--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Society thinks of violent acts as…" description: "\"“Society thinks of violent acts as manifestations of evil or immorality. We're told we have ultimate control over our own behavior, that each and every..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/143/tess-gerritsen-3102_thoughts-and-actions_society-thinks-of-violent-acts-as-manife_1561377.png" --- # Society thinks of violent acts as manifestations of evil… ![“Society thinks of violent acts as manifestations of evil or immorality. We're told we have ultimate control over our own behavior, that each and every one of us has the free will to choose not to hurt another human being. But it's not just morality that guides us. Biology does as well. Our frontal…” quote by Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/143/tess-gerritsen-3102_thoughts-and-actions_society-thinks-of-violent-acts-as-manife_1561377.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/143/tess-gerritsen-3102_thoughts-and-actions_society-thinks-of-violent-acts-as-manife_1561377.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/143/tess-gerritsen-3102_thoughts-and-actions_society-thinks-of-violent-acts-as-manife_1561377.png) > ““Society thinks of violent acts as manifestations of evil or immorality. We're told we have ultimate control over our own behavior, that each and every one of us has the free will to choose not to hurt another human being. But it's not just morality that guides us. Biology does as well. Our frontal lobs helps us integrate thoughts and actions. They help us weight the consequences of those actions. Without such control, we'd give in to every wild impulse.”” [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violent behavior is shaped by biology and brain structures, not just moral choice. **In simple terms:** Biology influences violent impulses. Key Takeaway Consider both biology and morality in behavior. Themes psychology biology ethics Mood thought‑provoking serious Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - courtroom testimony - mental health treatment - education curricula Key Concepts frontal lobe function free will debate Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance biological determinism with moral responsibility? - Can neuroscience inform legal standards? A Different Perspective Biological explanations can reduce personal accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thoughts and actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-actions/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Violent acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent-acts/) ## Related quotes > [The main problem with films is that everybody always thinks of us as a violent people. We are not. We are spiritual. And when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/the-main-problem-with-films-is-that-everybody-always-thinks-of-us-as/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [Progress is not an accident, not a thing within human control, but a beneficent necessity ... due to the working of a universal law.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/progress-is-not-an-accident-not-a-thing-within-human-control-but-a/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Moral evil is the immorality and pain and suffering and tragedy that come because we choose to be selfish, arrogant, uncaring, hateful and abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/moral-evil-is-the-immorality-and-pain-and-suffering-and-tragedy-that/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [However great an evil immorality may be, we must not forget that it is not without its beneficial consequences. It is only through extremes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/however-great-an-evil-immorality-may-be-we-must-not-forget-that-it-is/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [I want our enemies to understand that don't think that their violent acts are going to cause this president to leave before the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-want-our-enemies-to-understand-that-don-t-think-that-their-violent/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [...people think non-violence is really weak and non-militant. These are misconceptions that people have because they don't understand what non-violence means. Non-violence takes more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/people-think-non-violence-is-really-weak-and-non-militant-these-are/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [The very idea of the nude is only a neutralization of a primitive and violent act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-klossowski/the-very-idea-of-the-nude-is-only-a-neutralization-of-a-primitive-and/) Pierre Klossowski > [Each of us must come to care about everyone else's children. We must recognize that the welfare of our children and grandchildren is intimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-katz/each-of-us-must-come-to-care-about-everyone-else-s-children-we-must/) [Lilian Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-katz/) > [Anger is a violent act, envy a constant habit - no one can be always angry, but he may be always envious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/anger-is-a-violent-act-envy-a-constant-habit-no-one-can-be-always/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [We think of bulimia and anorexia as either a bizarre psychosis, or as a quirky little habit, a phase, or as a thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/we-think-of-bulimia-and-anorexia-as-either-a-bizarre-psychosis-or-as/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [The mystics will tell you death is perfectly safe. A violent act will beget a violent act; it is simply a law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shadyac/the-mystics-will-tell-you-death-is-perfectly-safe-a-violent-act-will/) [Tom Shadyac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shadyac/) > [When I first arrived in London, I so quickly tired of being surrounded by so many people that it was only with great difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/when-i-first-arrived-in-london-i-so-quickly-tired-of-being-surrounded/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [A society that thinks the choice between ways of living is just a choice between equally eligible 'lifestyles' turns universities into academic cafeterias offering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/a-society-that-thinks-the-choice-between-ways-of-living-is-just-a/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Death Row is a bridge out of that ghetto world, giving voices to those people society thinks shouldn't be heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-dogg/death-row-is-a-bridge-out-of-that-ghetto-world-giving-voices-to-those/) [Nate Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-dogg/) > [“Never trust someone that claims they care nothing of what society thinks of them. Instead of conquering obstacles, they simply pretend they don't exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-madison/never-trust-someone-that-claims-they-care-nothing-of-what-society/) [Tiffany Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-madison/) ## More by Tess Gerritsen > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Had she always been so insulated from human contact, like a bloom encased in frost?