--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...and what is a good weapon but a good…" description: "\"“...and what is a good weapon but a good idea made murderous flesh?”\" — Paul Hoffman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/paul-hoffman-8370_arm_and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-ide_2599152.jpg" --- # ...and what is a good weapon but a good idea made… ![“...and what is a good weapon but a good idea made murderous flesh?” quote by Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/paul-hoffman-8370_arm_and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-ide_2599152.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/paul-hoffman-8370_arm_and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-ide_2599152.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/paul-hoffman-8370_arm_and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-ide_2599152.jpg) > ““...and what is a good weapon but a good idea made murderous flesh?”” [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A powerful weapon can be an idea that, when turned into violent action, becomes deadly. **In simple terms:** Ideas can become deadly weapons. Key Takeaway Guard ideas with responsibility. Themes ethics power technology Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type philosophical warning When to use this quote - policy making - education - media Key Concepts philosophy dangerous innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can ideas be weaponized? - What safeguards prevent harmful applications? A Different Perspective May overstate metaphorical risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Weapon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapon/) ## Related quotes > [“The battle had been as hideous as you might expect between one side who were simply not afraid to die and another who regarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-battle-had-been-as-hideous-as-you-might-expect-between-one-side/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“In such a beast as this..." (he means the army)"...it was the collective power that went, collapsing like a long-exhausted animal, at once falling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/in-such-a-beast-as-this-he-means-the-army-it-was-the-collective-power/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“We are all cynics now, I suppose, and even a mewling infant knows that to save a life is to make an eternal enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/we-are-all-cynics-now-i-suppose-and-even-a-mewling-infant-knows-that/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [Any weapon is a good weapon as long as ye can use it with honor and skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/any-weapon-is-a-good-weapon-as-long-as-ye-can-use-it-with-honor-and/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [“Any weapon's only as good as the man using it, and a good man can make a good weapon out of most anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benchley/any-weapon-s-only-as-good-as-the-man-using-it-and-a-good-man-can-make/) [Peter Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benchley/) > [“Sometimes, war being the unjust and drastic creature it is, those in whom he invested hopes took an arrow in the chest, the useless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/sometimes-war-being-the-unjust-and-drastic-creature-it-is-those-in/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Whatever discoveries have been made in the land of self-delusion, many undiscovered regions remain to be explored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/whatever-discoveries-have-been-made-in-the-land-of-self-delusion-many/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Dropping a nuclear weapon was never a good idea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/dropping-a-nuclear-weapon-was-never-a-good-idea/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [Logic invents as many fallacies as it detects; it is a good weapon, but as liable to be used in a bad as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/logic-invents-as-many-fallacies-as-it-detects-it-is-a-good-weapon-but/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [I've always wanted to improve and expand on the good name of my weapon by doing good things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/i-ve-always-wanted-to-improve-and-expand-on-the-good-name-of-my/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [You take a book, and what can you do with a book? Can you cook an egg on a book? No. Can you dig…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/you-take-a-book-and-what-can-you-do-with-a-book-can-you-cook-an-egg/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I always had a powerful serve. It's one of the best in women's tennis. It's very good to have a weapon like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-na/i-always-had-a-powerful-serve-it-s-one-of-the-best-in-women-s-tennis/) [Li Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-na/) > [“Money is a good weapon against the scum and is of no consequence to the noble mind. - On Money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamine-pearlheart/money-is-a-good-weapon-against-the-scum-and-is-of-no-consequence-to/) [Lamine Pearlheart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamine-pearlheart/) > [An atom-blaster is a good weapon, but it can point both ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/an-atom-blaster-is-a-good-weapon-but-it-can-point-both-ways/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More by Paul Hoffman > [“The battle had been as hideous as you might expect between one side who were simply not afraid to die and another who regarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-battle-had-been-as-hideous-as-you-might-expect-between-one-side/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“...the older I get, the more I believe that if love is to be judged by most of its visible effects, it looks more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-believe-that-if-love-is-to-be-judged-by/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“You should never tell your best friend anything you wouldn´t be prepared to tell your worst enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/you-should-never-tell-your-best-friend-anything-you-wouldn-t-be/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“That's how the world is, and there is nothing an insignificant nobody like you, or even a significant somebody like me, can do about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/that-s-how-the-world-is-and-there-is-nothing-an-insignificant-nobody/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“That was a rhetorical question, one asked solely to produce an effect and not elicit a reply.