--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Play with murder enough and it gets you…" description: "\"“Play with murder enough and it gets you one of two ways. It makes you sick, or you get to like it.”\" — Dashiell Hammett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/dashiell-hammett-3863_murder_play-with-murder-enough-and-it-gets-you_759676.png" --- # Play with murder enough and it gets you one of two ways… ![“Play with murder enough and it gets you one of two ways. It makes you sick, or you get to like it.” quote by Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/dashiell-hammett-3863_murder_play-with-murder-enough-and-it-gets-you_759676.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/dashiell-hammett-3863_murder_play-with-murder-enough-and-it-gets-you_759676.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/dashiell-hammett-3863_murder_play-with-murder-enough-and-it-gets-you_759676.png) > ““Play with murder enough and it gets you one of two ways. It makes you sick, or you get to like it.”” [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeated exposure to murder desensitizes or creates fascination. **In simple terms:** Murder can numb or attract. Key Takeaway Beware of becoming numb to violence. Themes morality psychology violence Mood cautionary analytical Type literary psychological When to use this quote - crime fiction - law enforcement - psychological study Key Concepts desensitization fascination Questions to Reflect On - What draws you to dark subjects? - How does exposure affect empathy? A Different Perspective Risk of glorifying harmful behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest crime in a Shakespeare play is to murder the king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/the-greatest-crime-in-a-shakespeare-play-is-to-murder-the-king/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > [In my sobriety, I have discovered that the people I love, and who hurt me, were sick like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/in-my-sobriety-i-have-discovered-that-the-people-i-love-and-who-hurt/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [“Why can someone get so sick that the only way to get better is to make them more sick? It’s like the world’s longest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-only-way-to-get-better-is-to/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [I never was a sick like throwing up type of guy. I get nervous with the butterflies in the stomach. I was never a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-never-was-a-sick-like-throwing-up-type-of-guy-i-get-nervous-with/) [Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/) > [You're never satisfied here we go again. We're sick like animals, we play pretend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neon-trees/you-re-never-satisfied-here-we-go-again-we-re-sick-like-animals-we/) [Neon Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neon-trees/) > [I am really just like, exhausted. I'm sick of life. I'm sick of people I'm just sick of everything like, I'm done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-really-just-like-exhausted-i-m-sick-of-life-i-m-sick-of-people-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He was ridiculously gorgeous, even with bed-head--maybe because of it. It made her sick--like violently, ill. He could at least be polite and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-marks/he-was-ridiculously-gorgeous-even-with-bed-head-maybe-because-of-it/) [Daniel Marks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-marks/) > [“Sick people should look sick, like in fairy tales or on television. They shouldn 't be wearing sexy dresses and shaving their legs. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lodato/sick-people-should-look-sick-like-in-fairy-tales-or-on-television/) [Victor Lodato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lodato/) > [Being sick it is like loosing all your fun day out. You cant do nothing, but all you do is you stay in bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-jessenia/being-sick-it-is-like-loosing-all-your-fun-day-out-you-cant-do/) [Jess Jessenia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-jessenia/) > [“These are war stories. When you’re on tour, short of loss of life and limb – or actual death – you have no time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/these-are-war-stories-when-you-re-on-tour-short-of-loss-of-life-and/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) > [“I have this thought, it’s horrible, and it makes me sick, but it’s true: one day these students will grow up and have their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-have-this-thought-it-s-horrible-and-it-makes-me-sick-but-it-s-true/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [To be honest, I'm not much of a drinker. It makes me sick, and I hate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/to-be-honest-i-m-not-much-of-a-drinker-it-makes-me-sick-and-i-hate/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Dealing with people literally makes me sick to my stomach. Can I be a hermit yet?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dealing-with-people-literally-makes-me-sick-to-my-stomach-can-i-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Coal makes us sick. Oil makes us sick. It's global warming. It's ruining our country. It's ruining our world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/coal-makes-us-sick-oil-makes-us-sick-it-s-global-warming-it-s-ruining/) [Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/) > [It makes me sick when you come out here and run your little mouth. Were in the Great White North but you can bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/it-makes-me-sick-when-you-come-out-here-and-run-your-little-mouth/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) ## More by Dashiell Hammett > [It's sometimes better to pretend I don't hear the sound of somebody in the nearby woods with a shotgun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/it-s-sometimes-better-to-pretend-i-don-t-hear-the-sound-of-somebody/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“This damned burg's getting me. If I don't get away soon I'll be going blood-simple like the natives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/this-damned-burg-s-getting-me-if-i-don-t-get-away-soon-i-ll-be-going/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“You know Quinn?" Macaulay asked me. "Ten minutes ago I was putting him to bed." Macaulay grinned. "I hope you keep his acquaintance like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/you-know-quinn-macaulay-asked-me-ten-minutes-ago-i-was-putting-him-to/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“Gutman smiled benignly at him and said: “Well, Wilmer, I’m sorry indeed to lose you, and I want you to know that I couldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/gutman-smiled-benignly-at-him-and-said-well-wilmer-i-m-sorry-indeed/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Nora: "How do you feel?" Nick: "Terrible. I must've gone to bed sober.