# Quote — James Wesley Rawles, How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It

> My father often told me, “It is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.” I urge readers to use less than lethal means when safe and practicable, but at times there is not a satisfactory substitute for well-aimed lead going down range at high velocity.

- Author: [James Wesley Rawles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles.md)
- Book: [How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it.md)
- Page: 12
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_Wesley_Rawles#How_to_Survive_the_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_(2009)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/my-father-often

## More from this book

> Tangibles trump conceptuals. Modern fiat currencies are generally accepted, but have essentially no backing. Because they are largely a by-product of interest-bearing debt, modern currencies are destined for inflation. In the long run, inflation dooms fiat currencies to collapse. The majority of your assets should be invested in productive farmland and other tangibles such as useful hand tools. After you have your key logistics squared away, anything extra should be invested in silver and gold.

p. 14 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/tangibles-trump-conceptuals.md)

> There is no substitute for mass. Mass stops bullets. Mass stops gamma radiation. Mass stops (or at least slows down) bad guys from entering a home and depriving its residents of life and property. Sandbags are cheap, so buy plenty of them. When planning your retreat house, think: medieval castle.

p. 18 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/there-is-no-substitute.md)

> As a Christian, I feel morally obligated to assist others who are less fortunate. Following the Old Testament laws of tzedakah (charity and tithing), I believe that my responsibility begins with my immediate family and expands in successive rings to supporting my immediate neighborhood and church, to my community, and beyond, as resources allow. My philosophy is to give until it hurts in times of disaster.

p. 16 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/as-a-christian.md)