Violence is as American as cherry pie.

Violence is as American as cherry pie.

When people say there is too much violence in [my books], what they are saying is there is too much read more

When people say there is too much violence in [my books], what they are saying is there is too much reality in life.

Violence is unnecessary and costly. Peace is the only way.

Violence is unnecessary and costly. Peace is the only way.

If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a read more

If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

Violence is not merely killing another. It is violence when we use a sharp word, when we make a gesture read more

Violence is not merely killing another. It is violence when we use a sharp word, when we make a gesture to brush away a person, when we obey because there is fear. So violence isn't merely organized butchery in the name of God, in the name of society or country. Violence is much more subtle, much deeper, and we are inquiring into the very depths of violence.

It is organized violence on top which creates individual violence at the bottom. It is the accumulated indignation against organized read more

It is organized violence on top which creates individual violence at the bottom. It is the accumulated indignation against organized wrong, organized crime, organized injustice, which drives the political offender to act.

If I die a violent death, as some fear and a few are plotting, I know that the violence will read more

If I die a violent death, as some fear and a few are plotting, I know that the violence will be in the thought and the action of the assassins, not in my dying.

If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women read more

If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country.