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/had-she-always-been-so-insulated-from-human-contact-like-a-bloom/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Fans are always asking me where I get my ideas from. The answer is that I'm very curious, and I get inspiration from everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/fans-are-always-asking-me-where-i-get-my-ideas-from-the-answer-is/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [After twelve years of living in Hawaii, I'd gotten a serious case of 'rock fever.' I just couldn't live on an island any longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/after-twelve-years-of-living-in-hawaii-i-d-gotten-a-serious-case-of/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The best heroes in the world are the reluctant ones. Courage isn't fearlessness - it's acting in the face of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-best-heroes-in-the-world-are-the-reluctant-ones-courage-isn-t/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“If you don't love him, if you don't even care about him, then seeing him now shouldn't be all that painful. Should it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/if-you-don-t-love-him-if-you-don-t-even-care-about-him-then-seeing/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“My name is Mila, and this is my journey. There are so many places where I could begin the story. I could start in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/my-name-is-mila-and-this-is-my-journey-there-are-so-many-places-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Now we sit and wait,” the woman said, and she settled into a chair, the gun on her lap. “What are we waiting for?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/now-we-sit-and-wait-the-woman-said-and-she-settled-into-a-chair-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The Christmas tree, twinkling with lights, had a mountain of gifts piled up beneath it, like offerings to the great god of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-christmas-tree-twinkling-with-lights-had-a-mountain-of-gifts/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead-of-time-i-m-always-in-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [When you're a fifty-year-old woman, no one really bothers to look at you anymore, much less value your opinion. It's hard on the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/when-you-re-a-fifty-year-old-woman-no-one-really-bothers-to-look-at/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Mom and I often talked about the trip we'd someday take together to the 'city of eternal spring' where she was born. In Kunming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/mom-and-i-often-talked-about-the-trip-we-d-someday-take-together-to/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“But human anatomy and human endurance are variable. While the much younger nun had succumbed to her injuries, Ursula's heart kept beating, her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/but-human-anatomy-and-human-endurance-are-variable-while-the-much/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Where we go depends on what we know, and what we know depends on where we go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/where-we-go-depends-on-what-we-know-and-what-we-know-depends-on-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Some people make choices hoping for the best; Korsak had made a choice simply to avoid the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/some-people-make-choices-hoping-for-the-best-korsak-had-made-a-choice/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) [Explore all 134 Tess Gerritsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## More Thoughts and actions quotes > [“Our first teacher is our own heart. When we begin to tune in and listen to our heart we can bring our thoughts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-l-white/our-first-teacher-is-our-own-heart-when-we-begin-to-tune-in-and/) Victoria L. White > [“Everything you do in every moment matters. A single thought can change your world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/everything-you-do-in-every-moment-matters-a-single-thought-can-change/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [The strongest reason for giving woman all the opportunities of higher education, for the full development of her faculties, forces of mind and body;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-strongest-reason-for-giving-woman-all-the-opportunities-of-higher/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [“In order to build a truly wise society devoid of any kind of existential crisis, it is imperative that the individuals foster a healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/in-order-to-build-a-truly-wise-society-devoid-of-any-kind-of/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One must hold a deep sense of responsibility for his thoughts and actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishu/one-must-hold-a-deep-sense-of-responsibility-for-his-thoughts-and/) [Nishu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishu/) > [See to it that each hour's feelings, and thoughts, and actions are pure and true; then will your life be such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/see-to-it-that-each-hour-s-feelings-and-thoughts-and-actions-are-pure/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The modern world is one wherein every nation has to develop the strength of which its citizens are capable. The independent status of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiang-kai-shek/the-modern-world-is-one-wherein-every-nation-has-to-develop-the/) [Chiang Kai-shek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiang-kai-shek/) > [Truth and right are above utility in all realms of thought and action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-william-eliot/truth-and-right-are-above-utility-in-all-realms-of-thought-and-action/) [Charles William Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-william-eliot/) > [Let not the dirt of the sanskaras of your thoughts and deeds touch you, by surrendering every thought and act at the feet of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/let-not-the-dirt-of-the-sanskaras-of-your-thoughts-and-deeds-touch/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Society is made up of individuals. The thoughts and actions of each individual influence the culture of that society. Instead of waiting for others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/society-is-made-up-of-individuals-the-thoughts-and-actions-of-each/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [We are personally responsible for our own state of consciousness. As Soul unfolds toward total freedom, It understands total responsibility must be accepted for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/we-are-personally-responsible-for-our-own-state-of-consciousness-as/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [Evil…doesn’t mean doing things that have bad consequences for people. It means private thoughts and actions that are not to “the Christian majority’s” private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/evil-doesn-t-mean-doing-things-that-have-bad-consequences-for-people/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [If you're going to think then you might as well think positive. Remember, positive thoughts and actions are seeds that will produce positive results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-going-to-think-then-you-might-as-well-think-positive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Understand that you, yourself, are no more than the composite picture of all your thoughts and actions. In your relationships with others, remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/understand-that-you-yourself-are-no-more-than-the-composite-picture/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Thought and action must never part company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/thought-and-action-must-never-part-company/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) [Browse all 202 Thoughts and actions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-actions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Society thinks of violent acts as manifestations of evil or immorality. We're told we have ultimate control over our own behavior, that each and every one of us has the free will to choose not to hurt another human being. But it's not just morality that guides us. Biology does as well. Our frontal lobs helps us integrate thoughts and actions. 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