# Quotes about terrorism - Quotes: 23 - Authors: 15 - Broader topic: [Quotes about violence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/violence.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.json ## Quotes > Today, particularly in terms of combating terrorism, there are no front lines. Cities and neighborhoods are the battlefields. September 11 was a harsh reminder of this new reality. [Ann Dunwoody](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-dunwoody.md) · [A Higher Standard](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-dunwoody/a-higher-standard.md) · p. 74 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-dunwoody/a-higher-standard/today-particularly-in-terms.md) Topics: [war](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/war.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > If publicity was the lifeblood of terrorists, the week-long siege of the hotel had been a massive transfusion. [Shamini Flint](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shamini-flint.md) · [Inspector Singh Investigates: A Curious Indian Cadaver](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shamini-flint/inspector-singh-investigates-a-curious-indian-cadaver.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shamini-flint/inspector-singh-investigates-a-curious-indian-cadaver/if-publicity-was.md) Topics: [media](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/media.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > Without money, terrorists were just angry young men with an axe to grind. With money, the metaphorical axe became real and sharp and terrifying. He knew that very well – had learnt it the hard way – from his murder investigation in Bali after the bombings there. [Shamini Flint](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shamini-flint.md) · [Inspector Singh Investigates: A Curious Indian Cadaver](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shamini-flint/inspector-singh-investigates-a-curious-indian-cadaver.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shamini-flint/inspector-singh-investigates-a-curious-indian-cadaver/without-money-terrorists.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > "There's a curious knot that binds novelists and terrorists...Years ago I used to think it was possible for a novelist to alter the inner life of the culture. Now bomb-makers and gunmen have taken that territory. They make raids on human consciousness. What writers used to do before we were all incorporated." [Don DeLillo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo.md) · [Mao II](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/mao-ii.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/mao-ii/theres-a-curious.md) Topics: [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [culture](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/culture.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > He truly did not seem to realize that terrorizing everyone who was not ardently on his side to begin with would ensure that he drew few new supporters. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [The Great War: Walk in Hell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-walk-in-hell.md) · p. 98 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-walk-in-hell/he-truly-did.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > “Why pretend now that you cared?” > > “Why not pretend whatever I like if it makes my life easier? We learned that, you see, we Faithful. We learn to say to ourselves whatever we need to say to make the task easy. We learn to say, ‘for God and Voorstod,’ when we blow up some old lady in the toilet or some schoolyard full of children. We wouldn’t necessarily do it for ourselves, you see, but we can do it for God and Voorstod.” [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Raising The Stones](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/raising-the-stones.md) · p. 390 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/raising-the-stones/why-pretend-now.md) Topics: [fanaticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fanaticism.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception-2.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > What kind of man takes a live bomb across the seas in order to blow up other people? People who have mothers and lovers and children, just like him? > > Probably either a professional or a patriot, Alex thought. Or, worse, both. [David Brin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin.md) · [Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin/earth.md) · p. 524 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin/earth/what-kind-of-man.md) Topics: [patriotism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/patriotism.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > Of the old, violent anarchist groups it was said that they always contained one pathological killer, one selfless idealist and one police spy. It was difficult, at first glance, to tell which was which, but the idealist was always the most dangerous. A "war against terrorism" is an impracticable conception if it means fighting terrorism with terrorism. The feelings on both sides are not that they are taking part in some evil and criminal act but risking their lives heroically for what they consider to be a just cause. You could understandably reduce terrorism by improving security and increasing the number of police spies, but it can only finally be reduced by removing the number of just causes. ANC terrorism was pointless after the end of apartheid. Terrorism in Israel will stop only when a just solution has been agreed to and the occupied territories handed back. Terrorism has existed in Ireland since Elizabeth I sent the Earl of Essex out in an unsatisfactory attempt to quell the rebels. However, since former terrorists have become government ministers in Northern Ireland, some progress has been made and sometimes the signs are hopeful. [John Mortimer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-mortimer.md) · [Where There's a Will](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-mortimer/where-theres-a-will.