Conflict Quotes | Beyond Motive 5/11

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Conflict Quotes

"He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper."

"He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper."

Edmund Burke, Irish Statesman

Conflict, Nerves, Skill

17

"We may kill each other someday."

"We may kill each other someday."

Santosh Kalwar, Nepalese Poet

Conflict, Violence, Death, Future

17

"You here to finish me off, Sweetheart?"

"You here to finish me off, Sweetheart?"

Suzanne Collins, American Novelist

Conflict, Threat, Fight, Emotion

17

"There was a piece of ornamental water immediately below the parapet, on the other side, into which Mr. James Harthouse had a very strong inclination to pitch Mr. Thomas Gradgrind Junior."

"There was a piece of ornamental water immediately below the parapet, on the other side, into which Mr. James Harthouse had a very strong inclination to pitch Mr. Thomas Gradgrind Junior."

Charles Dickens, English Novelist

Conflict, Desire, Darkness, Emotion

17

"Never settle with words what you can accomplish with a flamethrower."

"Never settle with words what you can accomplish with a flamethrower."

Bruce Feirstein, American Writer

Conflict, Words

17

"Wanton killing of innocent civilians is terrorism, not a war against terrorism."

"Wanton killing of innocent civilians is terrorism, not a war against terrorism."

Noam Chomsky, American Activist

Conflict, War, Terrorism, Innocence, Violence

17

"How did the war creep up? How did it gather itself together? What was it made from? What secrets, lies, betrayals? What loves and hatreds? What sums of money, what metals?"

"How did the war creep up? How did it gather itself together? What was it made from? What secrets, lies, betrayals? What loves and hatreds? What sums of money, what metals?"

Margaret Atwood, Canadian Novelist

Conflict, War, Secrets, Betrayal, History

17

"He ignored me, thank God, saying to Kat, "Let go of Frosty's leash. You're choking the life out of him." Kat's eyes narrowed to tiny slits, a sure sign of her aggression. "He deserves to choke. He didn't keep little frosty in his pants this summer." the words snapped like a whip. "He did." Cole snapped back with unwavering confidence."Not.""Did.""Not!""Did,""Not, not, not!" she shouted with a stomp of her foot."What are we five?" Cole said."Six."

"He ignored me, thank God, saying to Kat, "Let go of Frosty's leash. You're choking the life out of him." Kat's eyes narrowed to tiny slits, a sure sign of her aggression. "He deserves to choke. He didn't keep little frosty in his pants this summer." the words snapped like a whip. "He did." Cole snapped back with unwavering confidence."Not.""Did.""Not!""Did,""Not, not, not!" she shouted with a stomp of her foot."What are we five?" Cole said."Six."

Gena Showalter, American Novelist

Conflict, Humor, Jealousy, Dialogue

17

"Pleasure, ecstasy, they cannot seem to bear: their escape from it is in violence, in drinking and fighting and apparently inescapable----And so why should not their religion drive them to crucifixion of themselves and one another? he thinks."

"Pleasure, ecstasy, they cannot seem to bear: their escape from it is in violence, in drinking and fighting and apparently inescapable----And so why should not their religion drive them to crucifixion of themselves and one another? he thinks."

William Faulkner, American Novelist

Conflict, Violence, Religion, Pain, Escape

17

"Because we can't just blow up enough things that this becomes a good situation."

"Because we can't just blow up enough things that this becomes a good situation."

James S.A. Corey, American Author

Conflict, Action, Problem, Violence

17

"Unity is a beast in itself."

"Unity is a beast in itself."

Suzy Kassem, American Writer

Conflict, Unity, Power, Life

17

"I mean you ACRES of harm,' Dalrymple growled. 'Untold QUANTITIES of harm. I will visit a whole CONTINENT of harm upon you before we are through."

"I mean you ACRES of harm,' Dalrymple growled. 'Untold QUANTITIES of harm. I will visit a whole CONTINENT of harm upon you before we are through."

Derek Landy, Irish Writer

Conflict, Revenge, Power, Threat, Emotion

16

"There has been more bloodshed in the name of God than for any other cause. And it is all because people never attempt to reach the fountain-head. They are content only to comply with the customs of their forefathers and instructions on some books, and want others to do the same. But, to explain God after merely reading the scriptures is like explaining the city of New York after seeing it only in a map."

