--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What really got to me was not the fact…" description: "\"“What really got to me was not the fact that animal cruelty could predict violent behavior—it's that up until I read about it, I never thought that it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/dan-wells-2142_animal_what-really-got-to-me-was-not-the-fact-t_1436448.jpg" --- # What really got to me was not the fact that animal cruelty… ![“What really got to me was not the fact that animal cruelty could predict violent behavior—it's that up until I read about it, I never thought that it was wrong. I was killing animals and taking them apart, and I had all the emotional reaction of a kid playing with Legos. It's like they weren't…” quote by Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/dan-wells-2142_animal_what-really-got-to-me-was-not-the-fact-t_1436448.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/dan-wells-2142_animal_what-really-got-to-me-was-not-the-fact-t_1436448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/dan-wells-2142_animal_what-really-got-to-me-was-not-the-fact-t_1436448.jpg) > ““What really got to me was not the fact that animal cruelty could predict violent behavior—it's that up until I read about it, I never thought that it was wrong. I was killing animals and taking them apart, and I had all the emotional reaction of a kid playing with Legos. It's like they weren't real to me —they were just toys to play with. Things.”” [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing cruelty is wrong awakens moral conscience, contrasting detached actions with emotional response. **In simple terms:** Seeing cruelty as wrong triggers moral awakening. Key Takeaway Align actions with newfound ethical awareness. Themes ethics animal rights conscience Mood reflective determined Type ethical personal When to use this quote - dietary choices - activism - education - personal growth Key Concepts moral development cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - What changed your perspective? - How will you act on this new awareness? A Different Perspective May face social resistance to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-cruelty/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Killing animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing-animals/) ## Related quotes > [“Bearing witness takes the courage to realize the potential of the human spirit. 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They know the public doesn't agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-benn/the-tories-claim-that-they-have-changed-their-stance-on-foxhunting/) [Hilary Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-benn/) > [Death and Famine and War and Pollution continued biking towards Tadfield. And Grievous Bodily Harm, Cruelty To Animals, Things Not Working Properly Even After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/death-and-famine-and-war-and-pollution-continued-biking-towards/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More by Dan Wells > [“I’ve picked a side,” she said darkly. “And everyone’s on it. And that’s exactly who I’m going to save.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-ve-picked-a-side-she-said-darkly-and-everyone-s-on-it-and-that-s/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That was...horrifying. 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" It would be selfish of me to keep it hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/my-wit-is-like-your-legs-said-xochi-it-would-be-selfish-of-me-to-keep/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“If you can’t know the truth,” said Isolde, “live the most awesome lie you can think of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/if-you-can-t-know-the-truth-said-isolde-live-the-most-awesome-lie-you/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“Skousen remembered a world falling apart. Kira remembered a world pulling together to save itself. That was the difference. That was why Skousen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/skousen-remembered-a-world-falling-apart-kira-remembered-a-world/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“Finally Marcus stepped forward. "If you insist on going through me to get him, it's your call. 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