---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man feared that he might find an…"
description: "\"“A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that he might find a victim. One was more wise than the other.”\" — Stephen Crane"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/stephen-crane-4187_assassin_a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assas_2089843.jpg"
---

#  A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that…

![“A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that he might find a victim. One was more wise than the other.” quote by Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/stephen-crane-4187_assassin_a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assas_2089843.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/stephen-crane-4187_assassin_a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assas_2089843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/stephen-crane-4187_assassin_a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assas_2089843.jpg)

> ““A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that he might find a victim. One was more wise than the other.””

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Fear of becoming a victim or a perpetrator reflects a deeper wisdom in recognizing both roles.

**In simple terms:** Both fear and victimhood reveal insight.

Key Takeaway

Balance caution with empathy.

Themes

ethics psychology human nature

Mood

thoughtful reflective serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal decision making
- law enforcement
- conflict resolution
- leadership training
- counseling

Key Concepts

Moral philosophy self-awareness risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- Which role do you assume in conflicts?
- Can recognizing both sides reduce harm?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on fear can paralyze action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Assassin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassin/) [Assassin Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassin-victim-4125463/) [Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crane/) [Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared/) [Feared Assassin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared-assassin-4125462/) [Man Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-feared-1589865/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/)

## Related quotes

> [A MAN FEARED A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that he might find a victim. One was more wise than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-man-feared-a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assassin-another-that/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [What each man feared would happen to himself, did not trouble him when he saw that it would ruin another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/what-each-man-feared-would-happen-to-himself-did-not-trouble-him-when/)

[Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/)

> [The silence of a treacherous man is to be feared even more than his words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/the-silence-of-a-treacherous-man-is-to-be-feared-even-more-than-his/)

[Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/)

> [“It was wrong to do this," said the angel. "You should live like a flower, Holding malice like a puppy, Waging war like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/it-was-wrong-to-do-this-said-the-angel-you-should-live-like-a-flower/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“There was something wild beneath the surface that his suit couldn't hide. He had the cocky arrogance of a man who broke the rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-castille/there-was-something-wild-beneath-the-surface-that-his-suit-couldn-t/)

[Sarah Castille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-castille/)

> [“The silence of the treacherous man should be feared more than his words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/the-silence-of-the-treacherous-man-should-be-feared-more-than-his/)

[Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/)

> [“A tightrope walker uncertain if he could make it to the other side probably would not. A race car driver wondering if he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-l-pickering-jr/a-tightrope-walker-uncertain-if-he-could-make-it-to-the-other-side/)

[Roy L. Pickering Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-l-pickering-jr/)

> [Shokaku is a crane of some kind.' 'For lifting things?' Will asked. 'For flying. A large bird type of crane,' she corrected him. 'In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/shokaku-is-a-crane-of-some-kind-for-lifting-things-will-asked-for/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [“Forward the Golden Crane!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/forward-the-golden-crane/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“And so it was I entered the broken world To trace the visionary company of hue, its voice An instant in the wind (I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/and-so-it-was-i-entered-the-broken-world-to-trace-the-visionary/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [The Golden Crane flies for Tarmon Gai'don!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/the-golden-crane-flies-for-tarmon-gai-don/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“-"Death walks, and talks, and occasionally whisks you in a gruesome waltz." -”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-rourke/death-walks-and-talks-and-occasionally-whisks-you-in-a-gruesome-waltz/)

[Stacey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-rourke/)

> [Yeah, I've always liked Barbara Crane's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-ervin-beam/yeah-i-ve-always-liked-barbara-crane-s-stuff/)

[Samuel Ervin Beam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-ervin-beam/)

> [A falcon who chases a warlike crane can only hope for a life of pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/a-falcon-who-chases-a-warlike-crane-can-only-hope-for-a-life-of-pain/)

[Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/)

> [“Don’t do that? This is your sage advice?” “Yeah.” He burped and blew it out the side of his mouth. “Sorry, the burritos we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-calmes/don-t-do-that-this-is-your-sage-advice-yeah-he-burped-and-blew-it-out/)

[Mary Calmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-calmes/)

## More by Stephen Crane

> [Doubtless there are other roads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/doubtless-there-are-other-roads/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“She thinks my name is Freddie, you know, but of course it ain't. I always tell these people some name like that, because if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/she-thinks-my-name-is-freddie-you-know-but-of-course-it-ain-t-i/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [Every sin is a result of collaboration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/every-sin-is-a-result-of-collaboration/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“He turned now with a lover's thirst to images of tranquil skies, fresh meadows, cool brooks— an existence of soft and eternal peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/he-turned-now-with-a-lover-s-thirst-to-images-of-tranquil-skies-fresh/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“XXIV I saw a man pursuing the horizon; Round and round they sped. I was disturbed at this; I accosted the man. "It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/xxiv-i-saw-a-man-pursuing-the-horizon-round-and-round-they-sped-i-was/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [It was surprising that Nature had gone tranquilly on with her golden process in the midst of so much devilment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/it-was-surprising-that-nature-had-gone-tranquilly-on-with-her-golden/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [And it was as if fate had betrayed the soldier. In death it exposed to his enemies that poverty which in life he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/and-it-was-as-if-fate-had-betrayed-the-soldier-in-death-it-exposed-to/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“I stood upon a high place, And saw, below, many devils Running, leaping, and carousing in sin. One looked up, grinning, And said, "Comrade!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/i-stood-upon-a-high-place-and-saw-below-many-devils-running-leaping/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [A serious prophet upon predicting a flood should be the first man to climb a tree. This would demonstrate that he was indeed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-serious-prophet-upon-predicting-a-flood-should-be-the-first-man-to/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“A single rifle flashed in a thicket before the regiment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-single-rifle-flashed-in-a-thicket-before-the-regiment/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [XXVIII "Truth," said a traveller, "Is a rock, a mighty fortress; "Often have I been to it, "Even to its highest tower, "From whence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/xxviii-truth-said-a-traveller-is-a-rock-a-mighty-fortress-often-have/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“The lieutenant, returning from a tour after a bandage, produced from a hidden receptacle of his mind new and portentous oaths suited to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/the-lieutenant-returning-from-a-tour-after-a-bandage-produced-from-a/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“Many a man ought to have a bath-tub larger than the boat which here rode upon the sea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/many-a-man-ought-to-have-a-bath-tub-larger-than-the-boat-which-here/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“Why—why—” stammered the youth struggling with his balking tongue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/why-why-stammered-the-youth-struggling-with-his-balking-tongue/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

