebody, make absolutely sure he isn’t well connected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/but-the-gospels-actually-taught-this-before-you-kill-somebody-make/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The Gospels actually taught this: Before you kill somebody, make absolutely sure he isn't well connected. so it goes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-gospels-actually-taught-this-before-you-kill-somebody-make/) [KURT VONNEGUT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [No child is taught to kill, but he has to be taught to love, respect, honor and value, not only his own life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/no-child-is-taught-to-kill-but-he-has-to-be-taught-to-love-respect/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [The Marine Corps taught me how to kill, but it didn't teach me how to deal with killing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marlantes/the-marine-corps-taught-me-how-to-kill-but-it-didn-t-teach-me-how-to/) [Karl Marlantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marlantes/) > [“Since birth, I have done nothing but train. I studied history, economics, politics, law, foreign relations and cultures, languages, healing and nearly any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kel-kade/since-birth-i-have-done-nothing-but-train-i-studied-history-economics/) [Kel Kade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kel-kade/) > [“You won't do it.' Bonhart's voice resounded in the complete silence. 'You won't do it, witcher girl. In Kaer Morhen you were taught how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-sapkowski/you-won-t-do-it-bonhart-s-voice-resounded-in-the-complete-silence-you/) [Andrzej Sapkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-sapkowski/) > [Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-corleone/fredo-you-re-my-older-brother-and-i-love-you-but-don-t-ever-take/) [Michael Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-corleone/) > [Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-corleone/just-when-i-thought-i-was-out-they-pull-me-back-in/) [Michael Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-corleone/) > [You don't see Los Angeles erecting a museum dedicated to the birth place of the Crips and the Bloods and the Mexican Mafia, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tod-goldberg/you-don-t-see-los-angeles-erecting-a-museum-dedicated-to-the-birth/) [Tod Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tod-goldberg/) > [“One of those days we were in Maria Vostra getting weed; while we were sitting at the bar during some festive day—I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-adam-nyapi/one-of-those-days-we-were-in-maria-vostra-getting-weed-while-we-were/) [Tomas Adam Nyapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-adam-nyapi/) > [“I was standing by the car when two police officers showed up in the alley, very interested in me and the BMW in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-adam-nyapi/i-was-standing-by-the-car-when-two-police-officers-showed-up-in-the/) [Tomas Adam Nyapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-adam-nyapi/) > [I love history but was taught badly at school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/i-love-history-but-was-taught-badly-at-school/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [For centuries, everything was taught through music. History was taught through music; language and mathematics were taught through music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-bone-burnett/for-centuries-everything-was-taught-through-music-history-was-taught/) [T Bone Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-bone-burnett/) > [Nowadays, with history not being taught anymore in American public schools, self-esteem is taking its place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/nowadays-with-history-not-being-taught-anymore-in-american-public/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) ## More by Michael Corleone > [Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-corleone/fredo-you-re-my-older-brother-and-i-love-you-but-don-t-ever-take/) [Michael Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-corleone/) > [Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-corleone/just-when-i-thought-i-was-out-they-pull-me-back-in/) [Michael Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-corleone/) > [Some people will pay a lot of money for that information; but then your daughter would lose a father, instead of gaining a husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-corleone/some-people-will-pay-a-lot-of-money-for-that-information-but-then/) [Michael Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-corleone/) [Explore all 4 Michael Corleone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-corleone/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. 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It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) [T. H. 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