--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people might be surprised that…" description: "\"Some people might be surprised that 'Rambo's creator has a doctorate in American literature. One of my influences is Henry James, whose major theme is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/david-morrell-15198_about_some-people-might-be-surprised-that-ramb_3127565.jpg" --- # Some people might be surprised that 'Rambo's creator has a… ![“Some people might be surprised that 'Rambo's creator has a doctorate in American literature. One of my influences is Henry James, whose major theme is awareness. Whether I'm writing about military personnel, law enforcement, or De Quincey, the persistent theme is paying attention in a hostile world.” quote by David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/david-morrell-15198_about_some-people-might-be-surprised-that-ramb_3127565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/david-morrell-15198_about_some-people-might-be-surprised-that-ramb_3127565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/david-morrell-15198_about_some-people-might-be-surprised-that-ramb_3127565.jpg) > “Some people might be surprised that 'Rambo's creator has a doctorate in American literature. One of my influences is Henry James, whose major theme is awareness. Whether I'm writing about military personnel, law enforcement, or De Quincey, the persistent theme is paying attention in a hostile world.” [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author emphasizes the importance of staying alert and observant in dangerous situations, drawing from literary influences. **In simple terms:** Pay attention in hostile environments. Key Takeaway Cultivate vigilance. Themes awareness literature danger attention influence Mood thoughtful serious Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - law enforcement work - military operations - writing - research - field work Key Concepts American literature Henry James military narrative Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance vigilance with mental health? - What practices help maintain focus under pressure? A Different Perspective Vigilance can be exhausting and may cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-literature/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Doctorate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctorate/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law enforcement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-enforcement/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Paying Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-attention/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistent/) [Personnel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personnel/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I love writing about the military, as I live near an air force base and am inspired by the sacrifices our soldiers make for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-love-writing-about-the-military-as-i-live-near-an-air-force-base/) [Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/) > [When I'm done playing basketball, I want do something bigger. I'm working on my doctorate right now at Barry University in Florida.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/when-i-m-done-playing-basketball-i-want-do-something-bigger-i-m/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm done with the nicknames. Actually, when I obtain my doctorate, I will not allow people to call me Shaq anymore, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-done-with-the-nicknames-actually-when-i-obtain-my-doctorate-i/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm not only a lawyer, I have a post doctorate degree in federal tax law from William and Mary. I work in serious scholarship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-m-not-only-a-lawyer-i-have-a-post-doctorate-degree-in-federal-tax-2/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [I received my doctorate from the University of Vienna in 1910.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-von-frisch/i-received-my-doctorate-from-the-university-of-vienna-in-1910/) [Karl von Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-von-frisch/) > [I am always going to be in the hood in my heart, but what I did was added on the masters of arts, fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-am-always-going-to-be-in-the-hood-in-my-heart-but-what-i-did-was/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [When you're doing mountain rescue, you don't take a doctorate in mountain rescue; you look for somebody who knows the terrain. It's about context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-stewart/when-you-re-doing-mountain-rescue-you-don-t-take-a-doctorate-in/) [Rory Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-stewart/) > [I am the proud and humble recipient of more than 30 honorary doctorate degrees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/i-am-the-proud-and-humble-recipient-of-more-than-30-honorary/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I received an honorary doctorate for my work. Maybe one of these works is considered the equivalent of a Ph.D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-chang/i-received-an-honorary-doctorate-for-my-work-maybe-one-of-these-works/) [Iris Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-chang/) > [My grandad, he has his doctorate in psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-scott/my-grandad-he-has-his-doctorate-in-psychology/) [Travis Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-scott/) > [I started to get my doctorate, not to be called 'doctor.' Those are just little things you get to get recognition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-started-to-get-my-doctorate-not-to-be-called-doctor-those-are-just/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [I have a neuroscience background - that's what my doctorate is in - and I was trained to study hormones of attachment, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayim-bialik/i-have-a-neuroscience-background-that-s-what-my-doctorate-is-in-and-i/) [Mayim Bialik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayim-bialik/) > [You have no idea how over the moon my Egyptian father is that his son who has a BFA now has a doctorate. