--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I am not a monster because I kill…" description: "\"“But I am not a monster because I kill. Killing is easy. I am a monster because I accept the hard choices. (Frank Moses)”\" — Warren Ellis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/warren-ellis-2541_killing_but-i-am-not-a-monster-because-i-kill-ki_1583595.png" --- # But I am not a monster because I kill. Killing is easy. I… ![“But I am not a monster because I kill. Killing is easy. I am a monster because I accept the hard choices. (Frank Moses)” quote by Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/warren-ellis-2541_killing_but-i-am-not-a-monster-because-i-kill-ki_1583595.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/warren-ellis-2541_killing_but-i-am-not-a-monster-because-i-kill-ki_1583595.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/warren-ellis-2541_killing_but-i-am-not-a-monster-because-i-kill-ki_1583595.png) > ““But I am not a monster because I kill. Killing is easy. I am a monster because I accept the hard choices. (Frank Moses)”” [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A monster is defined not by actions but by the willingness to make painful decisions; moral compromise creates monstrosity. **In simple terms:** Hard choices make one a monster. Key Takeaway Question your moral limits. Themes ethics power responsibility Mood dark introspective Type cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - leadership decisions - military orders - business ethics - personal dilemmas Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology heroism Questions to Reflect On - What choices define your character? - Can ends justify means? A Different Perspective Accepting cruelty can erode humanity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-choices/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) ## Related quotes > [“Killing was easy. Dying was something else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-izzo/killing-was-easy-dying-was-something-else/) [Jean-Claude Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-izzo/) > [Technology has allowed the world of men in our society to separate itself from the sight and the sounds of killing; from the horror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryl-rivers/technology-has-allowed-the-world-of-men-in-our-society-to-separate/) [Caryl Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryl-rivers/) > [The monster I kill every day is the monster of realism. The monster who attacks me every day is destruction. Out of the duel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-monster-i-kill-every-day-is-the-monster-of-realism-the-monster/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“Humanity is a monster you can never kill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/humanity-is-a-monster-you-can-never-kill/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“Killing someone was easy - getting away with it was what was truly challenging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/killing-someone-was-easy-getting-away-with-it-was-what-was-truly/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“There were undoubtedly those to whom killing was easy and pleasurable: he had met a few such. Millions had been successfully trained to end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/there-were-undoubtedly-those-to-whom-killing-was-easy-and-pleasurable/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [When you're pushed killing is as easy as breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/when-you-re-pushed-killing-is-as-easy-as-breathing/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Killing is not so easy as the innocent believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/killing-is-not-so-easy-as-the-innocent-believe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I thought killing was easy for you," said Laurent. His voice was rather quiet. "I thought you did it without thinking." "I'm a soldier,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/i-thought-killing-was-easy-for-you-said-laurent-his-voice-was-rather/) [S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) > [Killing is easy," said Mo, "Dying is harder...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/killing-is-easy-said-mo-dying-is-harder/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [The killing of everyone was the easy part, the most difficult part was lathering them up and shaving them, that's the part that freaked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/the-killing-of-everyone-was-the-easy-part-the-most-difficult-part-was/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“Technology has allowed...our society to separate itself from the sights and the sounds of killing… It must be easy to kill from a roomful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryl-rivers/technology-has-allowed-our-society-to-separate-itself-from-the-sights/) [Caryl Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryl-rivers/) > [Do we pour $40 billion into grandiose Louisiana engineering projects or do we instead put up no trespassing- signs in the areas below sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brinkley/do-we-pour-40-billion-into-grandiose-louisiana-engineering-projects/) [Douglas Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brinkley/) > [“THE MANY FACES OF SURVIVAL Sunday, August 10th at 2:00 PST Dachau Liberator, medical whistle-blower, award winning writer, college professor and world renowned garlic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-gregerson/the-many-faces-of-survival-sunday-august-10th-at-2-00-pst-dachau/) Judy Gregerson > [Politics means facing up to hard choices and facing down prejudice, short-termism, the easy, tempting court of knee-jerk public reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/politics-means-facing-up-to-hard-choices-and-facing-down-prejudice/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) ## More by Warren Ellis > [“Small things bring joy, somedays.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/small-things-bring-joy-somedays/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [When I'm working in finite serials, I always think in terms of the entire book rather than the individual episode because, by far, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/when-i-m-working-in-finite-serials-i-always-think-in-terms-of-the/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“IT TOOK a conscious effort for Tallow to keep his hand off his gun as he walked up the apartment building’s stairs. