--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My protective instincts were going into…" description: "\"“My protective instincts were going into overdrive and I wanted to go smack the shit out of the punk for getting my friend wound up like that. No one m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/a-meredith-walters-2790_friendship_my-protective-instincts-were-going-into_1439224.jpg" --- # My protective instincts were going into overdrive and I… ![“My protective instincts were going into overdrive and I wanted to go smack the shit out of the punk for getting my friend wound up like that. No one messed with my girls. Ever.” quote by A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/a-meredith-walters-2790_friendship_my-protective-instincts-were-going-into_1439224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/a-meredith-walters-2790_friendship_my-protective-instincts-were-going-into_1439224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/a-meredith-walters-2790_friendship_my-protective-instincts-were-going-into_1439224.jpg) > ““My protective instincts were going into overdrive and I wanted to go smack the shit out of the punk for getting my friend wound up like that. No one messed with my girls. Ever.”” [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Protective instincts can trigger intense aggression when loved ones are threatened, highlighting loyalty and anger. **In simple terms:** Strong loyalty can spark fierce defense. Key Takeaway Channel protective energy constructively. Themes loyalty anger protection conflict Mood defensive intense Type cautionary emotional When to use this quote - friendship disputes - self‑defense situations - stressful encounters Key Concepts emotional regulation personal boundaries Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect loved ones without violence? - What strategies calm intense anger? A Different Perspective Aggression may harm relationships if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ## Related quotes > [If punk was about getting rid of hippies, then I'm getting rid of grunge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-albarn/if-punk-was-about-getting-rid-of-hippies-then-i-m-getting-rid-of/) [Damon Albarn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-albarn/) > [But you have to trust your instincts. Because you're not going to try it 20 different ways during rehearsal. 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I wanna understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-only-produce-things-that-have-so-much-in-common-with-what-i-like-i/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [Buildings like Penn Station attract our protective instincts not only because of their beauty but because we fear what will come to replace them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/buildings-like-penn-station-attract-our-protective-instincts-not-only/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [When I found out that there was eight Presidents before George Washington, I wanted to smack somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/when-i-found-out-that-there-was-eight-presidents-before-george/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [I don't think fatherhood's changed me so much as it's conjured protective instincts I've had all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/i-don-t-think-fatherhood-s-changed-me-so-much-as-it-s-conjured/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) > [“I want to know why you don’t like me, Malloy. I like you, even if you do hit people.” He sighed. “I never said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-thompson/i-want-to-know-why-you-don-t-like-me-malloy-i-like-you-even-if-you-do/) [Victoria Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-thompson/) > [“from Tattoo- "Push-up Bra Barbie over there wanted to smack you around a little to wake you up”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/from-tattoo-push-up-bra-barbie-over-there-wanted-to-smack-you-around/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Oh, God, Judd.” She squeezed his hand. “I felt the…shadow of that, an echo. If what I felt was diluted, how are you still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/oh-god-judd-she-squeezed-his-hand-i-felt-the-shadow-of-that-an-echo/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“there’s just something about him that makes my heart beat way too fast and my nerves a little too jumpy. 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I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by A. Meredith Walters > [“For the longest time all I cared about was getting through the day. When your every breath was an effort, that quickly became the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/for-the-longest-time-all-i-cared-about-was-getting-through-the-day/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“Stop running, girl It won't always feel like this”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/stop-running-girl-it-won-t-always-feel-like-this/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“It's a promise ring. A long time ago, they would be engraved with the words Pour route ma vie, de tout mon coeur, For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/it-s-a-promise-ring-a-long-time-ago-they-would-be-engraved-with-the/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [Just think life's too short to get hung up on maybes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/just-think-life-s-too-short-to-get-hung-up-on-maybes/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [I still hung onto the hope that my broken knight would gallop back into my life and sweep me off my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/i-still-hung-onto-the-hope-that-my-broken-knight-would-gallop-back/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“Ignoring things didn’t make them go away. 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I should never have drug you into this hell I live in. It's not fair to you. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/i-don-t-deserve-your-heart-maggie-i-should-never-have-drug-you-into/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“But Rachel, every time you hurt, I hurt. Particularly, when I'm the cause of it. I've been an insensitive jerk. But I need you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/but-rachel-every-time-you-hurt-i-hurt-particularly-when-i-m-the-cause/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“I was the king of motherfucking second chances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/i-was-the-king-of-motherfucking-second-chances/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“Baby girl, you deserve some cloud walkin'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/baby-girl-you-deserve-some-cloud-walkin/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“All I could see was my life without you in it. And it was a fucking dark and horrible place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/all-i-could-see-was-my-life-without-you-in-it-and-it-was-a-fucking/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“You're right, baby. We began out of something ugly. But what we became was something beautiful. I just wish I could make you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/you-re-right-baby-we-began-out-of-something-ugly-but-what-we-became/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“Love shouldn't make you feel like that. It should be as natural as breathing. It should happen between two people because it grew there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/love-shouldn-t-make-you-feel-like-that-it-should-be-as-natural-as/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) [Explore all 150 A. Meredith Walters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) ## More Friendship quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) Unknwon > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [If you love some one for who they are not for there body or how many friend so when you say I love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/if-you-love-some-one-for-who-they-are-not-for-there-body-or-how-many/) Unknow > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/) [Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/) [Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/) [Browse all 45,469 Friendship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My protective instincts were going into overdrive and I wanted to go smack the shit out of the punk for getting my friend wound up like that. 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