---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What if someone hurts you with a weapon?…"
description: "\"What if someone hurts you with a weapon? Wait. Think it over. You probably feel angry. That's normal. But wasn't it the stick striking your body that h..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/sylvia-boorstein-7241_add_what-if-someone-hurts-you-with-a-weapon_713295.png"
---

#  What if someone hurts you with a weapon? Wait. Think it…

![“What if someone hurts you with a weapon? Wait. Think it over. You probably feel angry. That's normal. But wasn't it the stick striking your body that hurt you? Can you be angry at the stick? Of course not. Should you be angry at the wielder of the stick? Wouldn't it make more sense to be angry at…” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/sylvia-boorstein-7241_add_what-if-someone-hurts-you-with-a-weapon_713295.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/sylvia-boorstein-7241_add_what-if-someone-hurts-you-with-a-weapon_713295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/sylvia-boorstein-7241_add_what-if-someone-hurts-you-with-a-weapon_713295.png)

> “What if someone hurts you with a weapon? Wait. Think it over. You probably feel angry. That's normal. But wasn't it the stick striking your body that hurt you? Can you be angry at the stick? Of course not. Should you be angry at the wielder of the stick? Wouldn't it make more sense to be angry at the hatred in the mind of the stick wielder? If you think about it, isn't the end of hatred in the world what you want most of all? Why, then, would you add to it by giving energy to your anger? After all, it will pass on its own if left alone, especially if you respond to it with compassion.”

[Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/)

## About This Quote

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

Anger directed at an object is misplaced; focus on the underlying hatred, and transform it with compassion.

**In simple terms:** Redirect anger from object to underlying cause.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate compassion to dissolve hatred.

Themes

mindfulness anger compassion psychology emotions

Mood

reflective calm

Type

philosophical self-help

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- personal relationships
- workplace stress
- social justice activism

Key Concepts

attachment perception inner peace emotional regulation

Questions to Reflect On

- What underlying beliefs fuel your anger?
- How can compassion change your response to conflict?

A Different Perspective

Compassion may be difficult when pain is intense.

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[Add](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/add/) [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Angry Wielder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry-wielder-5621443/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Feel Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-angry/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurt Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-angry-698917/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Left alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-alone/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Over you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-you/) [Sense Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-angry-640768/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [What if](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-if/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Your body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-body/)

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