--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Violence begets violence, and then you…" description: "\"Violence begets violence, and then you get leaders who are violent men. And you don't want that.\" — Robert Crumb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/robert-crumb-10597_begets_violence-begets-violence-and-then-you-ge_1868880.jpg" --- # Violence begets violence, and then you get leaders who are… ![“Violence begets violence, and then you get leaders who are violent men. And you don't want that.” quote by Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/robert-crumb-10597_begets_violence-begets-violence-and-then-you-ge_1868880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/robert-crumb-10597_begets_violence-begets-violence-and-then-you-ge_1868880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/robert-crumb-10597_begets_violence-begets-violence-and-then-you-ge_1868880.jpg) > “Violence begets violence, and then you get leaders who are violent men. And you don't want that.” [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violent leaders perpetuate cycles of violence, leading to more violent governance. **In simple terms:** Violence breeds more violence in leadership. Key Takeaway Break cycles of violence to prevent violent leaders. Themes politics violence leadership Mood hopeful determined Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - community activism - peacebuilding - policy reform Key Concepts cycle theory social dynamics authority Questions to Reflect On - What steps can reduce violent leadership? - How to sustain non‑violent movements? A Different Perspective Change may be slow and face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Begets Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-begets-violence/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) ## Related quotes > [“Violence begets violence, and if I want to be a cog in that wheel, I have to accept when it stops on me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-mcginnis/violence-begets-violence-and-if-i-want-to-be-a-cog-in-that-wheel-i/) [Mindy McGinnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-mcginnis/) > [Violence begets violence, you know. And you can't kill off all the violent people or all the murderers. We'd have to kill off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/violence-begets-violence-you-know-and-you-can-t-kill-off-all-the/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [There is nothing to be gained by being unnecessarily nasty. Violence begets violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/there-is-nothing-to-be-gained-by-being-unnecessarily-nasty-violence/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Violence begets violence by whomever used. War is a dirty business and entails the use of degrading means, whoever wages it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-muste/violence-begets-violence-by-whomever-used-war-is-a-dirty-business-and/) [A. J. Muste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-muste/) > [Unfortunately, violence begets violence. And this is how the war on terrorism seems to be going at this juncture. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/unfortunately-violence-begets-violence-and-this-is-how-the-war-on/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [I think violence begets violence. I don't think a way to solve any sort of conflict is with violence because nothing ever ends up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-think-violence-begets-violence-i-don-t-think-a-way-to-solve-any/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [Yes, violence begets more violence, but historically this has been the way of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/yes-violence-begets-more-violence-but-historically-this-has-been-the/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [“Violence only begets violence when we allow it to. We always have a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-denys/violence-only-begets-violence-when-we-allow-it-to-we-always-have-a/) P.T. Denys > [Violence begets violence, and hate begets hate. Both hate and violence beget a society that harms, and makes impossible the healing necessary for us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/violence-begets-violence-and-hate-begets-hate-both-hate-and-violence/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) > [Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/hate-begets-hate-violence-begets-violence-toughness-begets-a-greater/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [One bleeding-heart type asked me in a recent interview if I did not agree that 'violence begets violence.' I told him that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/one-bleeding-heart-type-asked-me-in-a-recent-interview-if-i-did-not/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [“The thing is, you cannot ask people to coexist by having one side bow their heads and rely on a solution that is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izzeldin-abuelaish/the-thing-is-you-cannot-ask-people-to-coexist-by-having-one-side-bow/) [Izzeldin Abuelaish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izzeldin-abuelaish/) > [“A houseful of killers, some of the most violent men Frank had ever encountered, and it took a woman’s touch to destroy a priceless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-castle/a-houseful-of-killers-some-of-the-most-violent-men-frank-had-ever/) [Nicole Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-castle/) > [“We connected through blood and violence,” Daniel said thoughtfully. “We’re bloody, violent men.” A slow smile broke across Daniel’s face. Goddamn. He would never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-ashton/we-connected-through-blood-and-violence-daniel-said-thoughtfully-we/) [Avril Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-ashton/) > [“The waves smash against rocks, boulder thunders upon bolder. Granite men grind one another, leaving their clean sand to floor the ocean. The alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haniel-long/the-waves-smash-against-rocks-boulder-thunders-upon-bolder-granite/) [Haniel Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haniel-long/) ## More by Robert Crumb > [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I draw the line at some things. Some things I won't do for any amount of money. Like for instance, there's a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-draw-the-line-at-some-things-some-things-i-won-t-do-for-any-amount/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I do covers for CDs and LPs of music that I like, reissues of old-time music, and then I'm inspired to make some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-do-covers-for-cds-and-lps-of-music-that-i-like-reissues-of-old-time/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I use the old Strathmore vellum surface paper, which is the best paper you can get in the Western world for ink line