> [“Eventually, his courage expended itself upon these objections. The debates drained him of his fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/eventually-his-courage-expended-itself-upon-these-objections-the/)

[Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

[Explore all 115 Stephen Crane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/)

## More Assassin quotes

> [Yes Rosalie, we all know how proficient of an assassin you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/yes-rosalie-we-all-know-how-proficient-of-an-assassin-you-are/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

> [“I feel him near in the twist of me guts. It's something I've always been able to do. --The Reluctant Assassin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-him-near-in-the-twist-of-me-guts-it-s-something-i-ve-always/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Nixon's own protection from the assassin's bullet... nattering nabobs of negativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/nixon-s-own-protection-from-the-assassin-s-bullet-nattering-nabobs-of/)

[Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/)

> [“So much simpler, to kill for gold. It did not matter what anyone thought about that. The only rules he abided were those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-t-mckinstry/so-much-simpler-to-kill-for-gold-it-did-not-matter-what-anyone/)

[F.T. McKinstry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-t-mckinstry/)

> [“He was kind—unnaturally kind, for someone of his upbringing. He had a heart, she realized, and a conscience. He was different from the others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/he-was-kind-unnaturally-kind-for-someone-of-his-upbringing-he-had-a/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“She looked at me. “You’re an assassin, aren’t you? When there are rumors the government has someone on the payroll, they’re talking about you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/she-looked-at-me-you-re-an-assassin-aren-t-you-when-there-are-rumors/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [“I don’t think you’re an adventure,” he muttered. “Oh? The castle offers so much excitement that the presence of Adarlan’s Assassin is nothing unusual?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-don-t-think-you-re-an-adventure-he-muttered-oh-the-castle-offers-so/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“can I help it if I’m a better assassin than I am a housewife?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/can-i-help-it-if-i-m-a-better-assassin-than-i-am-a-housewife/)

[Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/)

> [“What is the truth?’ he asked. ‘We place faith in ourselves,’ replied Altaïr (...) ‘We see the world as it really is, and hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-bowden/what-is-the-truth-he-asked-we-place-faith-in-ourselves-replied-alta-r/)

[Oliver Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-bowden/)

> [“Radiation is the ultimate assassin. Silent, invisible, tasteless, formless, odourless. It eviscerates the human body, devising sadistically imaginative forms of suffering. And it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darragh-mckeon/radiation-is-the-ultimate-assassin-silent-invisible-tasteless/)

[Darragh McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darragh-mckeon/)

> [“Their lives were precarious and they knew it. They were trying their best to fit themselves into a country which would never quite accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-runciman/their-lives-were-precarious-and-they-knew-it-they-were-trying-their/)

[Steven Runciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-runciman/)

> [“I don’t know who that idiot is, running around in that cloak like he thinks he’s an assassin, but where did he get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wight/i-don-t-know-who-that-idiot-is-running-around-in-that-cloak-like-he/)

[Will Wight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-wight/)

> [“What about them, you adorable man?” “I am not adorable. I am a trained assassin.” “Yes, you’re very, very scary,” she assured him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaelen-foley/what-about-them-you-adorable-man-i-am-not-adorable-i-am-a-trained/)

[Gaelen Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaelen-foley/)

> [“She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry. I am Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin. If these men knew who I was, they’d stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-tried-to-swallow-but-her-mouth-was-dry-i-am-celaena-sardothien/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“I’m out of health potions. Retreat! Retreat! Give me some of your health potions!” I screamed. “I don’t have any potions. Run, bitch, run,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-m-out-of-health-potions-retreat-retreat-give-me-some-of-your-health/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

[Browse all 224 Assassin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassin/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that he might find a victim. One was more wise than the other.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen Crane"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assassin-another-that-he-might/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Assassin"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assassin-another-that-he-might/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/stephen-crane-4187_assassin_a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assas_2089843.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/stephen-crane-4187_assassin_a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assas_2089843.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/stephen-crane-4187_assassin_a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assas_2089843.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that he might find a victim. One was more wise than the…” — Stephen Crane",
                "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": "Stephen Crane",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“A man feared that he might...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assassin-another-that-he-might/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-man-feared-that-he-might-find-an-assassin-another-that-he-might/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
