--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Backed into a corner, the poor can riot…" description: "\"“Backed into a corner, the poor can riot, but the rich start war.”\" — Stefan Petrucha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/stefan-petrucha-52521_start-war_backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-b_2950342.jpg" --- # Backed into a corner, the poor can riot, but the rich… ![“Backed into a corner, the poor can riot, but the rich start war.” quote by Stefan Petrucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/stefan-petrucha-52521_start-war_backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-b_2950342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/stefan-petrucha-52521_start-war_backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-b_2950342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/stefan-petrucha-52521_start-war_backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-b_2950342.jpg) > ““Backed into a corner, the poor can riot, but the rich start war.”” [Stefan Petrucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-petrucha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When the poor are cornered they may revolt, while the rich resort to war. **In simple terms:** Desperation leads to different forms of conflict. Key Takeaway Address inequality to prevent violence. Themes social inequality conflict power dynamics Mood somber urgent Type political critical When to use this quote - urban unrest - international tensions - policy reform Key Concepts structural violence resource scarcity Questions to Reflect On - What systemic changes reduce both riots and wars? - How do power imbalances fuel conflict? A Different Perspective Violence can also arise from elite aggression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backed Corner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backed-corner-2937505/) [Corner Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corner-poor-4443023/) [Poor Riot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-riot-4443024/) [Riot Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riot-rich-4443025/) [Start War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-war-568482/) ## Related quotes > [People get desperate when they're backed into a corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seohyun/people-get-desperate-when-they-re-backed-into-a-corner/) [Seohyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seohyun/) > [“I was trying to have an insight, and all I could think of was that I'd backed myself into a corner, and the corner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welter/i-was-trying-to-have-an-insight-and-all-i-could-think-of-was-that-i-d/) [John Welter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welter/) > [“When backed into a corner, a victim has two options: he can lie down and die, or, he can fight regardless of the odds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-backed-into-a-corner-a-victim-has-two-options-he-can-lie-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A animal is at it's worst when backed into a corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/a-animal-is-at-it-s-worst-when-backed-into-a-corner/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [“If you find that you have backed into a corner, it may be time to clear pride from your way forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-herrick/if-you-find-that-you-have-backed-into-a-corner-it-may-be-time-to/) [Jeffery Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-herrick/) > [I always felt like I needed to be backed up in a corner to push myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gray/i-always-felt-like-i-needed-to-be-backed-up-in-a-corner-to-push-myself/) [Andre Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gray/) > [“I know your game, you know. You get nasty when you're backed into a corner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-dane/i-know-your-game-you-know-you-get-nasty-when-you-re-backed-into-a/) [Lauren Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-dane/) > [I will raid the arsenal and start a war to end slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-will-raid-the-arsenal-and-start-a-war-to-end-slavery/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Once you start a war, you have to win,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-gordon-liddy/once-you-start-a-war-you-have-to-win/) [G. Gordon Liddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-gordon-liddy/) > [Religion, ideology, resources, land, spite, love or just because¦ No matter how pathetic the reason, its enough to start war. War will never cease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/religion-ideology-resources-land-spite-love-or-just-because-no-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You can't hammer in a nail with words..." "No, but you can start a war with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-galley/you-can-t-hammer-in-a-nail-with-words-no-but-you-can-start-a-war-with/) [Ben Galley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-galley/) > [If a king tries to start a war, a mother should go to him and forbid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/if-a-king-tries-to-start-a-war-a-mother-should-go-to-him-and-forbid-it/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [The world knows that America will never start a war. This generation of Americans has had enough of war and hate... we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-world-knows-that-america-will-never-start-a-war-this-generation/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-united-states-as-the-world-knows-will-never-start-a-war/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“Because the Indians are planning to start war now, the common people want all of them destroyed so that they can live in peace;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/because-the-indians-are-planning-to-start-war-now-the-common-people/) [Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/) ## More by Stefan Petrucha > [Because if I smashed anything, Team Jaiden would just get me into a behavior modification program, or maybe some doctor would put be on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/because-if-i-smashed-anything-team-jaiden-would-just-get-me-into-a/) [Stefan Petrucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-petrucha/) > [It's toys, boy, all toys. You'll see more and more contraptions as you get older, but if I teach you anything, you'll learn that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/it-s-toys-boy-all-toys-you-ll-see-more-and-more-contraptions-as-you/) [Stefan Petrucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-petrucha/) > [“To see someone hurt, to really understand that, is the same as being hurt