--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: you believe a little shithead like this…" description: "\"“you believe a little shithead like this is able to stay on the run for so long?” McLarney declares, returning from yet another unsuccessful turn-up of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/david-simon-3189_bullet_you-believe-a-little-shithead-like-this_2673297.jpg" --- # you believe a little shithead like this is able to stay on… ![“you believe a little shithead like this is able to stay on the run for so long?” McLarney declares, returning from yet another unsuccessful turn-up of a Milligan hideout. “You shoot a guy, hey,” the sergeant adds with a shrug. “You shoot another guy—well, okay, this is Baltimore. You shoot three…” quote by David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/david-simon-3189_bullet_you-believe-a-little-shithead-like-this_2673297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/david-simon-3189_bullet_you-believe-a-little-shithead-like-this_2673297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/david-simon-3189_bullet_you-believe-a-little-shithead-like-this_2673297.jpg) > ““you believe a little shithead like this is able to stay on the run for so long?” McLarney declares, returning from yet another unsuccessful turn-up of a Milligan hideout. “You shoot a guy, hey,” the sergeant adds with a shrug. “You shoot another guy—well, okay, this is Baltimore. You shoot three guys, it’s time to admit you have a problem.”” [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A cynical view on how violence becomes normalized in a city where law enforcement is overwhelmed. **In simple terms:** Violence seems endless in a troubled city. Key Takeaway Recognize systemic issues behind repeated violence. Themes crime law enforcement urban decay morality desensitization Mood grim critical reflective Type commentary analytical When to use this quote - police patrols - community meetings - policy reform - media coverage Key Concepts systemic failure social decay institutional fatigue Questions to Reflect On - How does repeated exposure to violence affect community trust? - What measures could break the cycle of normalized aggression? A Different Perspective It overlooks individual agency and potential for reform. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baltimore Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baltimore-shoot-2521101/) [Bullet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullet/) [Hideout Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hideout-shoot-2521102/) [Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot/) [Shoot Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot-guy-482307/) [Shoot Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot-guys-1694999/) ## Related quotes > [You shoot another guy—well, okay, this is Baltimore. 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What they're going to do is they're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-yeager/that-to-me-is-a-bunch-of-crap-trying-to-shoot-guys-up-into-damned/) [Chuck Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-yeager/) > [In movies you can shoot a guy 3,000 times and get a 'PG-13', but if you say the 'F' word twice it's automatically an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shadyac/in-movies-you-can-shoot-a-guy-3-000-times-and-get-a-pg-13-but-if-you/) [Tom Shadyac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shadyac/) > [My friend don't shoot the guy, you know you are on parole already? Just abuse him Mentally !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/my-friend-don-t-shoot-the-guy-you-know-you-are-on-parole-already-just/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [It's no good to shoot a guy anymore. It's not enough. Nobody is throwing anybody off of buildings after seeing these movies, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/it-s-no-good-to-shoot-a-guy-anymore-it-s-not-enough-nobody-is/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [“Well,' Rydell said, trying to pick up his end, 'I was watching this one old movie last night-' Sublett perked up. 'Which one?' Dunno,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/well-rydell-said-trying-to-pick-up-his-end-i-was-watching-this-one/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [If you were a bullet I would shoot myself to have you in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasya-lily/if-you-were-a-bullet-i-would-shoot-myself-to-have-you-in-me/) [Natasya Lily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasya-lily/) > [It’s what happens when you shoot someone,” Wayne pointed out. “At least, usually someone has the good sense to get dead when you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/it-s-what-happens-when-you-shoot-someone-wayne-pointed-out-at-least/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [Hey Steve, no offense, but if you couldn't shoot, there would be no reason for you to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/hey-steve-no-offense-but-if-you-couldn-t-shoot-there-would-be-no/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [“Which is colder, the hand or the gun?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/which-is-colder-the-hand-or-the-gun/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [It's one thing to shoot yourself in the foot. Just don't reload the gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/it-s-one-thing-to-shoot-yourself-in-the-foot-just-don-t-reload-the-gun/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [Your job is to point that rifle into the other guy's face and shoot him dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-ridgway/your-job-is-to-point-that-rifle-into-the-other-guy-s-face-and-shoot/) [Matthew Ridgway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-ridgway/) > [Only one chance one bullet in the gun. This is my life and I only got one, yeah. The safety’s off and I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/only-one-chance-one-bullet-in-the-gun-this-is-my-life-and-i-only-got/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) ## More by David Simon > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [It is your birthright to live a life abundant in love. Make the commitment today to open your heart and let your love flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/it-is-your-birthright-to-live-a-life-abundant-in-love-make-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [“If the case isn't plea bargained, dismissed or placed on the inactive docket for an indefinite period of time, if by some perverse twist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-the-case-isn-t-plea-bargained-dismissed-or-placed-on-the-inactive/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Boiled down to its core, the truth is always a simple, solid thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/boiled-down-to-its-core-the-truth-is-always-a-simple-solid-thing/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [When we spend time in silence, we can hear the voice of our soul whispering its sacred message and encouraging us to make choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/when-we-spend-time-in-silence-we-can-hear-the-voice-of-our-soul/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [You have the capacity to change the plot line of your life, even if you've been acting from the same script since before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/you-have-the-capacity-to-change-the-plot-line-of-your-life-even-if/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Healing is the process of reestablishing the integration between body, mind, and spirit, creating opportunities for the return of the memory of wholeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/healing-is-the-process-of-reestablishing-the-integration-between-body/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Authenticity is an alignment between your beliefs, your desires and your choices in the world. Desires change throughout the course of a life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/authenticity-is-an-alignment-between-your-beliefs-your-desires-and/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [One of the sad things about contemporary journalism is that it actually matters very little. The world now is almost inured to the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/one-of-the-sad-things-about-contemporary-journalism-is-that-it/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Awakening into love is a lifelong path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/awakening-into-love-is-a-lifelong-path/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [“Everyone lies. 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It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/lawrence-gilliard-jr-is-a-fine-actor-and-i-ve-always-felt-some/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [“A man got to have a code. --The Wire”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/a-man-got-to-have-a-code-the-wire/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [What drugs have not destroyed, the war on them has](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/what-drugs-have-not-destroyed-the-war-on-them-has/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) [Explore all 134 David Simon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) ## More Bullet quotes > [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. 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One bullet, one chamber - and we're pulling the trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/this-is-like-playing-russian-roulette-with-a-luger-rather-than-a/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [For Whom Would You Take This Bullet ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bassam/for-whom-would-you-take-this-bullet/) [Ali Bassam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bassam/) > [“I don’t know how these things died without benefit of a bullet to the brain pan. They seemed to exist in an eternal twilight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-ramirez/i-don-t-know-how-these-things-died-without-benefit-of-a-bullet-to-the/) [Steven Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-ramirez/) > [I was playing in the league when Ray Guy was playing in the league. He was the best kicker I've ever seen. He could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-sayers/i-was-playing-in-the-league-when-ray-guy-was-playing-in-the-league-he/) [Gale Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-sayers/) > [I carved your name into this bullet so that everyone would know that you were the last thing going through my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-carved-your-name-into-this-bullet-so-that-everyone-would-know-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you take a shot at someone, you keep firing until they can no longer return fire. Wound them, and you have an angry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-traviss/if-you-take-a-shot-at-someone-you-keep-firing-until-they-can-no/) [Karen Traviss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-traviss/) > [“So I heard the boom of my father's rifle when he shot my best friend. 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