--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easy to kill. It is equally easy to…" description: "\"“It is easy to kill. It is equally easy to destroy glass windows. Any fool can do either. Why is it only the wise who perceive that it is wisdom to let..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/s-m-stirling-11637_quote_it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to_1754211.jpg" --- # It is easy to kill. It is equally easy to destroy glass… ![“It is easy to kill. It is equally easy to destroy glass windows. Any fool can do either. Why is it only the wise who perceive that it is wisdom to let live, when even lunatics can sometimes understand that it is better to open a window than to smash the glass?” quote by S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/s-m-stirling-11637_quote_it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to_1754211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/s-m-stirling-11637_quote_it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to_1754211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/s-m-stirling-11637_quote_it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to_1754211.jpg) > ““It is easy to kill. It is equally easy to destroy glass windows. Any fool can do either. Why is it only the wise who perceive that it is wisdom to let live, when even lunatics can sometimes understand that it is better to open a window than to smash the glass?”” [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wisdom lies in choosing constructive actions over destructive ones, even when both seem easy. **In simple terms:** Choose constructive over destructive actions. Key Takeaway Practice thoughtful decision‑making. Themes wisdom choice violence peace Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - interpersonal disputes - political decisions - personal habits - crisis management Key Concepts ethical reasoning self‑control conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - When have you faced a tempting easy but harmful choice? - How can you foster wisdom in others? A Different Perspective Choosing the wise path may require more effort than the easy destructive option. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fool Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool-wise-1009581/) [Kill Equally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-equally-1632685/) [Perceive Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceive-wisdom-1632684/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisdom Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-let-616623/) ## Related quotes > [“Formerly, when I was told to consider him wise, I kept trying to, and thought I was stupid myself because I was unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/formerly-when-i-was-told-to-consider-him-wise-i-kept-trying-to-and/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Youth is not the era of wisdom; let us therefore have due consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/youth-is-not-the-era-of-wisdom-let-us-therefore-have-due-consideration/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [“that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways, and that such a person need expect nothing from the Great Law. If any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/that-a-double-minded-man-is-unstable-in-all-his-ways-and-that-such-a/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > [If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-any-of-you-lacks-wisdom-let-him-ask-of-god-who-gives-to-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Have the wisdom to let the first impulse go and then act on the second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jreyes/have-the-wisdom-to-let-the-first-impulse-go-and-then-act-on-the-second/) [JREYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jreyes/) > [“When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/when-i-find-myself-in-times-of-trouble-mother-mary-comes-to-me-2/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Whisper words of wisdom, Let It Be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-beatles/whisper-words-of-wisdom-let-it-be/) [The Beatles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-beatles/) > [“I aspire to wisdom, my lady. I do not believe I possess it, not yet. But my lord Ptolemy Solon holds that happiness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/i-aspire-to-wisdom-my-lady-i-do-not-believe-i-possess-it-not-yet-but/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom 'Let it be,'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/when-i-find-myself-in-times-of-trouble-mother-mary-comes-to-me/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“Share your light and wisdom, let it flow outwards and touch people. By raising your energy you will help others and you will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-rangel-gerry-o-malley/share-your-light-and-wisdom-let-it-flow-outwards-and-touch-people-by/) [Ana Rangel & Gerry O'malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-rangel-gerry-o-malley/) > [If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/if-any-of-you-lack-wisdom-let-him-ask-god-that-giveth-to-all-men/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-son-of-zebedee/if-any-of-you-lacks-wisdom-let-him-ask-god-who-gives-to-all-men/) [James, son of Zebedee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-son-of-zebedee/) > [“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-c-isabel-coston-byrum/if-any-of-you-lack-wisdom-let-him-ask-of-god-that-giveth-to-all-men/) [Isabel C. (Isabel Coston) Byrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-c-isabel-coston-byrum/) > [Honesty is the first chapter in the Book of wisdom. Let it be our endeavor to merit the character of a just nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/honesty-is-the-first-chapter-in-the-book-of-wisdom-let-it-be-our/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is when you learn something new every day. Wisdom is when you let something go every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/knowledge-is-when-you-learn-something-new-every-day-wisdom-is-when/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by S.M. Stirling > [“Myths are lies; but I believe in the power of myths the way I believe in rocks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/myths-are-lies-but-i-believe-in-the-power-of-myths-the-way-i-believe/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [Love isn't like money--the more you give away the more you get back, and the more you have to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/love-isn-t-like-money-the-more-you-give-away-the-more-you-get-back/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [The Mackenzie had never met folk so poor in story and song and