--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't base your actions on the theory…" description: "\"“You can't base your actions on the theory that anyone you don't keep your eye on is apt to get killed.”\" — Rex Stout" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/rex-stout-2846_killed_you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theor_2055581.png" --- # You can't base your actions on the theory that anyone you… ![“You can't base your actions on the theory that anyone you don't keep your eye on is apt to get killed.” quote by Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/rex-stout-2846_killed_you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theor_2055581.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/rex-stout-2846_killed_you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theor_2055581.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/rex-stout-2846_killed_you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theor_2055581.png) > ““You can't base your actions on the theory that anyone you don't keep your eye on is apt to get killed.”” [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You cannot justify violent actions by assuming unseen people will be harmed; vigilance is not a license for harm. **In simple terms:** Don’t act violently because you think unseen people will be killed. Key Takeaway Avoid preemptive aggression based on speculation. Themes ethics violence surveillance responsibility Mood cautious analytical Type ethical practical When to use this quote - security work - parenting - policy making - personal safety - conflict resolution Key Concepts moral philosophy risk assessment law enforcement Questions to Reflect On - What evidence justifies defensive action? - How can we protect without assuming worst‑case outcomes? A Different Perspective Assuming danger without evidence can lead to unnecessary harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actions Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-theory-3894644/) [Apt Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apt-killed-3894643/) [Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Theory Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-don-3894645/) ## Related quotes > [I just kind of go by the theory of, 'Don't knock it until you try it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/i-just-kind-of-go-by-the-theory-of-don-t-knock-it-until-you-try-it/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [ You know, people talk about \[Richard\] Nixon's "madman theory." We don't really know much about that. It was in memoirs, by somebody else. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-know-people-talk-about-richard-nixon-s-madman-theory-we-don-t/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Hey hey Susan Day have you killed any kids today?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/hey-hey-susan-day-have-you-killed-any-kids-today/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [My other brother-in-law died. He was a karate expert, then joined the army. 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If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craven/but-i-held-him-till-he-relented-and-just-let-me-pet-him-and-give-him/) [Michael Craven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craven/) > [“Its just either your way or my way. There is no way that is universally right. For British, they killed us to develop their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/its-just-either-your-way-or-my-way-there-is-no-way-that-is/) [Hanif Hassan Barbhuiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/) > [“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/) > [“I knew how I was supposed to feel when I was with him. Well, I knew what I was not supposed to feel. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-miranda/i-knew-how-i-was-supposed-to-feel-when-i-was-with-him-well-i-knew/) [Megan Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-miranda/) > [I never thought I'd be on the cover of the 'Atlanta Journal' unless I killed someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-cover-of-the-atlanta-journal-unless-i/) [Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/) ## More by Rex Stout > [A person who does not read cannot think. He may have good mental processes, but he has nothing to think about. You can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/a-person-who-does-not-read-cannot-think-he-may-have-good-mental/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [If I'm home with no chore at hand, and a package of books has come, the television set and the chess board and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/if-i-m-home-with-no-chore-at-hand-and-a-package-of-books-has-come-the/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [To say that man is a reasoning animal is a very different thing than to say that most of man's decisions are based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/to-say-that-man-is-a-reasoning-animal-is-a-very-different-thing-than/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [“Frankly, I wish I could make my heart quit doing an extra thump when Wolfe says satisfactory, Archie. It's childish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/frankly-i-wish-i-could-make-my-heart-quit-doing-an-extra-thump-when/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [What good is an obscenity trial except to popularize literature?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/what-good-is-an-obscenity-trial-except-to-popularize-literature/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [In a world that operates largely at random, coincidences are to be expected, but any one of them must always be mistrusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/in-a-world-that-operates-largely-at-random-coincidences-are-to-be/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [“everything from war to picnics depends on the weather, as Wolfe remarked”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/everything-from-war-to-picnics-depends-on-the-weather-as-wolfe/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [The more you put in your brain, the more it will hold -- if you have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/the-more-you-put-in-your-brain-the-more-it-will-hold-if-you-have-one/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [“When we turned right on Thirty-fifth Street our suffix came along. By the time we rolled to the curb in front of Wolfe's house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/when-we-turned-right-on-thirty-fifth-street-our-suffix-came-along-by/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [What the tongue has promised, the body must submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/what-the-tongue-has-promised-the-body-must-submit-to/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [The Glass Key is better than anything Hemingway ever wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/the-glass-key-is-better-than-anything-hemingway-ever-wrote/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [Genius is fine for the ignition spark, but to get there someone has to see that the radiator doesn't leak and no tire is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/genius-is-fine-for-the-ignition-spark-but-to-get-there-someone-has-to/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [A Dickens character to me is a theatrical projection of a character. Not that it isn't real. It's real, but in that removed sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/a-dickens-character-to-me-is-a-theatrical-projection-of-a-character/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [“To pronounce French properly you must have within you a deep antipathy, not to say scorn, for some of the most sacred of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/to-pronounce-french-properly-you-must-have-within-you-a-deep/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [A man may debar nonsense from his library of reason, but not from the arena of his impulses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/a-man-may-debar-nonsense-from-his-library-of-reason-but-not-from-the/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) [Explore all 148 Rex Stout quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) ## More Killed quotes > [I never thought I'd be on the cover of the 'Atlanta Journal' unless I killed someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-cover-of-the-atlanta-journal-unless-i/) [Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/) > [“I knew how I was supposed to feel when I was with him. Well, I knew what I was not supposed to feel. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-miranda/i-knew-how-i-was-supposed-to-feel-when-i-was-with-him-well-i-knew/) [Megan Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-miranda/) > [“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/) > [“Its just either your way or my way. There is no way that is universally right. For British, they killed us to develop their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/its-just-either-your-way-or-my-way-there-is-no-way-that-is/) [Hanif Hassan Barbhuiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/) > [“But I held him till he relented and just let me pet him and give him some affection. “I love you, Toast. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craven/but-i-held-him-till-he-relented-and-just-let-me-pet-him-and-give-him/) [Michael Craven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craven/) > [Lord Raoul asked me to tell you that if you get yourself killed, he will never speak to you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/lord-raoul-asked-me-to-tell-you-that-if-you-get-yourself-killed-he/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [“People from IT sent to replace those they’d killed. Juliette’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/people-from-it-sent-to-replace-those-they-d-killed-juliette-s/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“How about giving your old man a break here, huh, Chirp?" "Chirp is dead," I hear myself say and watch the flat words destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wiess/how-about-giving-your-old-man-a-break-here-huh-chirp-chirp-is-dead-i/) [Laura Wiess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wiess/) > [My mother, she killed me, My father, he ate me, My sister Marlene, Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf, Laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mother-she-killed-me-my-father-he-ate-me-my-sister-marlene/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-enemy-is-anybody-who-s-going-to-get-you-killed-no-matter-which/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [My other brother-in-law died. He was a karate expert, then joined the army. The first time he saluted, he killed himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/my-other-brother-in-law-died-he-was-a-karate-expert-then-joined-the/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [“Hey hey Susan Day have you killed any kids today?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/hey-hey-susan-day-have-you-killed-any-kids-today/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [What makes the rich cry, must've killed the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jezreel-scott/what-makes-the-rich-cry-must-ve-killed-the-poor/) [Jezreel Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jezreel-scott/) > [Fifty thousand people in Mexico have been murdered. Puerto Penasco, 60 miles south of our border, just had five people and a police officer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-brewer/fifty-thousand-people-in-mexico-have-been-murdered-puerto-penasco-60/) [Jan Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-brewer/) [Browse all 1,023 Killed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can't base your actions on the theory that anyone you don't keep your eye on is apt to get killed.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rex Stout" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theory-that-anyone-you-don-t-keep/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Killed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theory-that-anyone-you-don-t-keep/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/rex-stout-2846_killed_you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theor_2055581.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/rex-stout-2846_killed_you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theor_2055581.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/rex-stout-2846_killed_you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theor_2055581.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't base your actions on the theory that anyone you don't keep your eye on is apt to get killed.” — Rex Stout", "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": "Rex Stout", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You can't base your actions on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theory-that-anyone-you-don-t-keep/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/you-can-t-base-your-actions-on-the-theory-that-anyone-you-don-t-keep/#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 } } ] } ```