Killing Quote by Orson Scott Card
““Armies have spent a lot of time and effort training their soldiers not to think of the enemy as human beings. It’s so much easier to kill them if you think of them as dangerous animals. The trouble is, war isn’t about killing. It’s about getting the enemy to stop resisting your will. Like training a dog not to bite. Punishing him leaves you with a beaten dog. Killing him is a permanent solution, but you’ve got no dog. If you can understand why he’s biting and remove the conditions that make him bite, sometimes that can solve the problem as well. The dog isn’t dead. He isn’t even your enemy.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Ender's Game, 1985
Dehumanizing enemies eases killing, but understanding causes can resolve conflict without violence.
In simple terms: Seeing enemies as humans helps find peaceful solutions.
Key Takeaway
Seek empathy over aggression.
Themes
war
empathy
conflict resolution
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
strategic
When to use this quote
- military training
- peace negotiations
- social activism
Key Concepts
dehumanization
psychology
strategic empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we humanize opponents in war?
- What conditions foster violent behavior?
A Different Perspective
May be idealistic in extreme conflict.
![“I said, 'I have heard people talk about war as if it was a very fine thing.' Ah!' said [Captain], 'I should think they never saw it. No doubt it is very fine when there is no enemy, when it is just exercise and parade, and sham-fight. Yes, it is very fine then; but when thousands of good brave men…” quote by Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5a7/anna-sewell-13394_brave-men_i-said-i-have-heard-people-talk-about-wa_3213135.jpg)
![“From Day One, I've told [my troops] that killing is not wrong if it's for a purpose, if it's to keep your nation free or protect your buddy, one of the most noble things you can do is kill the enemy.” quote by Douglas A. Zembiec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3b6/douglas-a-zembiec-76967_buddy_from-day-one-i-ve-told-my-troops-that-ki_1929996.jpg)
![“The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood [in Egypt] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people.” quote by Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/473/kelly-ayotte-18873_ballots_the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-b_273.jpg)
