Motive Quote by Tom Wood
““To kill required little more than the ability to point and shoot. Almost anyone could do it. To escape required the successful diversion of blame. As a professional assassin, Victor’s motive for killing was either money or self-defence, the latter always related to the pursuit of the former. He killed who he was paid to, and who he had to. Because he had little-to-no connection with his victims he could sidestep almost all of the blame. That was focused at his clients – those who had the most to gain from application of Victor’s talents””
About This Quote
The quote describes how a professional assassin distances himself from moral responsibility by viewing killings as business transactions, shifting blame to clients who benefit.
In simple terms: Assassins treat killing as a job, blaming clients.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how detaching from consequences can erode ethics.
Themes
ethics
responsibility
power
detachment
morality
Mood
cynical
detached
critical
Type
analytical
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- corporate crime
- military contracts
- organized crime
- political assassinations
- contract killing
Key Concepts
moral disengagement
instrumental rationality
culpability
blame shifting
client exploitation
Questions to Reflect On
- What motivates someone to view killing as a transaction?
- How does blame shifting affect accountability?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks the psychological toll on the assassin and the broader societal impact of normalizing such detachment.