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-mortimer/where-theres-a-will/of-the-old.md) Topics: [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > Most people in the West, certainly everyone in Israel, would agree that the Palestinian suicide bombers, who kill women and children, are terrorists. Not many people remember when Palestine, as the land of Israel was once called, was in that obscure state, a British Protectorate. Were the Jewish members of the Stern Gang, those who hanged a British sergeant with piano wire or organized the bomb in the King David Hotel with murderous results (the organization in which Prime Minister Begin started his political career), ‘freedom fighters’ or ‘terrorists’? What, looking at the matter from an entirely neutral standpoint, would we call them now? > > A terrorist, the dictionary tells us, is ‘one who favours or uses terror-inspiring methods of governing or of coercing government or community’. This would certainly cover Russian activities in Chechnya and Israeli invasions into Palestinian territory, killing innocent men, women and children and even employees of the United Nations, in a prolonged attempt to fight ruthless terrorism with ruthless terrorism. The word ‘terrorist’ could certainly have been applied to Nelson Mandela before his trial. If it means the calculated mass killing of civilians to obtain an end, it must be applied to the destruction of Hamburg and Düsseldorf and, of course, to the dropping of H-bombs. So all these activities can be defined as ‘terrorism’ if they are committed by an enemy or ‘freedom-fighting’ if by a friend. If so, the conception of a ‘war’ against it calls for the most careful thought. [John Mortimer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-mortimer.md) · [Where There's a Will](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-mortimer/where-theres-a-will.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-mortimer/where-theres-a-will/most-people-in-the.md) Topics: [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > Much of the obscurity of our effort so far against terrorism originates in the now official idea that the enemy is evil and that we are (therefore) good, which is the precise mirror image of the official idea of the terrorists. [Wendell Berry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry.md) · [Citizenship Papers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/citizenship-papers.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/citizenship-papers/much-of-the.md) Topics: [evil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evil.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > To imply by the word "terrorism" that this sort of terror is the work exclusively of "terrorists" is misleading. The "legitimate" warfare of technologically advanced nations likewise is premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against innocents. The distinction between the intention to perpetrate violence against innocents, as in "terrorism," and the willingness to do so, as in "war," is not a source of comfort. [Wendell Berry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry.md) · [Citizenship Papers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/citizenship-papers.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/citizenship-papers/to-imply-by-the.md) Topics: [war](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/war.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > One cannot reduce terror by holding over the world the threat of what it most fears. [Wendell Berry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry.md) · [Citizenship Papers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/citizenship-papers.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/citizenship-papers/one-cannot-reduce.md) Topics: [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > Terrorism relies on the stimulation of fear for political ends. Indeed, its specific goal is to distort the political reality of a nation by creating fear in the general population that is hugely disproportionate to the actual danger that the terrorists are capable of posing. Ironically, President Bush's response to the terrorist attack of September 11 was, in effect, to further distort America's political reality by creating a new fear of Iraq that was hugely disproportionate to the actual danger Iraq was capable of posing. [Al Gore](https://www.leafyquotes.com/al-gore.md) · [The Assault on Reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/al-gore/the-assault-on-reason.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/al-gore/the-assault-on-reason/terrorism-relies-on-the.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > September 11 had a profound impact on all of us. But after initially responding in an entirely appropriate way, the administration began to heighten and distort public fear of terrorism to create a political case for attacking Iraq. Despite the absence of proof, Iraq was said to be working hand in hand with al-Qaeda and to be on the verge of a nuclear weapons capability. Defeating Saddam was conflated with bringing war to the terrorists, even though it really meant diverting attention and resources from those who actually attacked us. > > When the president of the United States stood before the people of this nation and invited us to "imagine" a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon, he was referring to terrorists who actually had no connection to Iraq. But because our nation had been subjected to the horrors of 9/11, when our president said "imagine with me this new fear," it was easy enough to bypass the reasoning process that might otherwise have led people to ask, "Wait a minute, Mr. President, where's your evidence?" [Al Gore](https://www.leafyquotes.com/al-gore.md) · [The Assault on Reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/al-gore/the-assault-on-reason.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/al-gore/the-assault-on-reason/september-11-had.md) Topics: [war](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/war.md), [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > It is well documented that humans are especially fearful of threats that can be easily pictured or imagined. For example, one study found that people are willing to spend significantly more for flight insurance that covers "death by terrorism" than for flight insurance that covers "death by any cause." Now, logically, flight insurance for death by any cause would cover terrorism in addition to a number of other potential problems. But something about the buzzword terrorism creates a vivid impression that generates excessive fear. [Al Gore](https://www.leafyquotes.com/al-gore.md) · [The Assault on Reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/al-gore/the-assault-on-reason.