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About this quote

What does it mean?
Vonnegut speculates that violence and destruction stem from a mix of sexual frustration and alcohol, but dismisses the theory as too simplistic.
In plain terms
He tries to explain violence through sex and booze but decides the idea is too dumb to share.
What can you take from it?
Avoid oversimplifying complex human behaviors like violence.

Where it applies

  • discussing crime
  • analyzing conflict
  • psychological theory

Putting it to work

  • questioning simple explanations
  • recognizing complexity

Questions to consider

  • What drives human violence?
  • When should we stop theorizing?

Another view

The quote is vague and offers no real insight beyond speculation.

More from Kurt Vonnegut

  1. No grown woman is a fan of premature ejaculation.

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  2. When I was a naive young recruit in Spain, I used to wonder why soldiers bayoneted oil paintings, shot the noses off statues and defecated into grand pianos. I…

    Permalink to quote #74
  3. Don't lecture me on race relations. I don't have a molecule of prejudice. I've been in battle with every kind of man there is. I've been in bed with every kind…

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