legends, and it moved him to a pity that pricked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/the-mackenzie-had-never-met-folk-so-poor-in-story-and-song-and/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [You can learn by listening, or by getting whacked between the eyes with a two-by-four. I always found listening easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/you-can-learn-by-listening-or-by-getting-whacked-between-the-eyes/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Clan custom and law held that it was the public declaration of intent and then living together that made a handfasting; the ceremonies simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/clan-custom-and-law-held-that-it-was-the-public-declaration-of-intent/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“″He chose to come onto your land uninvited with a weapon in his hand,″ he said. ″When a man does that, he consents to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/he-chose-to-come-onto-your-land-uninvited-with-a-weapon-in-his-hand/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“It doesn't stop being magic because you can you explain it, Father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/it-doesn-t-stop-being-magic-because-you-can-you-explain-it-father/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Who dares, wins,” he muttered to himself. “Or gets royally banged about if things go south.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/who-dares-wins-he-muttered-to-himself-or-gets-royally-banged-about-if/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Being ignorant is truly bliss compared to being misinformed, especially if you’re aware of the depths of your own ignorance. As Mother says, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/being-ignorant-is-truly-bliss-compared-to-being-misinformed/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Be your own judge. But commit no trespass, remembering that where another's liberty begins your own inevitably meets its boundary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/be-your-own-judge-but-commit-no-trespass-remembering-that-where/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Sure it is that They have many faces. All the shapes the Divine shows us are true; and none are all the Truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/sure-it-is-that-they-have-many-faces-all-the-shapes-the-divine-shows/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“I like you, Mike. I just wanted to know about you.” He grinned and finished building the fire. “OK, point taken, and I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/i-like-you-mike-i-just-wanted-to-know-about-you-he-grinned-and/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“But then they were males, and therefore idiots about some things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/but-then-they-were-males-and-therefore-idiots-about-some-things/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“ I was father to the land. I saved my people. I was... King. "By... earth," he said, more a movement of the lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/i-was-father-to-the-land-i-saved-my-people-i-was-king-by-earth-he/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [Many are the marvels of God's Creation, but none so marvelous as man. Or so cunning, for good and ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/many-are-the-marvels-of-god-s-creation-but-none-so-marvelous-as-man/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) [Explore all 59 S.M. Stirling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) ## More Wisdom quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [“Your mind has the intellect to lift the world, your heart has the wisdom to better the world, and your soul has the genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-mind-has-the-intellect-to-lift-the-world-your-heart-has-the/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [If I meet a wise person, I think, 'Yes, tell me more about parenting, about marriage, about how to stay in love. Tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/if-i-meet-a-wise-person-i-think-yes-tell-me-more-about-parenting/) [Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/) > [“In the same way that the picturesque designers were always careful to include some reminder of our mortality in their gardens -- a ruin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/in-the-same-way-that-the-picturesque-designers-were-always-careful-to/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“Because I am a transvestite, people often assume that this gives me a special insight into the opposite gender. But this is rubbish: how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-perry/because-i-am-a-transvestite-people-often-assume-that-this-gives-me-a/) [Grayson Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-perry/) > [“What is cowardice in the young is wisdom in the old, but all the same one can be ashamed of wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/what-is-cowardice-in-the-young-is-wisdom-in-the-old-but-all-the-same/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) [Browse all 24,117 Wisdom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is easy to kill. It is equally easy to destroy glass windows. Any fool can do either. Why is it only the wise who perceive that it is wisdom to let live, when even lunatics can sometimes understand that it is better to open a window than to smash the glass?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "S.M. Stirling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to-destroy-glass-windows-any/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Wisdom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to-destroy-glass-windows-any/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/s-m-stirling-11637_quote_it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to_1754211.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/s-m-stirling-11637_quote_it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to_1754211.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/s-m-stirling-11637_quote_it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to_1754211.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is easy to kill. It is equally easy to destroy glass windows. Any fool can do either. Why is it only the…” — S.M. Stirling", "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": "S.M. Stirling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is easy to kill. It...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to-destroy-glass-windows-any/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/it-is-easy-to-kill-it-is-equally-easy-to-destroy-glass-windows-any/#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 } } ] } ```