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/that-was-a-rhetorical-question-one-asked-solely-to-produce-an-effect/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“To be sociable is a risky thing—even fatal—because it means being in contact with people, most of whom are dull, perverse and ignorant and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/to-be-sociable-is-a-risky-thing-even-fatal-because-it-means-being-in/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [If there was to be a new Europe, there not only had to be a common market, but also great mobility in labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/if-there-was-to-be-a-new-europe-there-not-only-had-to-be-a-common/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Feeling sorry for yourself is a universal solvent of salvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/feeling-sorry-for-yourself-is-a-universal-solvent-of-salvation/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“The wicked have weakness other than their willingness to kill and maim. 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I don't ever recall going to Dean Acheson and asking for any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/as-far-as-we-were-concerned-we-were-operators-we-were-administrators/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [There are times we are givers, but others time we have to let others give to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/there-are-times-we-are-givers-but-others-time-we-have-to-let-others/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) [Explore all 73 Paul Hoffman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) ## More Arm quotes > [We immerse ourselves in escapist mass entertainment, such as 'reality T.V.' programs. We support fanatical politicians and preachers. Our politicians, in turn, support dictators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/we-immerse-ourselves-in-escapist-mass-entertainment-such-as-reality-t/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) > [Some people aren't touchy-feely, but I grew up in a family where you'd walk into the family room and there'd be five people on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-o-donnell/some-people-aren-t-touchy-feely-but-i-grew-up-in-a-family-where-you-d/) [Chris O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-o-donnell/) > [Our covering ministry is Challenge for Christ ministries, and Travel the Road was solely our mission arm, designed to expose people to what missions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/our-covering-ministry-is-challenge-for-christ-ministries-and-travel/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [You wouldn't walk into a music store and walk out with a piece of music under your arm. So why would it be acceptable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/you-wouldn-t-walk-into-a-music-store-and-walk-out-with-a-piece-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Sometimes I have to compromise my views, but I never compromise on issues like the death penalty and the arm trade laws, despite what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-shapiro/sometimes-i-have-to-compromise-my-views-but-i-never-compromise-on/) [Jonathan Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-shapiro/) > [I became an inventor by accident. I was out of the Air Force in 1956. No, no, that's not true: I went in in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-norris/i-became-an-inventor-by-accident-i-was-out-of-the-air-force-in-1956/) [Woody Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-norris/) > [If the arm got sore, we went out and pitched until the soreness left - we had to, or we would have been dropped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-nichols/if-the-arm-got-sore-we-went-out-and-pitched-until-the-soreness-left/) [Kid Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-nichols/) > [Because I don't produce insulin, I have to put insulin into my body, which means that I have a pen with a needle on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-cutler/because-i-don-t-produce-insulin-i-have-to-put-insulin-into-my-body/) [Jay Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-cutler/) > [I like to be approachable but I also like... I like to keep people at arm's length.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-grassi/i-like-to-be-approachable-but-i-also-like-i-like-to-keep-people-at/) [Mitch Grassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-grassi/) > [Something went wrong with my right arm. I no longer could throw hard, and it hurt like the dickens every time I threw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dazzy-vance/something-went-wrong-with-my-right-arm-i-no-longer-could-throw-hard/) Dazzy Vance > [Monet was like a conductor. He painted with quite a straight arm and used bold strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/monet-was-like-a-conductor-he-painted-with-quite-a-straight-arm-and/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [In judo, you get your arm broke. You get choked. You can tear your ACL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-fournier/in-judo-you-get-your-arm-broke-you-get-choked-you-can-tear-your-acl/) [Evan Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-fournier/) > [Being Jewish has always been important to me. I now have 6M tattooed on the inside of my left arm. It's only a half-inch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/being-jewish-has-always-been-important-to-me-i-now-have-6m-tattooed/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I guess I set a world record for errors. I had a pretty good arm, see, but I didn't have much control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordecai-brown/i-guess-i-set-a-world-record-for-errors-i-had-a-pretty-good-arm-see/) Mordecai Brown > [You never make fun of anybody with a club foot or a withered arm, but it's open season on anybody who stutters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/you-never-make-fun-of-anybody-with-a-club-foot-or-a-withered-arm-but/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) Browse all 167 Arm quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...and what is a good weapon but a good idea made murderous flesh?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Hoffman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-idea-made-murderous-flesh/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-idea-made-murderous-flesh/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/paul-hoffman-8370_arm_and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-ide_2599152.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/paul-hoffman-8370_arm_and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-ide_2599152.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/paul-hoffman-8370_arm_and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-ide_2599152.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...and what is a good weapon but a good idea made murderous flesh?” — Paul Hoffman", "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": "Paul Hoffman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...and what is a good weapon...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-idea-made-murderous-flesh/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-idea-made-murderous-flesh/#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 } } ] } ```