---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is this really what we want to do? Kill…"
description: "\"“Is this really what we want to do? Kill ourselves off completely? In the hopes that — what? Some decent species will inherit the smoking remains of th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/suzanne-collins-60_hope_is-this-really-what-we-want-to-do-kill-o_652038.jpg"
---

#  Is this really what we want to do? Kill ourselves off…

![“Is this really what we want to do? Kill ourselves off completely? In the hopes that — what? Some decent species will inherit the smoking remains of the earth?” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/suzanne-collins-60_hope_is-this-really-what-we-want-to-do-kill-o_652038.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/suzanne-collins-60_hope_is-this-really-what-we-want-to-do-kill-o_652038.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/suzanne-collins-60_hope_is-this-really-what-we-want-to-do-kill-o_652038.jpg)

> ““Is this really what we want to do? Kill ourselves off completely? In the hopes that — what? Some decent species will inherit the smoking remains of the earth?””

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote questions humanity’s self‑destructive path and the hope for a better future after catastrophe.

**In simple terms:** It doubts if we’ll ruin ourselves and hope for a new species.

Key Takeaway

Consider the long‑term impact of actions.

Themes

environment ethics future

Mood

concerned hopeful

Type

reflective provocative

When to use this quote

- climate change activism
- policy making
- education
- artistic storytelling

Key Concepts

philosophy ecology

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can prevent ecological collapse?
- Who will inherit the Earth?

A Different Perspective

Optimism may overlook practical solutions.

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[Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [Kill Completely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-completely-2489616/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Really Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-want/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-kill/)

## Related quotes

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[Philip Gourevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gourevitch/)

> [They'll either want to kill you, kiss you, or be you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/they-ll-either-want-to-kill-you-kiss-you-or-be-you/)

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> [“Or maybe he thought the place he was leaving her was really worse than death. Didn’t I want to kill Peeta with that syringe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/or-maybe-he-thought-the-place-he-was-leaving-her-was-really-worse/)

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> [If you really want to kill yourself, you get a gun and blow your head off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorna-luft/if-you-really-want-to-kill-yourself-you-get-a-gun-and-blow-your-head/)

[Lorna Luft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorna-luft/)

> [If you're a writer there will come at least one morning in your life when you wake up and want to kill your agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-rubens/if-you-re-a-writer-there-will-come-at-least-one-morning-in-your-life/)

[Bernice Rubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-rubens/)

> [People who want to kill other people are the last people I want to party with, because I get mouthy when I drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/people-who-want-to-kill-other-people-are-the-last-people-i-want-to/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [“Please take your time. I want you to kill me slowly so I can write my last poem to my wife's heart. They laughed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/please-take-your-time-i-want-you-to-kill-me-slowly-so-i-can-write-my/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [You never kill any one that you want to kill in a war, he said to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-never-kill-any-one-that-you-want-to-kill-in-a-war-he-said-to/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [If you want to kill time, try working it to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-levenson/if-you-want-to-kill-time-try-working-it-to-death/)

[Sam Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-levenson/)

> [“If you want to kill me then go ahead, but remember the unspoken rule between us. You are mine, Liam. You belong to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-mcavoy/if-you-want-to-kill-me-then-go-ahead-but-remember-the-unspoken-rule/)

[J.J. McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-mcavoy/)

> [real strength is not hitting when what you most want to do is kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/real-strength-is-not-hitting-when-what-you-most-want-to-do-is-kill/)

[Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/)

> [Why do people want to kill and maim and pillage? We're all in it together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-logan/why-do-people-want-to-kill-and-maim-and-pillage-we-re-all-in-it/)

[Phyllis Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-logan/)

> [Do i really want him dead? What i want... what i want is to have him back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/do-i-really-want-him-dead-what-i-want-what-i-want-is-to-have-him-back/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [Just last year i wanted to kill him, but now it is my duty to save him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/just-last-year-i-wanted-to-kill-him-but-now-it-is-my-duty-to-save-him/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

## More by Suzanne Collins

> [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [A furious Peeta hammers Haymitch with the atrocity he could become party to, but I can feel Haymitch watching me. This is the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/a-furious-peeta-hammers-haymitch-with-the-atrocity-he-could-become/)

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> [“The same goes for the other captured tributes, Johanna and Enobaria.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-same-goes-for-the-other-captured-tributes-johanna-and-enobaria/)

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> [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

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> [I pound on the glass, screaming my head off. Everyone ignores me except for some Capitol attendant who appears behind me and offers me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-pound-on-the-glass-screaming-my-head-off-everyone-ignores-me-except/)

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> [Because it doesn't matter anymore, and because I'm so desperately lonely I can't stand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/because-it-doesn-t-matter-anymore-and-because-i-m-so-desperately/)

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> [Then I dive into my tent before I do something stupid like cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-i-dive-into-my-tent-before-i-do-something-stupid-like-cry/)

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> [“¡Es que no quiero que me conozcan! ¡Ya me están quitando el futuro! ¡No pueden llevarse también lo que me importaba en el pasado!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/es-que-no-quiero-que-me-conozcan-ya-me-est-n-quitando-el-futuro-no/)

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> [“I act delighted, but I have zero interest in these Capitol people. They are only distractions from the food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-act-delighted-but-i-have-zero-interest-in-these-capitol-people-they/)

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> [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/)

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[Explore all 1,709 Suzanne Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

## More Hope quotes

> [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/)

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> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

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> [Pray, hope, don't worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-don-t-worry/)

[Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/)

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