You know what's interesting about assassination? Well, not only does it change those popularity polls in a big fucking hurry, but it's also interesting to notice who it is we assassinate. Ya ever notice who it is, got to think who it is we kill? It's always people who've told us to live together in harmony and try to love one another. Jesus, Gandhi, Lincoln, John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, John Lennon - they all said, 'Try to live together peacefully.' Bam! Right in the fucking head! Apparently we're not ready for that. Yeah, that's difficult behavior for us. We're too busy thinking around, sitting around trying to think up ways to kill each other.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Assassinations often target leaders who advocate for peace and harmony, suggesting society rejects peaceful change.
- In plain terms
- People who want peace are the ones who get killed most often.
- What can you take from it?
- Peaceful leaders face disproportionate violence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do we kill peacemakers?
- What does this say about us?
Another view
This view simplifies complex historical reasons for assassinations.
More from George Carlin
Standing ovations have become far too commonplace. What we need are ovations where the audience members all punch and kick one another.
Permalink to quote #154 Pacifism is a nice idea, but it can get you killed. We're not there yet. Evolution is slow, small pox is fast.
Permalink to quote #156 Fuck rational thinking.
Permalink to quote #153
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