--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My special thing as a kid was to play…" description: "\"My special thing as a kid was to play dead because I thought I was really good at it. When I was 7 or 8, I even did it in the bathroom with a hair drye..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/daniel-bruhl-25455_bathroom_my-special-thing-as-a-kid-was-to-play-de_2605726.png" --- # My special thing as a kid was to play dead because I… ![“My special thing as a kid was to play dead because I thought I was really good at it. When I was 7 or 8, I even did it in the bathroom with a hair dryer in the bathtub. I realized that I was good at it because each time my mom would scream.” quote by Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/daniel-bruhl-25455_bathroom_my-special-thing-as-a-kid-was-to-play-de_2605726.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/daniel-bruhl-25455_bathroom_my-special-thing-as-a-kid-was-to-play-de_2605726.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/daniel-bruhl-25455_bathroom_my-special-thing-as-a-kid-was-to-play-de_2605726.png) > “My special thing as a kid was to play dead because I thought I was really good at it. When I was 7 or 8, I even did it in the bathroom with a hair dryer in the bathtub. I realized that I was good at it because each time my mom would scream.” [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. As a child, he pretended to be dead to elicit his mother’s reaction, discovering his talent for causing panic. **In simple terms:** He used fear to gauge reactions. Key Takeaway Understand motivations behind attention‑seeking behavior. Themes psychology childhood attention family dynamics Mood playful introspective Type psychological humorous When to use this quote - prank situations - family gatherings - stress testing - social experiments Key Concepts behavioral triggers emotional response parent‑child interaction Questions to Reflect On - Why do we seek attention through shock? - What healthier outlets exist? A Different Perspective Such behavior can strain relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bathroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bathroom/) [Bathtub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bathtub/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-thought-1387085/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Each](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/each/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid/) [Kid Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid-play-233743/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mom Scream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom-scream-1967436/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-dead-632826/) [Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realized/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Scream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scream/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [That's the real excellent scary part, that feeling, and that feeling won't come if the lady from next door is there and your mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-richard/that-s-the-real-excellent-scary-part-that-feeling-and-that-feeling/) [Mark Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-richard/) > [I want my mom on 'Scream Queens'. She could play someone who is convinced she's Princess Leila. That could be her disease, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-lourd/i-want-my-mom-on-scream-queens-she-could-play-someone-who-is/) [Billie Lourd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-lourd/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [You pick up a lot of things as a kid. That's why I play Telecaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-5/you-pick-up-a-lot-of-things-as-a-kid-that-s-why-i-play-telecaster/) [John 5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-5/) > [I played piano as a kid; I still play a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-played-piano-as-a-kid-i-still-play-a-little-bit/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [If I make a change to a young kid to play any sport, not only tennis, instead of spending time in front of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-ivanovic/if-i-make-a-change-to-a-young-kid-to-play-any-sport-not-only-tennis/) [Ana Ivanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-ivanovic/) > [I think that's one of the cool things about football - there's a place for every kid to play, regardless of size, shape or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-cool-things-about-football-there-s-a-place/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [I used to watch a lot of Nick at Nite as a kid, and it would play the original 'Saturday Night Live,' 'The Carol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-vaughn/i-used-to-watch-a-lot-of-nick-at-nite-as-a-kid-and-it-would-play-the/) [Baron Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-vaughn/) > [Everything about 'Adventure Time' is the purest form of kid's play. A kid does not live in the Land of Ooo. That is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-seibert/everything-about-adventure-time-is-the-purest-form-of-kid-s-play-a/) [Fred Seibert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-seibert/) > [You ain't gon hurt nobody like Kid 'n Play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/you-ain-t-gon-hurt-nobody-like-kid-n-play/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [That's all I wanted to do as a kid. Play a guitar properly and jump around. But too many people got in the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-barrett/that-s-all-i-wanted-to-do-as-a-kid-play-a-guitar-properly-and-jump/) [Syd Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-barrett/) > [“That's right, kid. Never play an ace if a two will do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-smith/that-s-right-kid-never-play-an-ace-if-a-two-will-do/) [Jeff Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-smith/) > [The dream of every kid is to play for the country, and I am no different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-l-rahul/the-dream-of-every-kid-is-to-play-for-the-country-and-i-am-no/) [K. L. Rahul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-l-rahul/) > [Gandalf! I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue? What's happened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/gandalf-i-thought-you-were-dead-but-then-i-thought-i-was-dead-myself/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [“He thought of night coming on. He thought of the loneliness of tonight, this first night in the ground. This, he thought, was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/he-thought-of-night-coming-on-he-thought-of-the-loneliness-of-tonight/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) ## More by Daniel Bruhl > [My first languages are German and Spanish because I was brought up by a Spanish mother and a German father, so I always spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/my-first-languages-are-german-and-spanish-because-i-was-brought-up-by/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [Eating is my main hobby now, and most of what I do on the weekend revolves around that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/eating-is-my-main-hobby-now-and-most-of-what-i-do-on-the-weekend/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [I enjoy passing time in my house. I'll get up, head out on the terrace, think about what to do, fool around oiling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/i-enjoy-passing-time-in-my-house-i-ll-get-up-head-out-on-the-terrace/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [We Germans should know that we're good at constructing cars, and we have a lot of good qualities. But we're not the funniest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/we-germans-should-know-that-we-re-good-at-constructing-cars-and-we/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [When I was a kid, we all knew who Niki Lauda was. He was a hero, a living legend in Germany. Everybody knows him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/when-i-was-a-kid-we-all-knew-who-niki-lauda-was-he-was-a-hero-a/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [When I was around 15, I did my first movie. I was at a kids' agency, and the third time I was invited to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/when-i-was-around-15-i-did-my-first-movie-i-was-at-a-kids-agency-and/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [I'm always nervous doing auditions - to be honest, I hate it. I always envy the actors who are so cool and cold-blooded when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/i-m-always-nervous-doing-auditions-to-be-honest-i-hate-it-i-always/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [I would love to spend a year living in New York; I've wanted to do that since I was 18. I'll be really disappointed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/i-would-love-to-spend-a-year-living-in-new-york-i-ve-wanted-to-do/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [The key is to let computers do what they are good at, which is trawling these massive data sets for something that is mathematically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/the-key-is-to-let-computers-do-what-they-are-good-at-which-is/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [I always try to start my weekend by running on the beach, which is great fun here in Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/i-always-try-to-start-my-weekend-by-running-on-the-beach-which-is/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [My parents always went to rallies and demonstrated against certain things; my generation, we often have a political conscience, but we're not that involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/my-parents-always-went-to-rallies-and-demonstrated-against-certain/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [A dream my girlfriend and I have is to move to New York for a year or two because we just love the city.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/a-dream-my-girlfriend-and-i-have-is-to-move-to-new-york-for-a-year-or/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [I was lucky to start working when German cinema was having an interesting moment. Now the quality is going downhill again because they're insisting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/i-was-lucky-to-start-working-when-german-cinema-was-having-an/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [I'm learning with my mom how to cook more Spanish food. I'm trying to make a good paella, but that's a real art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/i-m-learning-with-my-mom-how-to-cook-more-spanish-food-i-m-trying-to/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) > [I have one car that works; it's fast and safe: an Audi 5. And I have two old cars that never work: an old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bruhl/i-have-one-car-that-works-it-s-fast-and-safe-an-audi-5-and-i-have-two/) [Daniel Bruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) [Explore all 23 Daniel Bruhl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bruhl/) ## More Bathroom quotes > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Ill-fitting grammar are like ill-fitting shoes. You can get used to it for a bit, but then one day your toes fall off and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/ill-fitting-grammar-are-like-ill-fitting-shoes-you-can-get-used-to-it/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [You know, I'm the only one in this family who has no problems, . . . And you know why? Because any time I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-i-m-the-only-one-in-this-family-who-has-no-problems-and-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“bathroom—if you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/bathroom-if-you/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Poems come from ordinary experiences and objects, I think. Out of memory - a dress I lent my daughter on her way back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/poems-come-from-ordinary-experiences-and-objects-i-think-out-of/) [Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/) > [I took a wrong turn on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I had never seen before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-took-a-wrong-turn-on-the-way-to-the-bathroom-and-found-myself-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the 1998 Oscars, I found myself in the bathroom in a stall, next to Tom Selleck. So I leaned over and I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/in-the-1998-oscars-i-found-myself-in-the-bathroom-in-a-stall-next-to/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [My pet peeve is hearing a knock on the bathroom door followed by the familiar words, 'What are you doing in there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-scalf-linamen/my-pet-peeve-is-hearing-a-knock-on-the-bathroom-door-followed-by-the/) [Karen Scalf Linamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-scalf-linamen/) > [Using a public bathroom is an incredibly embarrassing experience. I enter the stall but can't reach the lock on the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-burke/using-a-public-bathroom-is-an-incredibly-embarrassing-experience-i/) [Sinead Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-burke/) > [I get really nervous if pigeons are flying around before shows. I can't stand them after one once flew in through my bathroom window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-get-really-nervous-if-pigeons-are-flying-around-before-shows-i-can/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [“I'll meet you outside," I said. No way was I actually doing to shout 'I have to pee' at the top of my lungs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-lennon/i-ll-meet-you-outside-i-said-no-way-was-i-actually-doing-to-shout-i/) [Stella Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-lennon/) > [I grew up with six brothers. That's how I learned to dance - waiting for the bathroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/i-grew-up-with-six-brothers-that-s-how-i-learned-to-dance-waiting-for/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [How are we doing, Simon?" she whispered into the small microphone in her collar. "Just about..." Simon started slowly. And then he stopped. "Wow."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/how-are-we-doing-simon-she-whispered-into-the-small-microphone-in-her/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Mr. Presley has no discernible singing ability. 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