--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you strike at a king, you must kill…" description: "\"When you strike at a king, you must kill him.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_kill_when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill_2017303.png" --- # When you strike at a king, you must kill him. ![“When you strike at a king, you must kill him.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_kill_when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill_2017303.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_kill_when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill_2017303.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_kill_when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill_2017303.png) > “When you strike at a king, you must kill him.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Eliminating a powerful adversary requires decisive, irreversible action to prevent future threat. **In simple terms:** Kill the king to end his threat. Key Takeaway Address root causes decisively. Themes power conflict resolution Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political coups - corporate takeovers - personal relationships Key Concepts strategic decisiveness ethical dilemmas Questions to Reflect On - When is decisive action justified? - What non‑violent alternatives exist? A Different Perspective Violence may create new problems; alternatives may exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [King Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-kill-3635096/) [Strike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strike/) [Strike King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strike-king-3496087/) ## Related quotes > [It doesn't require much for misfortune to strike in the King's Gambit - one incautious move, and Black can be on the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-karpov/it-doesn-t-require-much-for-misfortune-to-strike-in-the-king-s-gambit/) [Anatoly Karpov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-karpov/) > [I read your piece on Plato. Holmes, when you strike at a king, you must kill him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-read-your-piece-on-plato-holmes-when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It is not the custom of kings to kill kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saladin/it-is-not-the-custom-of-kings-to-kill-kings/) [Saladin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saladin/) > [Kill me, and be cursed. You are no king of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/kill-me-and-be-cursed-you-are-no-king-of-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Yeah, I wanted to know where they got it from, what it was all about, you know, and it seemed to strike something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/yeah-i-wanted-to-know-where-they-got-it-from-what-it-was-all-about/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [In tennis, you strike a ball just after the rebound for the fastest return. It's the same with investment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/in-tennis-you-strike-a-ball-just-after-the-rebound-for-the-fastest/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [You know, you don't see hospital consultants going on strike, and I don't believe that teachers and headteachers should. It's within their rights, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/you-know-you-don-t-see-hospital-consultants-going-on-strike-and-i-don/) [Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/) > [I enjoy when I strike someone out. I enjoy when I do my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-zambrano/i-enjoy-when-i-strike-someone-out-i-enjoy-when-i-do-my-job/) [Carlos Zambrano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-zambrano/) > [I told everybody I can strike with anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-told-everybody-i-can-strike-with-anyone/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [I can strike if I have to, but I'm not going to play that game, this is heavyweight. If I was a bantamweight or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-can-strike-if-i-have-to-but-i-m-not-going-to-play-that-game-this-is/) [Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/) > [If you strike out 100 times, but your strikeouts are with two outs and nobody on base, those don't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/if-you-strike-out-100-times-but-your-strikeouts-are-with-two-outs-and/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [There was a little movie I did called 'Women In Trouble' that a friend of mine made. That, to me, was a very satisfying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-clarke/there-was-a-little-movie-i-did-called-women-in-trouble-that-a-friend/) [Sarah Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-clarke/) > [I guess I strike people as very serious, or very intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deidre-hall/i-guess-i-strike-people-as-very-serious-or-very-intense/) [Deidre Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deidre-hall/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [We got orders to strike the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. We had a task force with the Enterprise. We had two or three cruisers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-ross/we-got-orders-to-strike-the-marshall-and-gilbert-islands-we-had-a/) [Barney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-ross/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Kill quotes > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubbly/what-doesnt-kill-you-makes-you-stronger/) [Bubbly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubbly/) > [Curiosity Can Kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anison/curiosity-can-kill/) [Anison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anison/) > [Don't smoke. Don't kill yourselves. Don't maim yourselves. Tell your friends. Please don't smoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-eszterhas/don-t-smoke-don-t-kill-yourselves-don-t-maim-yourselves-tell-your/) [Joe Eszterhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-eszterhas/) > [“The only ones who kill are those prepared to be killed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lelouch-vi-britannia/the-only-ones-who-kill-are-those-prepared-to-be-killed/) [Lelouch Vi Britannia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lelouch-vi-britannia/) > [Boredom is vastly underrated. Boredom means that nothing is trying to kill you every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/boredom-is-vastly-underrated-boredom-means-that-nothing-is-trying-to/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“I’m going to kill Mr. Mysterious for this. Kill that crazy motherfucker. Why does he have to live on the edge all the time?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/i-m-going-to-kill-mr-mysterious-for-this-kill-that-crazy-motherfucker/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [“Be that as it may, we do need you in particular to complete this assignment. (Syd) What is it with you government assholes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/be-that-as-it-may-we-do-need-you-in-particular-to-complete-this/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I'm only one kill away from Command Assassin. Be a damn shame for that kill to be you" (Darion)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-only-one-kill-away-from-command-assassin-be-a-damn-shame-for-that/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Well, let's say you heard a fight in the boys' bathroom, and you broke it up. What would you do naturally if you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/well-let-s-say-you-heard-a-fight-in-the-boys-bathroom-and-you-broke/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [Nothing will kill what you've been called to do more than comparing yourself to someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/nothing-will-kill-what-you-ve-been-called-to-do-more-than-comparing/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I imagine that in a closed, hermetic society like the mob, where everybody knows each other, it must be really, really unpleasant to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dominik/i-imagine-that-in-a-closed-hermetic-society-like-the-mob-where/) [Andrew Dominik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dominik/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Fuck, Princess. You kill me. Every damn time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen/fuck-princess-you-kill-me-every-damn-time/) [Sarina Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarina-bowen/) [Browse all 3,038 Kill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you strike at a king, you must kill him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill-him/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Kill" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill-him/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_kill_when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill_2017303.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_kill_when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill_2017303.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_kill_when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill_2017303.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you strike at a king, you must kill him.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you strike at a king,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill-him/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-you-strike-at-a-king-you-must-kill-him/#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 } } ] } ```