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/nora-how-do-you-feel-nick-terrible-i-must-ve-gone-to-bed-sober/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [A lot of fancier yarns come from people trying to tell the truth. It’s not easy once you’re out of the habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/a-lot-of-fancier-yarns-come-from-people-trying-to-tell-the-truth-it-s/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Three times I have been mistaken for a prohibition agent, but never had any trouble clearing myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/three-times-i-have-been-mistaken-for-a-prohibition-agent-but-never/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Listen, Dundy, it's been a long time since I burst into tears because a policeman didn't like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/listen-dundy-it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-burst-into-tears-because-a/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“...What do people think about my staying with Harrison with him chasing everything that's hot and hollow?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/what-do-people-think-about-my-staying-with-harrison-with-him-chasing/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“Don't be so damned patronizing. Your performance so far has been a little less than dazzling." "I didn't mean no harm," I said and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/don-t-be-so-damned-patronizing-your-performance-so-far-has-been-a/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [...What disturbed him was the discovery that in sensibly ordering his affairs he had got out of step, and not into step, with Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/what-disturbed-him-was-the-discovery-that-in-sensibly-ordering-his/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [I haven't any sort of plans for the future but I reckon things will work out in some manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-haven-t-any-sort-of-plans-for-the-future-but-i-reckon-things-will/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [To get what he wanted, a man had to give other people what they wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/to-get-what-he-wanted-a-man-had-to-give-other-people-what-they-wanted/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [He felt like somebody had taken the lid off life and let him see the works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/he-felt-like-somebody-had-taken-the-lid-off-life-and-let-him-see-the/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) [Explore all 119 Dashiell Hammett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) ## More Murder quotes > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A man who kills on his own is a murderer. A man who kills at his government's request is a national hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramman-kenoun/a-man-who-kills-on-his-own-is-a-murderer-a-man-who-kills-at-his/) [Ramman Kenoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramman-kenoun/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [We hear war called murder. It is not; it is suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hear-war-called-murder-it-is-not-it-is-suicide/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/) Avis Bohlen > [“Carol, a swing-shift cocktail waitress in the Bird of Paradise's show lounge had gotten home (guesswork, here) around 2:15 - 2:30, poured herself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-rice/carol-a-swing-shift-cocktail-waitress-in-the-bird-of-paradise-s-show/) [Jeff Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-rice/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“It seems to me, that you people spend a great deal of time talking about honour, but strip away the high sounding words and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/it-seems-to-me-that-you-people-spend-a-great-deal-of-time-talking/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [The white man’s victory soon became complete by fraud, violence, intimidation and murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-white-man-s-victory-soon-became-complete-by-fraud-violence/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [“You don’t look like much, but they say you murdered that other chick.” Treating Murder”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-black/you-don-t-look-like-much-but-they-say-you-murdered-that-other-chick/) Gabrielle Black > [The masses are still ungrateful or ignorant. They prefer murder, poisonings, and crimes generally to a literature possessed of style and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/the-masses-are-still-ungrateful-or-ignorant-they-prefer-murder/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [“Monk worked on his remaining Intertect cases at his dining table while I tried to hone my detecting instincts by reading the Murder, She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goldberg/monk-worked-on-his-remaining-intertect-cases-at-his-dining-table/) [Lee Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goldberg/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) [Browse all 2,641 Murder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Play with murder enough and it gets you one of two ways. 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