"There has been more bloodshed in the name of God than for any other cause. And it is all because people never attempt to reach the fountain-head. They are content only to comply with the customs of their forefathers and instructions on some books, and want others to do the same. But, to explain God after merely reading the scriptures is like explaining the city of New York after seeing it only in a map."

Abhijit Naskar, Indian Author

Conflict, Truth, Faith, Power, Wisdom

16

"Lestat: I despise you! I ought to destroy you-finish what I started when I made you. Turn you into ashes and sift them through my hands. You know that I could do it! Like that! Like the snap of mortal fingers, I could do it. Burn you as I burnt your little house. And nothing could save you, nothing at all."

"Lestat: I despise you! I ought to destroy you-finish what I started when I made you. Turn you into ashes and sift them through my hands. You know that I could do it! Like that! Like the snap of mortal fingers, I could do it. Burn you as I burnt your little house. And nothing could save you, nothing at all."

Anne Rice, American Novelist

Conflict, Anger, Power, Destruction, Threat

16

"You can only hurt a woman so many times before her fangs grow sharp, her claws scratch deep, and her eyes become blades."

"You can only hurt a woman so many times before her fangs grow sharp, her claws scratch deep, and her eyes become blades."

Melody Lee, American Poet

Conflict, Revenge, Strength, Survival, Power

16

"Yeah. She'd manipulated the second most powerful vampire in town into taking her side against a psycho bitch-queen sorority girl. She'd talked rationally about putting people's brains into computers. This was a normal day. No wonder she was screwed up."

"Yeah. She'd manipulated the second most powerful vampire in town into taking her side against a psycho bitch-queen sorority girl. She'd talked rationally about putting people's brains into computers. This was a normal day. No wonder she was screwed up."

Rachel Caine, Canadian Actress

Conflict, Power, Manipulation, Technology

16

"When two people fight, they think less and speak more. They don't listen to the opponent. They draw their own conclusions."

"When two people fight, they think less and speak more. They don't listen to the opponent. They draw their own conclusions."

Girdhar Joshi, Indian Author

Conflict, Communication, Anger, Understanding

16

"Fighting is never good. But sometimes necessary."

"Fighting is never good. But sometimes necessary."

Jim Butcher, American Author

Conflict, Evil, Necessity, Peace

16

"War could bond men like a magnet, but like a magnet it could repel them, too. The things they saw, the things they did. Sometimes they just wanted to forget."

"War could bond men like a magnet, but like a magnet it could repel them, too. The things they saw, the things they did. Sometimes they just wanted to forget."

Mitch Albom, American Writer

Conflict, War, Memory, Trauma, Brotherhood

16

"This is a war universe. War all the time. That is its nature. There may be other universes based on all sorts of other principles, but ours seems to be based on war and games."

"This is a war universe. War all the time. That is its nature. There may be other universes based on all sorts of other principles, but ours seems to be based on war and games."

William S. Burroughs, American Writer

Conflict, Universe, War, Nature

16

"Perhaps we are both doing what we think right. But what we think right is so damned different that there can be nothing between us in the way of concession. There is nothing possible between us but honor and death."

"Perhaps we are both doing what we think right. But what we think right is so damned different that there can be nothing between us in the way of concession. There is nothing possible between us but honor and death."

Gilbert K. Chesterton, English Writer

Conflict, Right, Honor, Death

16

"What sparks wars? The will to power, the backbone of human nature. The threat of violence, the fear of violence, or actual violence, is the instrument of this dreadful will. You can see the will to power in bedrooms, kitchens, factories, unions and the borders of states. Listen to this and remember it. The nation state is merely human nature inflated to monstrous proportions. QED, nations are entities whose laws are written by violence. Thus it ever was, so ever shall it be."

"What sparks wars? The will to power, the backbone of human nature. The threat of violence, the fear of violence, or actual violence, is the instrument of this dreadful will. You can see the will to power in bedrooms, kitchens, factories, unions and the borders of states. Listen to this and remember it. The nation state is merely human nature inflated to monstrous proportions. QED, nations are entities whose laws are written by violence. Thus it ever was, so ever shall it be."