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/it-took-a-conscious-effort-for-tallow-to-keep-his-hand-off-his-gun-as/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“The ECTs are moving the guns in small batches," Bat said. "We're making them take so many photos that one of them asked if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/the-ects-are-moving-the-guns-in-small-batches-bat-said-we-re-making/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“I wish I still had that photo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/i-wish-i-still-had-that-photo/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [Listen to the Chair Leg of Truth! It does not lie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/listen-to-the-chair-leg-of-truth-it-does-not-lie/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“The two most dangerous things in the world are rich people and crazy people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/the-two-most-dangerous-things-in-the-world-are-rich-people-and-crazy/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [Here's the thing about Apple technology: once you own a piece, you want to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/here-s-the-thing-about-apple-technology-once-you-own-a-piece-you-want/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“I feel...a terrible need to piss in a Christening font.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/i-feel-a-terrible-need-to-piss-in-a-christening-font/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [Journalism is just a gun. It’s only got one bullet in it, but if you aim right, that’s all you need. Aim it right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/journalism-is-just-a-gun-it-s-only-got-one-bullet-in-it-but-if-you/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“The book is almost always better than the movie. You could have no better case in point than FROM HELL, Alan Moore's best graphic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/the-book-is-almost-always-better-than-the-movie-you-could-have-no/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“Life is something very short that happens in between deaths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/life-is-something-very-short-that-happens-in-between-deaths/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [It's a strange world. Let's keep it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/it-s-a-strange-world-let-s-keep-it-that-way/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“He tried to close a hand around the precious coffee but had to jerk his fingers away, sharply enough that his wrist popped painfully.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/he-tried-to-close-a-hand-around-the-precious-coffee-but-had-to-jerk/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [I was originally going to train as a journalist, passing a series of exams that winnowed ten thousand applicants down to one hundred places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/i-was-originally-going-to-train-as-a-journalist-passing-a-series-of/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) [Explore all 161 Warren Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) ## More Killing quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [No religion has mandated killing others as a requirement for its sustenance or promotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-religion-has-mandated-killing-others-as-a-requirement-for-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Killing shit the ever so talented Mr. Ripley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/killing-shit-the-ever-so-talented-mr-ripley/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Humans had always been better at killing than any other living thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/humans-had-always-been-better-at-killing-than-any-other-living-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those old hypocrites. They talk about killing witches but the Good Book’s full of magic. Turning the Nile to blood and parting the Red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/those-old-hypocrites-they-talk-about-killing-witches-but-the-good/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [Muses had a way of killing those whom they inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-neville/muses-had-a-way-of-killing-those-whom-they-inspired/) [Katherine Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-neville/) > [“I would ask what it is you think you're doing, but... you are a teenager. I should have known better than to leave you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-would-ask-what-it-is-you-think-you-re-doing-but-you-are-a-teenager/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [Yelena.” I halted in the doorway, looking back over my shoulder. “You once said I wasn’t ready to believe your reason for killing Reyad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-i-halted-in-the-doorway-looking-back-over-my-shoulder-you-once/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [Killing became the same thing as having sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lee-lucas/killing-became-the-same-thing-as-having-sex/) Henry Lee Lucas > [“English: "Being an adult doesn't mean killing the child we once were; it means being able to protect him." Česky: „Být dospělým neznamená zabít…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-being-an-adult-doesn-t-mean-killing-the-child-we-once-were-it/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [If both parties have a stake in the other, the chances of them killing each other are going to be reduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/if-both-parties-have-a-stake-in-the-other-the-chances-of-them-killing/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Dancing with death meant being committed to killing, committed with your heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/dancing-with-death-meant-being-committed-to-killing-committed-with/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) [Browse all 2,564 Killing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But I am not a monster because I kill. 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