--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can always count on people to hate and…" description: "\"“We can always count on people to hate and to fear.To harm one another and to be harmed.To kill and be killed.It is what opens the gate.”\" — Simon Holt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-holt-19328_fear_we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-an_1770444.jpg" --- # We can always count on people to hate and to fear.To harm… ![“We can always count on people to hate and to fear.To harm one another and to be harmed.To kill and be killed.It is what opens the gate.” quote by Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-holt-19328_fear_we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-an_1770444.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-holt-19328_fear_we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-an_1770444.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-holt-19328_fear_we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-an_1770444.jpg) > ““We can always count on people to hate and to fear.To harm one another and to be harmed.To kill and be killed.It is what opens the gate.”” [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observes that hatred, fear, and violence are constant human behaviors that open destructive cycles. **In simple terms:** People repeatedly choose hate and violence. Key Takeaway Break cycles of hatred and fear. Themes hate fear violence Mood urgent reflective Type political ethical When to use this quote - interpersonal conflict - societal unrest - war Key Concepts human nature conflict Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to reduce fear? - How can societies foster peace? A Different Perspective Changing innate tendencies is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [What is fear? Why are you so afraid? Even if everything is known about you and you are an open book, why fear? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/what-is-fear-why-are-you-so-afraid-even-if-everything-is-known-about/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The only honorable, desirable kind of fear that shouldn't be feared is the fear of harm on a loved one. It's the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-honorable-desirable-kind-of-fear-that-shouldn-t-be-feared-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [When the lab rats hear the bell ringing, they freeze. That's what fear does to you - fear stops you dead in your tracks.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/when-the-lab-rats-hear-the-bell-ringing-they-freeze-that-s-what-fear/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [“Only the frantic of fear can harm you. Your calm and centered self knows exactly what to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/only-the-frantic-of-fear-can-harm-you-your-calm-and-centered-self/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I think that it's rational to fear your own death or to fear harm to your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-think-that-it-s-rational-to-fear-your-own-death-or-to-fear-harm-to/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [They hate whom they fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintus-ennius/they-hate-whom-they-fear/) [Quintus Ennius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintus-ennius/) > [Hate is crystallized fear, fear's dividend, fear objectified. We hate what we fear and so where hate is, fear will be lurking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/hate-is-crystallized-fear-fear-s-dividend-fear-objectified-we-hate/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [Democracy is not what we hate the most and what we fear the most. We need to stand up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/democracy-is-not-what-we-hate-the-most-and-what-we-fear-the-most-we/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Indeed, it is a kind of quintessence of pride to hate and fear even the kind and legitimate approval of those who love us!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/indeed-it-is-a-kind-of-quintessence-of-pride-to-hate-and-fear-even/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“My name is surrounded with such hate and fear that no one can judge what is the truth and what is false, what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-roman-von-ungern-sternberg/my-name-is-surrounded-with-such-hate-and-fear-that-no-one-can-judge/) Baron Roman von Ungern-Sternberg > [“But the roots of their hate and fear were too deep, and Lazlo saw hints of revulsion as their confusion smeared one feeling into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/but-the-roots-of-their-hate-and-fear-were-too-deep-and-lazlo-saw/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Aversion is a form of bondage. We are tied to what we hate or fear. That is why, in our lives, the same problem,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/aversion-is-a-form-of-bondage-we-are-tied-to-what-we-hate-or-fear/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [There is no hate without fear.Hate is crystallized fear, fear'sdividend, fear objectivized. We hate what we fear and so where hate is, fear will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-hate-without-fear-hate-is-crystallized-fear-fear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He couldn't help thinking that all that money we were spending blowing up things and killing people so far away, making people the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/he-couldn-t-help-thinking-that-all-that-money-we-were-spending/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“God, I was a mess when it came to Derrek. One part relief that I wasn’t still with him. One part embarrassment that I’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-higginson/god-i-was-a-mess-when-it-came-to-derrek-one-part-relief-that-i-wasn-t/) [Rachel Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-higginson/) ## More by Simon Holt > [“Your heart gives you your power, Regina. Follow it, fight with it, and you cannot be defeated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/your-heart-gives-you-your-power-regina-follow-it-fight-with-it-and/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“Is my son turning into some kind of monster?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/is-my-son-turning-into-some-kind-of-monster/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“Devour your fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/devour-your-fear/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“But for all the horrors that Reggie had seen, She had also witnessed the wonder of the human spirit fighting back. It wasn't about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/but-for-all-the-horrors-that-reggie-had-seen-she-had-also-witnessed/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“They lurk in the cold and dark.Hungry and,wicked,they wait for their one chance to devour the weak on Sorry Night.Then the vours feast on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/they-lurk-in-the-cold-and-dark-hungry-and-wicked-they-wait-for-their/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“When darkness comes and eats the light, bury your fears on sorry night. 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We make the choice not to embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/we-all-have-a-dark-side-reggie-you-me-the-old-lady-down-the-street/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“Only a teen girl would be afraid of an evil hairstylist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/only-a-teen-girl-would-be-afraid-of-an-evil-hairstylist/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“When dark creeps in and eats the light, Bury your fears on Sorry Night. For in the winter's blackest hours, Comes the feasting of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/when-dark-creeps-in-and-eats-the-light-bury-your-fears-on-sorry-night/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“Fear is the cancer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/fear-is-the-cancer/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“You went through hell and lived. That leaves marks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/you-went-through-hell-and-lived-that-leaves-marks/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“It was safe to assume he'd not only read the play but then re-read it, cross-referenced the annotations, and probably joined an online chat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/it-was-safe-to-assume-he-d-not-only-read-the-play-but-then-re-read-it/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [“Freshman year. We made it. And with only one body possession and one accidental death to our names”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/freshman-year-we-made-it-and-with-only-one-body-possession-and-one/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) [Explore all 31 Simon Holt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We can always count on people to hate and to fear.To harm one another and to be harmed.To kill and be killed.It is what opens the gate.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Holt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-and-to-fear-to-harm-one-another/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-and-to-fear-to-harm-one-another/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-holt-19328_fear_we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-an_1770444.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-holt-19328_fear_we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-an_1770444.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-holt-19328_fear_we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-an_1770444.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can always count on people to hate and to fear.To harm one another and to be harmed.To kill and be…” — Simon Holt", "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": "Simon Holt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We can always count on people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-and-to-fear-to-harm-one-another/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/we-can-always-count-on-people-to-hate-and-to-fear-to-harm-one-another/#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 } } ] } ```