Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.

When skill fails, force follows

We like to think violence is what desperate people choose when they have no other option. But Asimov's insight cuts deeper—he's saying it's what incompetent people choose. There's a real difference. Violence often isn't a last resort; it's a first resort for people who lack the skills, patience, or creativity to solve problems any other way. A skilled negotiator, teacher, or leader finds a dozen paths around conflict. Someone without those tools just... swings.

This plays out constantly in smaller ways than physical violence. The manager who yells instead of clarifying expectations. The parent who shuts down conversation instead of listening. The person who blocks and insults online rather than engaging with a difficult idea. Each time, there's usually someone underneath who simply doesn't know how to do anything else. They lack the competence—the actual ability—to handle complexity, disagreement, or resistance.

The uncomfortable part is recognizing this in ourselves. We all have moments where we fall back on aggression, dismissal, or force because we haven't developed better tools yet. The invitation isn't to judge harshly, but to notice: Where am I taking the easy, crude route when a harder skill might actually work better?