yourself. To see someone happy is the the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/to-see-someone-hurt-to-really-understand-that-is-the-same-as-being/) [Stefan Petrucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-petrucha/) > [Your novels show only the tiniest fraction of detective work, the brilliant crime, the tantalizing clues, the dramatic chase, the final battle atop a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/your-novels-show-only-the-tiniest-fraction-of-detective-work-the/) [Stefan Petrucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-petrucha/) > [“Nate jumped up and down, voice cracking as he talked. "It worked! It worked! My Taser worked! Ha! Oh yeah, oh yeah! I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/nate-jumped-up-and-down-voice-cracking-as-he-talked-it-worked-it/) [Stefan Petrucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-petrucha/) > [Really, boy, unless you're ready to deal with the monster, you shouldn't go looking under the bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/really-boy-unless-you-re-ready-to-deal-with-the-monster-you-shouldn-t/) [Stefan Petrucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-petrucha/) [Explore all 7 Stefan Petrucha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-petrucha/) ## More Start War quotes > [“Because the Indians are planning to start war now, the common people want all of them destroyed so that they can live in peace;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/because-the-indians-are-planning-to-start-war-now-the-common-people/) [Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/) > [The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-united-states-as-the-world-knows-will-never-start-a-war/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [The world knows that America will never start a war. This generation of Americans has had enough of war and hate... we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-world-knows-that-america-will-never-start-a-war-this-generation/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [If a king tries to start a war, a mother should go to him and forbid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/if-a-king-tries-to-start-a-war-a-mother-should-go-to-him-and-forbid-it/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [“You can't hammer in a nail with words..." "No, but you can start a war with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-galley/you-can-t-hammer-in-a-nail-with-words-no-but-you-can-start-a-war-with/) [Ben Galley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-galley/) > [Religion, ideology, resources, land, spite, love or just because¦ No matter how pathetic the reason, its enough to start war. War will never cease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/religion-ideology-resources-land-spite-love-or-just-because-no-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once you start a war, you have to win,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-gordon-liddy/once-you-start-a-war-you-have-to-win/) [G. Gordon Liddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-gordon-liddy/) > [I will raid the arsenal and start a war to end slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-will-raid-the-arsenal-and-start-a-war-to-end-slavery/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Let her come after me... start a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrina-patridge/let-her-come-after-me-start-a-war/) [Audrina Patridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrina-patridge/) > [“Righteous, I like that. Kinda fitting when you think about it. If we danced and shared music, we'd be too busy en-joy-in' life to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/righteous-i-like-that-kinda-fitting-when-you-think-about-it-if-we/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [“I decided to start a war, father", I said, cheerfully, "it's so much more interesting than peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-decided-to-start-a-war-father-i-said-cheerfully-it-s-so-much-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why is there enough religion to start war, but not enough religion to incite peace!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/why-is-there-enough-religion-to-start-war-but-not-enough-religion-to/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [We didn't start this war - the right wing did. We're tired of seeing good-paying jobs shipped overseas. This fight is about the economy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-hoffa/we-didn-t-start-this-war-the-right-wing-did-we-re-tired-of-seeing/) [James P. Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-hoffa/) > [I will never conduct a war or start a war because we want to; the United States of America should only go to war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-will-never-conduct-a-war-or-start-a-war-because-we-want-to-the/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [“I never meant to start a war I just wanted you to let me in And instead of using force I guess I should've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/i-never-meant-to-start-a-war-i-just-wanted-you-to-let-me-in-and/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) [Browse all 59 Start War quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-war-568482/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Backed into a corner, the poor can riot, but the rich start war.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stefan Petrucha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-but-the-rich-start-war/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Start War" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-but-the-rich-start-war/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/stefan-petrucha-52521_start-war_backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-b_2950342.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/stefan-petrucha-52521_start-war_backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-b_2950342.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/stefan-petrucha-52521_start-war_backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-b_2950342.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Backed into a corner, the poor can riot, but the rich start war.” — Stefan Petrucha", "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": "Stefan Petrucha", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-petrucha/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Backed into a corner, the poor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-but-the-rich-start-war/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-petrucha/backed-into-a-corner-the-poor-can-riot-but-the-rich-start-war/#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 } } ] } ```