--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember, as a young Catholic girl in…" description: "\"I remember, as a young Catholic girl in high school, seeing 'The Exorcist,' and it scared the wits out of me.\" — Ann Dowd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/ann-dowd-14124_exorcist_i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-h_2798539.jpg" --- # I remember, as a young Catholic girl in high school… ![“I remember, as a young Catholic girl in high school, seeing 'The Exorcist,' and it scared the wits out of me.” quote by Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/ann-dowd-14124_exorcist_i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-h_2798539.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/ann-dowd-14124_exorcist_i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-h_2798539.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/ann-dowd-14124_exorcist_i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-h_2798539.jpg) > “I remember, as a young Catholic girl in high school, seeing 'The Exorcist,' and it scared the wits out of me.” [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A childhood encounter with horror can leave lasting fear and fascination. **In simple terms:** Seeing horror as a child can be terrifying. Key Takeaway Recognize how early media shapes fear. Themes fear religion media influence Mood anxious reflective Type personal anecdote cultural commentary When to use this quote - high school - movie watching - religious upbringing Key Concepts psychology cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - How did that fear influence later choices? - Do you still feel that fear? A Different Perspective Fear may fade but can affect later perceptions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exorcist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exorcist/) [Exorcist Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exorcist-scared-3432255/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Scared Wits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-wits-721634/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Seeing Exorcist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing-exorcist-3432256/) ## Related quotes > [There are a few images in 'Exorcist 3' that scared me - people crawling on ceilings, etc. - but nothing beats the original. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-elise/there-are-a-few-images-in-exorcist-3-that-scared-me-people-crawling/) [Christine Elise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-elise/) > [From an early age I loved horror movies. I read books about horror, cops, firemen and military. Over the course of the years I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-sarchie/from-an-early-age-i-loved-horror-movies-i-read-books-about-horror/) [Ralph Sarchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-sarchie/) > [“To be scared out of your wits is to be at your wits' end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/to-be-scared-out-of-your-wits-is-to-be-at-your-wits-end/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [It scared me out of my wits, a corpse falling to bits. Then I opened my eyes and that nightmare was me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastasia/it-scared-me-out-of-my-wits-a-corpse-falling-to-bits-then-i-opened-my/) [Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anastasia/) > [“He’d thought it would be the right thing to say, but she scoffed a little… and that, more than anything—more than the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-carnes/he-d-thought-it-would-be-the-right-thing-to-say-but-she-scoffed-a/) [V.S. Carnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-carnes/) > [“When I first got the news, I was devastated,” Annie said. And then her chin tilted in a defiant gesture, as if daring him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-sala/when-i-first-got-the-news-i-was-devastated-annie-said-and-then-her/) [Sharon Sala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-sala/) > [“Deep down,” she said, “I’m a coward.” His brows rose. “I’m a coward,” she repeated. “And I’m scared. I’m scared all the time. Always.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/deep-down-she-said-i-m-a-coward-his-brows-rose-i-m-a-coward-she/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Thanks for that." I let go of the chain-link with one hand to gesture at the degenerate below. Then I climbed faster and threw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/thanks-for-that-i-let-go-of-the-chain-link-with-one-hand-to-gesture/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [The Exorcist' is amazing because it recognizes that silences can be as powerful as sound effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-darabont/the-exorcist-is-amazing-because-it-recognizes-that-silences-can-be-as/) [Frank Darabont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-darabont/) > [The only movie that ever really scared me was The Exorcist,but even then, I was laughing part of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/the-only-movie-that-ever-really-scared-me-was-the-exorcist-but-even/) [Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/) > [I loved Alien, and I loved Carrie, and I loved The Exorcist - those were big movies for me. They were just brilliantly done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kasdan/i-loved-alien-and-i-loved-carrie-and-i-loved-the-exorcist-those-were/) [Lawrence Kasdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kasdan/) > [I went with an exorcist for a bit. I just want to know really practical things, like how do you hold someone possessed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-went-with-an-exorcist-for-a-bit-i-just-want-to-know-really/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [When I was 13 I asked my mother if it was possible for this to end - I'd had enough of it. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-blair/when-i-was-13-i-asked-my-mother-if-it-was-possible-for-this-to-end-i/) [Linda Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-blair/) > [“an exorcist based in Switzerland, recounted one experience he had aboard a Swissair flight. "Two lesbians," he said, had sat behind him on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-exorcist-based-in-switzerland-recounted-one-experience-he-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anyone can do shock value. Develop enough tension and cue the music right, then have something jump out: It's almost impossible not to jump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-myrick/anyone-can-do-shock-value-develop-enough-tension-and-cue-the-music/) [Daniel Myrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-myrick/) ## More by Ann Dowd > [The great thing about an independent film is that you're too busy working, and you're too busy hoping to God to get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/the-great-thing-about-an-independent-film-is-that-you-re-too-busy/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [The day after Trump was elected, I happened to be home in New York. I went to bed for the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/the-day-after-trump-was-elected-i-happened-to-be-home-in-new-york-i/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [It's a question of dropping the armor and getting up and doing the work you want to do. And film at first is frightening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/it-s-a-question-of-dropping-the-armor-and-getting-up-and-doing-the/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [When I won the Emmy, the profound sense of gratitude when my name was said I cannot express enough. It was one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/when-i-won-the-emmy-the-profound-sense-of-gratitude-when-my-name-was/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [It's a funny thing about being raised Catholic and then going to Catholic schools with nuns - the cliche about the mean nun was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/it-s-a-funny-thing-about-being-raised-catholic-and-then-going-to/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [Wherever the career wasn't going the way I wanted it to, I would experience those disappointments, and I would put them somewhere where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/wherever-the-career-wasn-t-going-the-way-i-wanted-it-to-i-would/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [When I was pregnant with my first child, I was 35 