Attack Quote by Paul Johnson
“It would be wrong to say I enjoy having rows, because that would be un-Christian. If people attack me, then I respond, or if they do very wicked things. Then they must be brought to book.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Oxford History of the French Revolution, 1989
The quote warns against claiming enjoyment of conflict, emphasizing Christian ethics and the need for just retaliation when faced with wrongdoing.
In simple terms: Do not claim to like fighting; act justly when attacked.
Key Takeaway
Act with integrity, not false bravado.
Themes
ethics
justice
conflict
religion
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal disputes
- legal battles
- political opposition
- social activism
Key Concepts
Christian morality
just war theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance forgiveness with justice?
- When is retaliation justified?
A Different Perspective
May be misinterpreted as endorsing violence; context unclear.
![“The Salem [witch] trials…can be seen as an example of the propensity of the American people to be convulsed by spasms of self-righteous rage against enemies, real or imaginary, of their society and way of living. Hence the parallels later drawn between Salem in 1692 and the “Red Scare” of 1919-20…” quote by Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/67d/paul-johnson-4585_american-people_the-salem-witch-trials-can-be-seen-as-an_82157.jpg)
![“He [Augustine] admitted: 'I am the sort of man who writes because he has made progress, and who makes progress by writing.'” quote by Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/24c/paul-johnson-4585_writing_he-augustine-admitted-i-am-the-sort-of-m_146973.jpg)
![“I mean, it's not just the rappers, you know what i'm saying? People want to attack anybody that's a large figure, you know what I'm saying? They did it to [Michael] Jordan, they did it to [Mike] Tyson, they did it to Bill Cosby, you know what I'm saying? They're gonna' attack you if you on top.” quote by The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac8/the-notorious-b-i-g-8034_bills_i-mean-it-s-not-just-the-rappers-you-kno_27728.jpg)