drawing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-use-the-old-strathmore-vellum-surface-paper-which-is-the-best-paper/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [Oh, yes. I knew I was weird by the time I was four. I knew I wasn't like other boys. I knew I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/oh-yes-i-knew-i-was-weird-by-the-time-i-was-four-i-knew-i-wasn-t-like/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [In my midteens I went through a brief stage of religious fanaticism, but it was very much about just saying prayers and stuff like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/in-my-midteens-i-went-through-a-brief-stage-of-religious-fanaticism/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [Most of my adult life I had this towering contempt for America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/most-of-my-adult-life-i-had-this-towering-contempt-for-america/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I still can't spend a lot of money on records at collector prices. There's something in me that just won't allow me to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-still-can-t-spend-a-lot-of-money-on-records-at-collector-prices/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I'm just a negative person, a deeply negative person. I see the worst aspects of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-m-just-a-negative-person-a-deeply-negative-person-i-see-the-worst/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I use photos a lot for drawing people and personalities, but they're almost never photos that I've taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-use-photos-a-lot-for-drawing-people-and-personalities-but-they-re/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [You don’t have journalists over there anymore, what they have is public relations people. That’s what they have over in America now. Two-hundred and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/you-don-t-have-journalists-over-there-anymore-what-they-have-is/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [If you're trying to work the art game, if you're like Andy Warhol or something, then you're in with cake-eaters of society. You want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/if-you-re-trying-to-work-the-art-game-if-you-re-like-andy-warhol-or/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [They were just snapshots, nothing special, nothing particularly artistic. They were used for utility purposes. (On photographs of mundane streetscapes he had Stanley Something-or-other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/they-were-just-snapshots-nothing-special-nothing-particularly/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I always had a sketchbook with me when I was young. I was hiding behind it, basically, hiding behind drawing because I couldn't cope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-always-had-a-sketchbook-with-me-when-i-was-young-i-was-hiding/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I couldn't find any good pictures in magazines of ordinary modern street corners in America, so I persuaded this guy I knew in Sacramento…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-couldn-t-find-any-good-pictures-in-magazines-of-ordinary-modern/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) [Explore all 64 Robert Crumb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) ## More Begets quotes > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Neatness begets order; but from order to taste there is the same difference as from taste to genius, or from love to friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/neatness-begets-order-but-from-order-to-taste-there-is-the-same/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Cognitive and character skills work together as dynamic complements; they are inseparable. Skills beget skills. More motivated children learn more. Those who are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-heckman/cognitive-and-character-skills-work-together-as-dynamic-complements/) [James Heckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-heckman/) > [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Energy begets energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/energy-begets-energy/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [War destroys. War obliterates. War is ruination. And war begets more war. After thousands of years of experience proving this, and reams of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-simeone/war-destroys-war-obliterates-war-is-ruination-and-war-begets-more-war/) Lisa Simeone > [Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch/come-let-us-choose-us-wives-from-among-the-children-of-men-and-beget/) [Enoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch/) > [ The messiness \[in my books\] is nothing like an Atwood novel. For me, the deeper subjects are secrets versus intimacy, and how both beget… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edan-lepucki/the-messiness-in-my-books-is-nothing-like-an-atwood-novel-for-me-the/) [Edan Lepucki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edan-lepucki/) > [Success begets success. I've been offered a lot of movies now that '30 Rock' has been successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/success-begets-success-i-ve-been-offered-a-lot-of-movies-now-that-30/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) > [“Prayer begets peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/prayer-begets-peace/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“One evil begets another and another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronwen-griffiths/one-evil-begets-another-and-another/) Bronwen Griffiths > [Sport begets tumultuous strife and wrath, and wrath begets fierce quarrels and war to the death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/sport-begets-tumultuous-strife-and-wrath-and-wrath-begets-fierce/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [They maintain that only a dictatorship - their dictatorship, of course - can create the will of the people, while our answer to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/they-maintain-that-only-a-dictatorship-their-dictatorship-of-course/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [Fortunately work begets work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-warburton/fortunately-work-begets-work/) [Patrick Warburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-warburton/) > [Trust begets trust and untrust begets untrust. It's natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munshi-premchand/trust-begets-trust-and-untrust-begets-untrust-it-s-natural/) [Munshi Premchand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munshi-premchand/) Browse all 257 Begets quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Violence begets violence, and then you get leaders who are violent men. 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