years old, and I was working in a pet shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/when-i-was-pregnant-with-my-first-child-i-was-35-years-old-and-i-was/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [Forgiveness, in some cases, is a flipping miracle in the sense that you're fighting, and suddenly something happens. It's a kind of grace. Whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/forgiveness-in-some-cases-is-a-flipping-miracle-in-the-sense-that-you/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [I guess getting older has its benefits, one of them being perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/i-guess-getting-older-has-its-benefits-one-of-them-being-perspective/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [The Leftovers was an absolutely extraordinary experience. After the first season of learning to work with Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, and all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/the-leftovers-was-an-absolutely-extraordinary-experience-after-the/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [In general, between an actor and a character, there needs to be a falling in love, if you will - which I'm saying in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/in-general-between-an-actor-and-a-character-there-needs-to-be-a/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [My parents were strict but loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/my-parents-were-strict-but-loving/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [I look at all these wonderful actors who are out of work, and I don't know what accounts for my good fortune, but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/i-look-at-all-these-wonderful-actors-who-are-out-of-work-and-i-don-t/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [The first 10 years of my education were spent at a Catholic school in Springfield, Mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/the-first-10-years-of-my-education-were-spent-at-a-catholic-school-in/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [The lovely thing is that now being offered things is just a blast. In the beginning, I'd be offered something and be like, "What?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/the-lovely-thing-is-that-now-being-offered-things-is-just-a-blast-in/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) [Explore all 48 Ann Dowd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) ## More Exorcist quotes > [Anyone can do shock value. Develop enough tension and cue the music right, then have something jump out: It's almost impossible not to jump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-myrick/anyone-can-do-shock-value-develop-enough-tension-and-cue-the-music/) [Daniel Myrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-myrick/) > [“an exorcist based in Switzerland, recounted one experience he had aboard a Swissair flight. "Two lesbians," he said, had sat behind him on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-exorcist-based-in-switzerland-recounted-one-experience-he-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was 13 I asked my mother if it was possible for this to end - I'd had enough of it. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-blair/when-i-was-13-i-asked-my-mother-if-it-was-possible-for-this-to-end-i/) [Linda Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-blair/) > [I went with an exorcist for a bit. I just want to know really practical things, like how do you hold someone possessed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-went-with-an-exorcist-for-a-bit-i-just-want-to-know-really/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [I loved Alien, and I loved Carrie, and I loved The Exorcist - those were big movies for me. They were just brilliantly done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kasdan/i-loved-alien-and-i-loved-carrie-and-i-loved-the-exorcist-those-were/) [Lawrence Kasdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kasdan/) > [The only movie that ever really scared me was The Exorcist,but even then, I was laughing part of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/the-only-movie-that-ever-really-scared-me-was-the-exorcist-but-even/) [Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/) > [The Exorcist' is amazing because it recognizes that silences can be as powerful as sound effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-darabont/the-exorcist-is-amazing-because-it-recognizes-that-silences-can-be-as/) [Frank Darabont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-darabont/) > [From an early age I loved horror movies. I read books about horror, cops, firemen and military. Over the course of the years I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-sarchie/from-an-early-age-i-loved-horror-movies-i-read-books-about-horror/) [Ralph Sarchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-sarchie/) > [“Thanks for that." I let go of the chain-link with one hand to gesture at the degenerate below. Then I climbed faster and threw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/thanks-for-that-i-let-go-of-the-chain-link-with-one-hand-to-gesture/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“I'm not a human or a demon anymore. In which case.. I'll have to be an Exorcist!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazue-kato/i-m-not-a-human-or-a-demon-anymore-in-which-case-i-ll-have-to-be-an/) [Kazue Kato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazue-kato/) > [I have seen lampoons of my work. And I have really enjoyed them. But I would never do another version of The Exorcist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/i-have-seen-lampoons-of-my-work-and-i-have-really-enjoyed-them-but-i/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [I have never read horror, nor do I consider The Exorcist to be such, but rather as a suspenseful supernatural detective story, or paranormal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/i-have-never-read-horror-nor-do-i-consider-the-exorcist-to-be-such/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [I very much believe in things unseen, both of positive and destructive energy, and I have never seen The Exorcist through from start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-very-much-believe-in-things-unseen-both-of-positive-and-destructive/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [I never read detective novels. I started out in graduate school writing a more serious book. Right around that time I read 'The Day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-never-read-detective-novels-i-started-out-in-graduate-school/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“Suddenly her head swiveled around like something out of the Exorcist, and she once again pinned Drew with her fathomless gaze. “Storm’s blowin’ in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-hogan/suddenly-her-head-swiveled-around-like-something-out-of-the-exorcist/) [J.K. Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-hogan/) [Browse all 92 Exorcist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exorcist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I remember, as a young Catholic girl in high school, seeing 'The Exorcist,' and it scared the wits out of me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ann Dowd" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-high-school-seeing-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Exorcist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-high-school-seeing-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/ann-dowd-14124_exorcist_i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-h_2798539.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/ann-dowd-14124_exorcist_i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-h_2798539.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/ann-dowd-14124_exorcist_i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-h_2798539.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I remember, as a young Catholic girl in high school, seeing 'The Exorcist,' and it scared the wits out of me.” — Ann Dowd", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ann Dowd", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I remember, as a young Catholic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-high-school-seeing-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/i-remember-as-a-young-catholic-girl-in-high-school-seeing-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```