--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most bayonets throughout history have…" description: "\"Most bayonets throughout history have probably not been used because soldiers just can't do it, something holds them back... the same goes for shooting..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d78/rutger-bregman-2463_enemy_most-bayonets-throughout-history-have-pr_1049044.jpg" --- # Most bayonets throughout history have probably not been… ![“Most bayonets throughout history have probably not been used because soldiers just can't do it, something holds them back... the same goes for shooting the enemy. We've got this fascinating evidence from the Second World War, and also from other wars, that most soldiers couldn't do it.” quote by Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d78/rutger-bregman-2463_enemy_most-bayonets-throughout-history-have-pr_1049044.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d78/rutger-bregman-2463_enemy_most-bayonets-throughout-history-have-pr_1049044.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d78/rutger-bregman-2463_enemy_most-bayonets-throughout-history-have-pr_1049044.jpg) > “Most bayonets throughout history have probably not been used because soldiers just can't do it, something holds them back... the same goes for shooting the enemy. We've got this fascinating evidence from the Second World War, and also from other wars, that most soldiers couldn't do it.” [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical evidence shows many soldiers hesitate to kill, suggesting an innate aversion to violence. **In simple terms:** People often resist killing even in war. Key Takeaway Recognize innate compassion. Themes human nature war morality psychology Mood thoughtful analytical Type historical psychological When to use this quote - military training - peacekeeping - conflict mediation - education on non‑violence Key Concepts Ethics combat psychology military history Questions to Reflect On - Why do soldiers resist killing? - How can societies nurture this aversion? A Different Perspective May not apply to all combat situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Second world war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-world-war/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) ## Related quotes > [There's another issue here - and I have some limits as to what I can say - but there's some real question as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-shays/there-s-another-issue-here-and-i-have-some-limits-as-to-what-i-can/) [Christopher Shays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-shays/) > [“The people who write that kind of stuff never fight; possibly they believe that to write it is a substitute for fighting. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-people-who-write-that-kind-of-stuff-never-fight-possibly-they/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“In battle, in a war, a soldier sees only a tiny fragment of what is available to be seen. The soldier is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/in-battle-in-a-war-a-soldier-sees-only-a-tiny-fragment-of-what-is/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [It is the same in all wars; the soldiers do the fighting, the journalists do the shouting, and no true patriot ever gets near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-is-the-same-in-all-wars-the-soldiers-do-the-fighting-the/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Indeed, the Roman laws allowed no person to be carried to the wars but he that was in the soldiers' roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/indeed-the-roman-laws-allowed-no-person-to-be-carried-to-the-wars-but/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [“A dull, decent people, cherishing and fortifying their dullness behind a quarter of a million bayonets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/a-dull-decent-people-cherishing-and-fortifying-their-dullness-behind/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [They opposed brute force to reason and philosophy, and battalions of foreign mercenaries to ideas. As if ideas were to be impaled on bayonets!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/they-opposed-brute-force-to-reason-and-philosophy-and-battalions-of/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [Fear kills, want to kill. Fear is destructive. Love is creative energy. When you love you would like to create - you may like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/fear-kills-want-to-kill-fear-is-destructive-love-is-creative-energy/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/the-mosques-are-our-barracks-the-domes-our-helmets-the-minarets-our/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [Today's political leaders demonstrate their low opinion of the public with every social law they pass. They believe that, if given the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/today-s-political-leaders-demonstrate-their-low-opinion-of-the-public/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/well-governor-we-also-have-fewer-horses-and-bayonets/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You mention the Navy, for example, and the fact that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well governor, we also have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-mention-the-navy-for-example-and-the-fact-that-we-have-fewer/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-mentioned-the-navy-for-example-and-that-we-have-fewer-ships-than/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Seventeen's not so young. A hundred years ago people got married when they were practically our age." "Yeah, that was before electricity and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/seventeen-s-not-so-young-a-hundred-years-ago-people-got-married-when/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [The laurels of victory are at the point of the enemy bayonets. They must be plucked there; they must be carried by a hand-to-hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/the-laurels-of-victory-are-at-the-point-of-the-enemy-bayonets-they/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) ## More by Rutger Bregman > [“If all the developed countries would let in just 3% more immigrants, the world’s poor would have $305 billion more to spend, say scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/if-all-the-developed-countries-would-let-in-just-3-more-immigrants/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“When Lehman Brothers collapsed on September 15, 2008, and inaugurated the biggest crisis since the 1930s, there were no real alternatives to hand. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/when-lehman-brothers-collapsed-on-september-15-2008-and-inaugurated/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [I think one of the most important facts of basic income would be that it's not only a redistribution of income, but also of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/i-think-one-of-the-most-important-facts-of-basic-income-would-be-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [The great thing about money is that people can use it to buy things they need instead of things self-appointed experts think they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-great-thing-about-money-is-that-people-can-use-it-to-buy-things/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The idea that the GDP still serves as an accurate gauge of social welfare is one of the most widespread myths of our times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-idea-that-the-gdp-still-serves-as-an-accurate-gauge-of-social/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Most of Mark Zuckerberg's income is just rent collected off the millions of picture and video posts that we give away daily for free.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/most-of-mark-zuckerberg-s-income-is-just-rent-collected-off-the/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“To calculate the GDP, numerous data points have to be linked together and hundreds of wholly subjective choices made regarding what to count and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/to-calculate-the-gdp-numerous-data-points-have-to-be-linked-together/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Countless studies have shown that people who work less are more satisfied with their lives.37 In a recent poll conducted among working women, German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/countless-studies-have-shown-that-people-who-work-less-are-more/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Precisely when we should be shouldering the historic task of investing this rich, safe, and healthy existence with meaning, we’ve buried utopia instead. 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They believe that, if given the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/today-s-political-leaders-demonstrate-their-low-opinion-of-the-public/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/the-mosques-are-our-barracks-the-domes-our-helmets-the-minarets-our/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [Fear kills, want to kill. Fear is destructive. Love is creative energy. When you love you would like to create - you may like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/fear-kills-want-to-kill-fear-is-destructive-love-is-creative-energy/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [They opposed brute force to reason and philosophy, and battalions of foreign mercenaries to ideas. As if ideas were to be impaled on bayonets!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/they-opposed-brute-force-to-reason-and-philosophy-and-battalions-of/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [“A dull, decent people, cherishing and fortifying their dullness behind a quarter of a million bayonets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/a-dull-decent-people-cherishing-and-fortifying-their-dullness-behind/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [By push of bayonets, no firing until you see the whites in their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-agnew/by-push-of-bayonets-no-firing-until-you-see-the-whites-in-their-eyes/) Andrew Agnew > [Under divine blessing, we must rely on the bayonet when firearms cannot be furnished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stonewall-jackson/under-divine-blessing-we-must-rely-on-the-bayonet-when-firearms/) [Stonewall Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stonewall-jackson/) > [A religious act cannot be performed with the aid of the bayonet or the bomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-religious-act-cannot-be-performed-with-the-aid-of-the-bayonet-or/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Let me tell you what is coming… Your fathers and husbands, your sons and brothers, will be herded at the point of the bayonet...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/let-me-tell-you-what-is-coming-your-fathers-and-husbands-your-sons/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [All bayonets are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/all-bayonets-are-bad/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) Browse all 97 Bayonets quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most bayonets throughout history have probably not been used because soldiers just can't do it, something holds them back... the same goes for shooting the enemy. 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