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/al-gore/the-assault-on-reason/it-is-well.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > The Times was rushing to assure its readers that "prominent Islamic scholars and theologians in the West say unequivocally that nothing in Islam countenances the Sept. 11 actions." (That's if you set aside Muhammad's many specific instructions to kill nonbelievers whenever possible). [Ann Coulter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-coulter.md) · [How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-coulter/how-to-talk-to-a-liberal-if-you-must.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-coulter/how-to-talk-to-a-liberal-if-you-must/the-times-was.md) Topics: [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [media](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/media.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > One hundred percent of terrorist attacks on commercial airlines based in America for 20 years have been committed by Muslims. When there is a 100 percent chance, it ceases to be a profile. It's called a 'description of the suspect.' [Ann Coulter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-coulter.md) · [Treason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-coulter/treason.md) · p. 265 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-coulter/treason/one-hundred-percent.md) Topics: [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > 'Terror can be very efficient against a reactionary class which does not want to leave the scene of operations. Intimidation is a powerful weapon of policy, both internationally and internally. War, like revolution, is founded upon intimidation. [Leon Trotsky](https://www.leafyquotes.com/leon-trotsky.md) · [Terrorism and Communism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/leon-trotsky/terrorism-and-communism.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/leon-trotsky/terrorism-and-communism/terror-can-be-very.md) Topics: [politics](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/politics.md), [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > In whichever way a democratic system might be sick, terrorism does not heal it; it kills it. Democracy is healed with democracy. [Christopher Hitchens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/christopher-hitchens.md) · [And Yet](https://www.leafyquotes.com/christopher-hitchens/and-yet.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/christopher-hitchens/and-yet/in-whichever-way.md) Topics: [democracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/democracy.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > Let us turn now to the most elementary principle of just war theory, universality. Those who cannot accept this principle should have the decency to keep silent about matters of right and wrong, or just war. If we can rise to this level, some obvious questions arise: for example, have Cuba and Nicaragua been entitled to set off bombs in Washington, New York, and Miami in self-defense against ongoing terrorist attack? Particularly so when the perpetrators are well known and act with complete impunity, sometimes in brazen defiance of the highest international authorities, so that the cases are far clearer than Afghanistan? If not, why not? [Noam Chomsky](https://www.leafyquotes.com/noam-chomsky.md) · [Hegemony or Survival](https://www.leafyquotes.com/noam-chomsky/hegemony-or-survival.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/noam-chomsky/hegemony-or-survival/let-us-turn.md) Topics: [war](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/war.md), [hypocrisy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hypocrisy.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > If we like them, they're freedom fighters, she thought. If we don't like them, they're terrorists. In the unlikely case we can't make up our minds, they're temporarily only guerrillas. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Contact](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/contact.md) · p. 55 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/contact/if-we-like.md) Topics: [politics](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/politics.md), [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > Assaults and terrorism in indiscriminate form should not be employed. [Ernesto Che Guevara](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ernesto-che-guevara.md) · [Guerrilla Warfare](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ernesto-che-guevara/guerrilla-warfare.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ernesto-che-guevara/guerrilla-warfare/assaults-and-terrorism.md) Topics: [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md) > Acts of sabotage are very important. It is necessary to distinguish clearly between sabotage, a revolutionary and highly effective method of warfare, and terrorism, a measure that is generally ineffective and in-discriminate in its results, since it often makes victims of innocent people and destroys a large number of lives that would be valuable to the revolution. Terrorism should be considered a valuable tactic when it is used to put to death some noted leader of the oppressing forces well known for his cruelty, his efficiency in repression, or other quality that makes his elimination useful. But the killing of persons of small importance is never advisable, since it brings on an increase of reprisals, including deaths. [Ernesto Che Guevara](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ernesto-che-guevara.md) · [Guerrilla Warfare](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ernesto-che-guevara/guerrilla-warfare.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ernesto-che-guevara/guerrilla-warfare/acts-of-sabotage.md) Topics: [terrorism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/terrorism.md)