--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is a dreadful thing to say, but I…" description: "\"This is a dreadful thing to say, but I have wondered in my darker hours that, if everything were legal, wouldn't it be kind of a Darwinian solution to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/stephen-king-13_be-kind_this-is-a-dreadful-thing-to-say-but-i-ha_1941207.jpg" --- # This is a dreadful thing to say, but I have wondered in my… ![“This is a dreadful thing to say, but I have wondered in my darker hours that, if everything were legal, wouldn't it be kind of a Darwinian solution to a lot of problems? Who are the bikies that you see who are cruisin' around with no helmet or with a hat turned around like that yoyo in Cheap…” quote by Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/stephen-king-13_be-kind_this-is-a-dreadful-thing-to-say-but-i-ha_1941207.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/stephen-king-13_be-kind_this-is-a-dreadful-thing-to-say-but-i-ha_1941207.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/stephen-king-13_be-kind_this-is-a-dreadful-thing-to-say-but-i-ha_1941207.jpg) > “This is a dreadful thing to say, but I have wondered in my darker hours that, if everything were legal, wouldn't it be kind of a Darwinian solution to a lot of problems? Who are the bikies that you see who are cruisin' around with no helmet or with a hat turned around like that yoyo in Cheap Trick? They're dummies, and if they splatter their brains all over the sidewalk, they're not going to be collecting food stamps.” [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker imagines a world without laws where only the strongest survive, suggesting a ruthless, Darwinian outcome to social problems. **In simple terms:** A lawless world would favor the strongest, creating a harsh survival scenario. Key Takeaway Consider the moral cost of eliminating rules. Themes ethics survival law violence societal critique Mood cynical provocative thought‑provoking Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - policy debate - crime prevention - philosophical discussion - fictional worldbuilding Key Concepts Darwinian theory anarchism social contract Questions to Reflect On - What would be the consequences for the weak? - Can order exist without some form of law? A Different Perspective Such a view ignores the value of compassion and the harm to vulnerable populations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Hats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hats/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Stamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stamps/) ## Related quotes > [Always hire people who are better than you. Hiring dummies is shortsighted. 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I'm going to send you up where the air is rare and the view is much more than fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/climb-aboard-jonesy-i-m-going-to-send-you-up-where-the-air-is-rare/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) [Explore all 3,589 Stephen King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## More Be kind quotes > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [Volunteer. Find ways to be useful. Be kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-black/volunteer-find-ways-to-be-useful-be-kind/) [Claudia Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-black/) > [Remember to be kind. Remember to be loving. 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