David Mitchell, British Novelist

Conflict, Power, Nature, Violence, War

16

"Before this war is over,' [Walter] said - or something said through his lips - 'every man and woman and child in Canada will feel it - you, Mary, will feel it - feel it to your heart's core. You will weep tears of blood over it. The Piper has come - and he will pipe until every corner of the world has heard his awful and irresistible music. It will be years before the dance of death is over - years, Mary. And in those years millions of hearts will break."

"Before this war is over,' [Walter] said - or something said through his lips - 'every man and woman and child in Canada will feel it - you, Mary, will feel it - feel it to your heart's core. You will weep tears of blood over it. The Piper has come - and he will pipe until every corner of the world has heard his awful and irresistible music. It will be years before the dance of death is over - years, Mary. And in those years millions of hearts will break."

L. M. Montgomery, Canadian Author

Conflict, War, Suffering, Fear, Death

16

"Fighting giants was one thing. Bacchus making into a game was something else."

"Fighting giants was one thing. Bacchus making into a game was something else."

Rick Riordan, American Novelist

Conflict, Truth, Power, Happiness, Wisdom

16

"One of the dwarfs walked in front of Thor to get a better view of the prye, and Thor kicked him irritably into the middle of the flames, which made Thor feel slightly better and made all the dwarfs feel much worse."

"One of the dwarfs walked in front of Thor to get a better view of the prye, and Thor kicked him irritably into the middle of the flames, which made Thor feel slightly better and made all the dwarfs feel much worse."

Neil Gaiman, British Author

Conflict, Violence, Power, Anger, Suffering

16

"Neither alive nor dead; No one lets up, No one wins."

"Neither alive nor dead; No one lets up, No one wins."

Dejan Stojanovic, Serbian Philosopher

Conflict, Life, Death, Struggle

16

"National hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture."

"National hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Poet

Conflict, Hatred, Culture, Violence, Nationalism

16

"Whenever someone is a threat to the enemy there will be an attack dispatched against that person to try to minimise their effectiveness."

"Whenever someone is a threat to the enemy there will be an attack dispatched against that person to try to minimise their effectiveness."

Patience Johnson, Nigerian Author

Conflict, Threat, Attack, Enemy, Defense

16

"Jane! will you hear reason?' (he stooped and approached his lips to my ear) 'because, if you won't, I'll try violence."

"Jane! will you hear reason?' (he stooped and approached his lips to my ear) 'because, if you won't, I'll try violence."

Charlotte Bronte, British Novelist

Conflict, Reason, Threat, Emotion

15

"Very well." He sat cross-legged on the floor of the cage. "You haven't run off so you want to talk. I will hear your explanation now.""Really, Your Majesty? So good of you to condescend. I'll try to use small words and go slow.""You're wasting my time. I know Jim betrayed me and you're covering for him. This is your chance to dazzle me wih your brillance or baffle me with your bullshit. You won't get another. When I get out, I won't be in the mood to listen."

"Very well." He sat cross-legged on the floor of the cage. "You haven't run off so you want to talk. I will hear your explanation now.""Really, Your Majesty? So good of you to condescend. I'll try to use small words and go slow.""You're wasting my time. I know Jim betrayed me and you're covering for him. This is your chance to dazzle me wih your brillance or baffle me with your bullshit. You won't get another. When I get out, I won't be in the mood to listen."

Ilona Andrews, American Writer

Conflict, Betrayal, Anger, Justice, Power

15

"The sun is free, it is still there to be enjoyed."

"The sun is free, it is still there to be enjoyed."

Margaret Atwood, Canadian Novelist

Conflict, War, Violence, Mind, Body

15

"Mutually assured destruction."

"Mutually assured destruction."

Holly Black, American Author

Conflict, War, Strategy, Destruction, Power

15

"I was twenty-two, the same age she was when she'd been pregnant with me. She was going to leave my life at the same moment that I came into hers, I thought. For some reason that sentence came fully formed into my head just then, temporarily blotting out the Fuck them prayer. I almost howled in agony. I almost choked to death on what I knew before I knew. I was going to live the rest of my life without my mother."

