The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.

Summary

This quote, often attributed to comedian George Carlin, humorously reflects on the extreme lengths to which human beings can go when driven by destructive desires. It satirizes the notion that inventing tools like flame-throwers emerges from a twisted thought process of wanting to inflict harm on others but lacking proximity to do so effectively. Through sarcasm, the quote highlights the absurdity and darkness within human nature by taking an extreme example to make a point about the potential for violence in society.