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-roumie/you-have-no-idea-how-over-the-moon-my-egyptian-father-is-that-his-son/) [Jonathan Roumie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-roumie/) > [“On her very first day, when she politely raised questions about Bernie’s health care plan—she has a master’s degree in public health and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/on-her-very-first-day-when-she-politely-raised-questions-about-bernie/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [I am not a Ph.D. in economics or a doctorate in literature that I can afford to take my singing lightly. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/i-am-not-a-ph-d-in-economics-or-a-doctorate-in-literature-that-i-can/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) ## More by David Morrell > [My son died from cancer. My granddaughter died from cancer. I have a lot of reasons to think that reality is not a friendly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/my-son-died-from-cancer-my-granddaughter-died-from-cancer-i-have-a/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [Before I start a project, I always ask myself the following question. Why is this book worth a year of my life? There needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/before-i-start-a-project-i-always-ask-myself-the-following-question/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [“Just because somebody smiles when he hands me a bag of shit, that doesn't mean I have to take it. I don't give a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/just-because-somebody-smiles-when-he-hands-me-a-bag-of-shit-that/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [If you chase the market, it's not going to come to you. You have to have faith in yourself. I think one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/if-you-chase-the-market-it-s-not-going-to-come-to-you-you-have-to/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [I have a graduate degree from Penn State. I studied at Penn State under a noted Hemingway scholar, Philip Young. I had an interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/i-have-a-graduate-degree-from-penn-state-i-studied-at-penn-state/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [“the anxiety of the unpredictable came only when you dealt with amateurs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/the-anxiety-of-the-unpredictable-came-only-when-you-dealt-with/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [One generation's idea of fast pace might be different from a later generation's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/one-generation-s-idea-of-fast-pace-might-be-different-from-a-later/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [To all librarians everywhere, God bless you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/to-all-librarians-everywhere-god-bless-you/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [A thriller becomes great when it carries a feeling of reality and truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/a-thriller-becomes-great-when-it-carries-a-feeling-of-reality-and/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [Anybody who sits down to write, and they think 'thriller,' maybe shouldn't be thinking that way. Maybe we should be thinking 'novel,' maybe 'thriller'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/anybody-who-sits-down-to-write-and-they-think-thriller-maybe-shouldn/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [My world view is that it can all go to hell in an instant, and you have to be ready for it. That's pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/my-world-view-is-that-it-can-all-go-to-hell-in-an-instant-and-you/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [When I started 'First Blood,' back in 1968, I was deeply influenced by Geoffrey Household's 'Rogue Male.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/when-i-started-first-blood-back-in-1968-i-was-deeply-influenced-by/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [Writers need to be tough. This is not for the weak of will. And we have to realize that, yeah, it's never good enough.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/writers-need-to-be-tough-this-is-not-for-the-weak-of-will-and-we-have/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [A thriller must be thrilling. A mystery may or may not be a thriller depending on how much breathless emotion it has, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/a-thriller-must-be-thrilling-a-mystery-may-or-may-not-be-a-thriller/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [The flaw of an amateur is to assume what's in our head is what's on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/the-flaw-of-an-amateur-is-to-assume-what-s-in-our-head-is-what-s-on/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) [Explore all 43 David Morrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people might be surprised that 'Rambo's creator has a doctorate in American literature. One of my influences is Henry James, whose major theme is awareness. Whether I'm writing about military personnel, law enforcement, or De Quincey, the persistent theme is paying attention in a hostile world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Morrell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/some-people-might-be-surprised-that-rambo-s-creator-has-a-doctorate/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/some-people-might-be-surprised-that-rambo-s-creator-has-a-doctorate/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/david-morrell-15198_about_some-people-might-be-surprised-that-ramb_3127565.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/david-morrell-15198_about_some-people-might-be-surprised-that-ramb_3127565.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/david-morrell-15198_about_some-people-might-be-surprised-that-ramb_3127565.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some people might be surprised that 'Rambo's creator has a doctorate in American literature. One of my…” — David Morrell", "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": "David Morrell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some people might be surprised that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/some-people-might-be-surprised-that-rambo-s-creator-has-a-doctorate/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/some-people-might-be-surprised-that-rambo-s-creator-has-a-doctorate/#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 } } ] } ```