"I was twenty-two, the same age she was when she'd been pregnant with me. She was going to leave my life at the same moment that I came into hers, I thought. For some reason that sentence came fully formed into my head just then, temporarily blotting out the Fuck them prayer. I almost howled in agony. I almost choked to death on what I knew before I knew. I was going to live the rest of my life without my mother."

Cheryl Strayed, American Writer

Conflict, Loss, Grief, Family, Pain

15

"Do you want to resolve a conflict successfully? Don't wait, start a conversation."

"Do you want to resolve a conflict successfully? Don't wait, start a conversation."

Eraldo Banovac, Croatian Scientist

Conflict, Resolution, Communication, Action

15

"The witch's hair was too short and too dark for blond. She wasn't sure if that relieved her or disturbed her.Riley had immediately begun his interrogation, and it had gone something like this:Riley: Where is the meeting between your kind and Aden Stone supposed to take place?Witch: Go suck yourself.Riley: Maybe later. Meeting?Witch: Enjoy death.Riley: I have once already. Now, decide to talk or lose a body part.Witch: May I recommend a finger?Riley: Sure. After I take one of your very necessary hands."

"The witch's hair was too short and too dark for blond. She wasn't sure if that relieved her or disturbed her.Riley had immediately begun his interrogation, and it had gone something like this:Riley: Where is the meeting between your kind and Aden Stone supposed to take place?Witch: Go suck yourself.Riley: Maybe later. Meeting?Witch: Enjoy death.Riley: I have once already. Now, decide to talk or lose a body part.Witch: May I recommend a finger?Riley: Sure. After I take one of your very necessary hands."

Gena Showalter, American Novelist

Conflict, Fantasy, Threat, Dialogue

15

"Truces may stop the battles, but part of you will always feel like you're at war."

"Truces may stop the battles, but part of you will always feel like you're at war."

David Levithan, American Author

Conflict, War, Peace, Emotion

15

"If you argue and rankle and contradict, you may achieve a victory sometimes; but it will be an empty victory because you will never get your opponent's good will."

"If you argue and rankle and contradict, you may achieve a victory sometimes; but it will be an empty victory because you will never get your opponent's good will."

Dale Carnegie, American Writer

Conflict, Resolution, Peace, Emotion

15

"He wept bitter tears over the death of his enemy. It was his enemy, after all, who knew him best and kept him up at night."

"He wept bitter tears over the death of his enemy. It was his enemy, after all, who knew him best and kept him up at night."

Donna Lynn Hope, Jamaican Author

Conflict, Enemy, Grief, Loss, Understanding

15

"We had won the war, but when the insurgency reared its ugly head, we lost everything we had gained."

"We had won the war, but when the insurgency reared its ugly head, we lost everything we had gained."

Kenneth Eade, American Author

Conflict, War, Loss, Power

15

"It is always useful to face an enemy who is prepared to die for his country," he read. "This means that both you and he have exactly the same aim in mind."

"It is always useful to face an enemy who is prepared to die for his country," he read. "This means that both you and he have exactly the same aim in mind."

Terry Pratchett, English Author

Conflict, War, Power, Truth, Regret

15

"Ender didn't like fighting. He didn't like Peter's kind, the strong against the weak, and he didn't like his own kind either, the smart against the stupid."

"Ender didn't like fighting. He didn't like Peter's kind, the strong against the weak, and he didn't like his own kind either, the smart against the stupid."

Orson Scott Card, American Writer

Conflict, Kindness, Power, Intelligence

15

"Since opposed principles, or ideologies, are irreconcilable, wars fought over principle will be wars of mutual annihilation. But wars fought for simple greed will be far less destructive, because the aggressor will be careful not to destroy what he is fighting to capture. Reasonable - that is, human - men will always be capable of compromise, but men who have dehumanized themselves by becoming the blind worshipers of an idea or an ideal are fanatics whose devotion to abstractions makes them the enemies of life."

