--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There were undoubtedly those to whom…" description: "\"“There were undoubtedly those to whom killing was easy and pleasurable: he had met a few such. Millions had been successfully trained to end others' li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/robert-galbraith-3411_killing_there-were-undoubtedly-those-to-whom-kil_2719681.jpg" --- # There were undoubtedly those to whom killing was easy and… ![“There were undoubtedly those to whom killing was easy and pleasurable: he had met a few such. Millions had been successfully trained to end others' lives; he, Strike, was one of them. Humans killed opportunistically, for advantage and in defense, discovering in themselves the capacity for…” quote by Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/robert-galbraith-3411_killing_there-were-undoubtedly-those-to-whom-kil_2719681.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/robert-galbraith-3411_killing_there-were-undoubtedly-those-to-whom-kil_2719681.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/robert-galbraith-3411_killing_there-were-undoubtedly-those-to-whom-kil_2719681.jpg) > ““There were undoubtedly those to whom killing was easy and pleasurable: he had met a few such. Millions had been successfully trained to end others' lives; he, Strike, was one of them. Humans killed opportunistically, for advantage and in defense, discovering in themselves the capacity for bloodshed when no alternative seemed possible; but there were also people who had drawn up short, even under the most intense pressure, unable to press their advantage, to seize the opportunity, to break the final and greatest taboo.”” [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores how some people become desensitized to killing, while others retain moral restraint even under pressure. **In simple terms:** Some become killers, others keep humanity. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture empathy to prevent moral erosion. Themes morality human nature violence psychology ethics Mood reflective somber Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - military training - law enforcement - conflict zones - personal crises - ethical decision making Key Concepts desensitization moral restraint capacity for violence Questions to Reflect On - What factors strengthen moral restraint? - How can societies protect empathy in high‑stress roles? A Different Perspective Even trained individuals may resist killing when alternatives exist, highlighting the role of personal choice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humans Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans-killed-2872399/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Killing Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing-easy-582380/) [Lives Strike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-strike-2872400/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Seize the opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seize-the-opportunity/) [Strike Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strike-humans-2872398/) ## Related quotes > [“Killing was easy. Dying was something else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-izzo/killing-was-easy-dying-was-something-else/) [Jean-Claude Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-izzo/) > [Technology has allowed the world of men in our society to separate itself from the sight and the sounds of killing; from the horror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryl-rivers/technology-has-allowed-the-world-of-men-in-our-society-to-separate/) [Caryl Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryl-rivers/) > [“Killing someone was easy - getting away with it was what was truly challenging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/killing-someone-was-easy-getting-away-with-it-was-what-was-truly/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [When you're pushed killing is as easy as breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/when-you-re-pushed-killing-is-as-easy-as-breathing/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Killing is not so easy as the innocent believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/killing-is-not-so-easy-as-the-innocent-believe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I thought killing was easy for you," said Laurent. His voice was rather quiet. "I thought you did it without thinking." "I'm a soldier,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/i-thought-killing-was-easy-for-you-said-laurent-his-voice-was-rather/) [S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) > [“But I am not a monster because I kill. Killing is easy. I am a monster because I accept the hard choices. (Frank Moses)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/but-i-am-not-a-monster-because-i-kill-killing-is-easy-i-am-a-monster/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [Killing is easy," said Mo, "Dying is harder...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/killing-is-easy-said-mo-dying-is-harder/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [The killing of everyone was the easy part, the most difficult part was lathering them up and shaving them, that's the part that freaked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/the-killing-of-everyone-was-the-easy-part-the-most-difficult-part-was/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“Technology has allowed...our society to separate itself from the sights and the sounds of killing… It must be easy to kill from a roomful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryl-rivers/technology-has-allowed-our-society-to-separate-itself-from-the-sights/) [Caryl Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryl-rivers/) > [Sure, you can choose the safety and predictability of the cage, forfeiting the adventure God has destined for you. But you won't be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/sure-you-can-choose-the-safety-and-predictability-of-the-cage/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [National governments alone cannot deliver lasting prosperity without a transformation of social and economic development that seeks to minimise risk and seize the opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-espinosa/national-governments-alone-cannot-deliver-lasting-prosperity-without/) [Patricia Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-espinosa/) > [“If you were offered the chance to live your own life again, would you seize the opportunity? The only real philosophical answer is automatically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/if-you-were-offered-the-chance-to-live-your-own-life-again-would-you/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The only things you regret are the things you didn't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-curtiz/the-only-things-you-regret-are-the-things-you-didn-t-do/) [Michael Curtiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-curtiz/) > [The Gods cannot help those who do not seize opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-gods-cannot-help-those-who-do-not-seize-opportunities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Robert Galbraith > [“Instinct was clawing at him like an importuning dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/instinct-was-clawing-at-him-like-an-importuning-dog/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“Hard to remember these days that there was a time you had to wait for the ink and paper reviews to see your work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/hard-to-remember-these-days-that-there-was-a-time-you-had-to-wait-for/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“it was weird. Would you believe it if some supermodel called you up and told you she was your sister?’ Strike thought of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/it-was-weird-would-you-believe-it-if-some-supermodel-called-you-up/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“Strike was used to playing archaeologist among the ruins of people’s traumatised memories;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/strike-was-used-to-playing-archaeologist-among-the-ruins-of-people-s/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“The model? Whoa.' But Spanner's interest in human beings, even when dead or famous, was still secondary to his fondness for rare comics, technological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/the-model-whoa-but-spanner-s-interest-in-human-beings-even-when-dead/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“The whole world's writing novels, but nobody's reading them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/the-whole-world-s-writing-novels-but-nobody-s-reading-them/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“Looking like a rake with two plastic tangerines tied to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/looking-like-a-rake-with-two-plastic-tangerines-tied-to-it/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“so he sat smoking on the sofa with the lower trouser leg hanging empty towards the floor, lost in thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/so-he-sat-smoking-on-the-sofa-with-the-lower-trouser-leg-hanging/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“People liked to talk; there were very few exceptions, the question was how you made them do it. Some were amenable to alcohol; others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/people-liked-to-talk-there-were-very-few-exceptions-the-question-was/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“Can I ask who you are, sir?" "Yeah, I expect so," said Strike, walking past him and ringing the doorbell. Anstis's dinner invitation notwithstanding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/can-i-ask-who-you-are-sir-yeah-i-expect-so-said-strike-walking-past/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“With the invention of the internet, any subliterate cretin can be Michiko Kakutani.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/with-the-invention-of-the-internet-any-subliterate-cretin-can-be/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“She is a woman of an excellent assurance, and an extraordinary happy wit, and tongue. Ben Jonson, Epicoene, or The Silent Woman”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/she-is-a-woman-of-an-excellent-assurance-and-an-extraordinary-happy/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“Forever encased in the amber of a writer's prose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/forever-encased-in-the-amber-of-a-writer-s-prose/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“...writers are a savage breed, Mr. Strike. If you want life-long friendship and selfless camaraderie, join the army and learn to kill. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/writers-are-a-savage-breed-mr-strike-if-you-want-life-long-friendship/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [“mythomania, her need to provoke, to taunt, to test.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/mythomania-her-need-to-provoke-to-taunt-to-test/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) [Explore all 130 Robert Galbraith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) ## More Killing quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [No religion has mandated killing others as a requirement for its sustenance or promotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-religion-has-mandated-killing-others-as-a-requirement-for-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Killing shit the ever so talented Mr. Ripley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/killing-shit-the-ever-so-talented-mr-ripley/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Humans had always been better at killing than any other living thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/humans-had-always-been-better-at-killing-than-any-other-living-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those old hypocrites. They talk about killing witches but the Good Book’s full of magic. Turning the Nile to blood and parting the Red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/those-old-hypocrites-they-talk-about-killing-witches-but-the-good/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [Muses had a way of killing those whom they inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-neville/muses-had-a-way-of-killing-those-whom-they-inspired/) [Katherine Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-neville/) > [“I would ask what it is you think you're doing, but... you are a teenager. I should have known better than to leave you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-would-ask-what-it-is-you-think-you-re-doing-but-you-are-a-teenager/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [Yelena.” I halted in the doorway, looking back over my shoulder. “You once said I wasn’t ready to believe your reason for killing Reyad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-i-halted-in-the-doorway-looking-back-over-my-shoulder-you-once/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [Killing became the same thing as having sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lee-lucas/killing-became-the-same-thing-as-having-sex/) [Henry Lee Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lee-lucas/) > [“English: "Being an adult doesn't mean killing the child we once were; it means being able to protect him." Česky: „Být dospělým neznamená zabít…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-being-an-adult-doesn-t-mean-killing-the-child-we-once-were-it/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [If both parties have a stake in the other, the chances of them killing each other are going to be reduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/if-both-parties-have-a-stake-in-the-other-the-chances-of-them-killing/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Dancing with death meant being committed to killing, committed with your heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/dancing-with-death-meant-being-committed-to-killing-committed-with/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) [Browse all 2,564 Killing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There were undoubtedly those to whom killing was easy and pleasurable: he had met a few such. 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