--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was in the war. I know how to kill. I…" description: "\"I was in the war. I know how to kill. I was over there. I know how to do it. I've done it before. It's no big deal. You just make an adjustment. You co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/sam-shepard-2232_adjustment_i-was-in-the-war-i-know-how-to-kill-i-wa_2417845.jpg" --- # I was in the war. I know how to kill. I was over there. I… ![“I was in the war. I know how to kill. I was over there. I know how to do it. I've done it before. It's no big deal. You just make an adjustment. You convince yourself it's all right. That's all. It's easy. You just slaughter them.” quote by Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/sam-shepard-2232_adjustment_i-was-in-the-war-i-know-how-to-kill-i-wa_2417845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/sam-shepard-2232_adjustment_i-was-in-the-war-i-know-how-to-kill-i-wa_2417845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/sam-shepard-2232_adjustment_i-was-in-the-war-i-know-how-to-kill-i-wa_2417845.jpg) > “I was in the war. I know how to kill. I was over there. I know how to do it. I've done it before. It's no big deal. You just make an adjustment. You convince yourself it's all right. That's all. It's easy. You just slaughter them.” [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War experience normalizes killing, showing how desensitization and self‑justification make violence seem easy. **In simple terms:** War can numb moral sense. Key Takeaway Question narratives that trivialize violence. Themes war psychology morality Mood somber critical Type cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - military training - post‑combat adjustment Key Concepts desensitization self‑justification Questions to Reflect On - How do societies prevent moral disengagement? - What supports help veterans process combat trauma? A Different Perspective Such rationalizations can be dangerous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adjustment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adjustment/) [Big deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-deal/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Convince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convince/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Just Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-slaughter-6109381/) [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [Kill Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-know-996607/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Know Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-kill-762128/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaughter/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-know/) ## Related quotes > [“Well, I thought that I should let this young man here know that I was a Seal. I know how to go into places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora-rose-reynolds/well-i-thought-that-i-should-let-this-young-man-here-know-that-i-was/) [Aurora Rose Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora-rose-reynolds/) > [“I’m going to kill you, you know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abria-mattina/i-m-going-to-kill-you-you-know/) [Abria Mattina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abria-mattina/) > [One day I'll kill him, you know. I glanced at her. She was deadly serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/one-day-i-ll-kill-him-you-know-i-glanced-at-her-she-was-deadly-serious/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [The reason I don't Kill Myself is because I know I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/the-reason-i-don-t-kill-myself-is-because-i-know-i-can/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [“If I ever decide to kill you, you’d be the first to know about it. (And hopefully the only person to know about it).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-i-ever-decide-to-kill-you-you-d-be-the-first-to-know-about-it-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [They say hot dogs can kill you. How do you know it's not the bun?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/they-say-hot-dogs-can-kill-you-how-do-you-know-it-s-not-the-bun/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [It is easier to kill what we do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/it-is-easier-to-kill-what-we-do-not-know/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Why would I kill to know what she's thinking right now? Probably because I enjoy killing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/why-would-i-kill-to-know-what-she-s-thinking-right-now-probably/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [I would kill for you to know what you really mean to me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-kill-for-you-to-know-what-you-really-mean-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My whole body is a lethal weapon, you know. I know more ways to kill you than you know how to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/my-whole-body-is-a-lethal-weapon-you-know-i-know-more-ways-to-kill/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [Never draw a gun on a man unless you intend to kill him. And believe me, if you do intend to kill him he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-draw-a-gun-on-a-man-unless-you-intend-to-kill-him-and-believe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm still very much a believer in the spontaneity of certain kinds of writing. But then you have to eventually, when you're writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-m-still-very-much-a-believer-in-the-spontaneity-of-certain-kinds-of/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I know you are here to kill me. Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/i-know-you-are-here-to-kill-me-shoot-coward-you-are-only-going-to/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [Bears are simultaneously so graceful and so strong. Bears know who they are, but they often don’t know who you are, which is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/bears-are-simultaneously-so-graceful-and-so-strong-bears-know-who/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [You'll be the first to know when I kill you, I promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marston/you-ll-be-the-first-to-know-when-i-kill-you-i-promise/) [John Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marston/) ## More by Sam Shepard > [I guess what I like is mostly country & western or else stuff that has a real blues feel to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-guess-what-i-like-is-mostly-country-western-or-else-stuff-that-has/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [You can write 16 plays and not make as much money as you did doing one movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/you-can-write-16-plays-and-not-make-as-much-money-as-you-did-doing/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [It's funny, in a way the actor is a writer. It's not like the two things are so separate as to be like apples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/it-s-funny-in-a-way-the-actor-is-a-writer-it-s-not-like-the-two/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Character is an essential tendency. It can be covered up, it can be messed with, it can be screwed around with, but it can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/character-is-an-essential-tendency-it-can-be-covered-up-it-can-be/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Why would you want to be be counseled in your grief? It's too private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/why-would-you-want-to-be-be-counseled-in-your-grief-it-s-too-private/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Farm country -- you know, hay, horses, cattle. It's the ideal situation for me. I like the physical endeavors that go with the farm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/farm-country-you-know-hay-horses-cattle-it-s-the-ideal-situation-for/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I think comedy's harder to pull off on the screen than on the stage, anyway. Tragedy is easier on the screen... oddly enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-think-comedy-s-harder-to-pull-off-on-the-screen-than-on-the-stage/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [“Those are the most monotonous fuckin' crickets I ever heard in my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/those-are-the-most-monotonous-fuckin-crickets-i-ever-heard-in-my-life/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [All good writing comes out of aloneness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/all-good-writing-comes-out-of-aloneness/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [When I first started in film, I was terrified of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/when-i-first-started-in-film-i-was-terrified-of-the-camera/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I'll develop my own image. I'm an original man. A one and only. I just need some help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-ll-develop-my-own-image-i-m-an-original-man-a-one-and-only-i-just/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [When I just sit around my house and work, I can work two, three hours, and then I go off and ride a horse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/when-i-just-sit-around-my-house-and-work-i-can-work-two-three-hours/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Hollywood is geared toward teenage idiocy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/hollywood-is-geared-toward-teenage-idiocy/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [It's my private life, and it's not up for grabs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/it-s-my-private-life-and-it-s-not-up-for-grabs/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Keep away from fantasy. Shake off the image,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/keep-away-from-fantasy-shake-off-the-image/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) [Explore all 176 Sam Shepard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) ## More Adjustment quotes > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The human body has been designed to resist an infinite number of changes and attacks brought about by its environment. The secret of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-johnson/the-human-body-has-been-designed-to-resist-an-infinite-number-of/) [Harry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-johnson/) > [The chances are that you have already come to believe that happiness is unattainable. But men have attained it. And they have attained it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-chances-are-that-you-have-already-come-to-believe-that-happiness/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [The biggest adjustment from the minors was learning to spend $45 in meal money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-van-slyke/the-biggest-adjustment-from-the-minors-was-learning-to-spend-45-in/) [Andy Van Slyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-van-slyke/) > [Memory, with its fugitive adjustments, is the merciful veil to the grim enactments of the first law. It hides the anguish in the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-aumonier/memory-with-its-fugitive-adjustments-is-the-merciful-veil-to-the-grim/) [Stacy Aumonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-aumonier/) > [Success comes from repeated efforts day in and day out. You learn from your mistakes, make adjustments and continue pressing forward until you achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-comes-from-repeated-efforts-day-in-and-day-out-you-learn-from/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [If your plan isn't working, adjust your plan. Never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-martin/if-your-plan-isn-t-working-adjust-your-plan-never-give-up/) [Matt Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-martin/) > [I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-think-i-m-constantly-in-a-state-of-adjustment/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The terror of the atom age is not the violence of the new power but the speed of man's adjustment to it, the speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/the-terror-of-the-atom-age-is-not-the-violence-of-the-new-power-but/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [I'm intrigued by films that have a singular vision behind them. 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