"Since opposed principles, or ideologies, are irreconcilable, wars fought over principle will be wars of mutual annihilation. But wars fought for simple greed will be far less destructive, because the aggressor will be careful not to destroy what he is fighting to capture. Reasonable - that is, human - men will always be capable of compromise, but men who have dehumanized themselves by becoming the blind worshipers of an idea or an ideal are fanatics whose devotion to abstractions makes them the enemies of life."

Alan Watts, English Philosopher

Conflict, War, Truth, Observation, Wisdom

15

"Peace between good and evil is an impossibility; the very pretence of it would, in fact, be the triumph of the powers of darkness."

"Peace between good and evil is an impossibility; the very pretence of it would, in fact, be the triumph of the powers of darkness."

Charles Spurgeon, British Clergyman

Conflict, Peace, Evil, Darkness

15

"The Gottschalk was a fine weapon."You," I said to it, "are on probation. You'd better impress me."Great. Now I was talking to guns."

"The Gottschalk was a fine weapon."You," I said to it, "are on probation. You'd better impress me."Great. Now I was talking to guns."

Brandon Sanderson, American Author

Conflict, Weapon, Judgement, Power, Control

15

"Reyna sent me to get Percy," Frank said. "Did Octavian accept you?""Yeah," Percy said. "He slaughtered my panda."

"Reyna sent me to get Percy," Frank said. "Did Octavian accept you?""Yeah," Percy said. "He slaughtered my panda."

Rick Riordan, American Novelist

Conflict, Life, Power, Truth

15

"I am Persephone" she said, her voice thin and papery. "Welcome, demigods.Nico squashed a pomegranate under his boot. "Welcome? After last time, you've got the nerve to welcome me?"I shifted uneasily, because talking that way to a god can get you blasted into dust bunnies. "Um, Nico-""It's all right," Persephone said coldly. "We had a little family spat.""Family spat?" Nico cried. "You turned me into a dandelion!"

"I am Persephone" she said, her voice thin and papery. "Welcome, demigods.Nico squashed a pomegranate under his boot. "Welcome? After last time, you've got the nerve to welcome me?"I shifted uneasily, because talking that way to a god can get you blasted into dust bunnies. "Um, Nico-""It's all right," Persephone said coldly. "We had a little family spat.""Family spat?" Nico cried. "You turned me into a dandelion!"

Rick Riordan, American Novelist

Conflict, Family, Truth, Power, Inspirational

15

"Postmodernism refuses to privilege any one perspective, and recognizes only difference, never inequality, only fragments, never conflict."

"Postmodernism refuses to privilege any one perspective, and recognizes only difference, never inequality, only fragments, never conflict."

Elizabeth Wilson, American Actress

Conflict, Difference, Inequality, Perspective

15

"Caine tried to roll to his feet, but something was jabbing him in the crouch. He shook off the stars and saw Edilio standing over him. Edilio had the business end of his automatic rifle in a very sensitive place. "If you move, Caine, I will shoot your balls off," Edilio said. "Toto?" "He will," Toto said, "Although he's not sure it will be just your balls."

"Caine tried to roll to his feet, but something was jabbing him in the crouch. He shook off the stars and saw Edilio standing over him. Edilio had the business end of his automatic rifle in a very sensitive place. "If you move, Caine, I will shoot your balls off," Edilio said. "Toto?" "He will," Toto said, "Although he's not sure it will be just your balls."

Michael Grant, American Author

Conflict, Threat, Power, Danger

15

"Neurotic, ha!" I let out a scornful laugh. "If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then I'm neurotic as hell. I'll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days."

"Neurotic, ha!" I let out a scornful laugh. "If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then I'm neurotic as hell. I'll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days."

Sylvia Plath, American Poet

Conflict, Desire, Choice, Mind

15

"Cross a man and you struggle, one of you wins, you adjust and go on - or you lie there dead. Cross a woman and the universe is changed, once again, for cold anger requires an eternal vigilance in all matters of slight and offense."

"Cross a man and you struggle, one of you wins, you adjust and go on - or you lie there dead. Cross a woman and the universe is changed, once again, for cold anger requires an eternal vigilance in all matters of slight and offense."

Gregory Maguire, American Novelist

Conflict, Gender, Power, Emotion

15

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