---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a better part of a decade, he had…"
description: "\"“For a better part of a decade, he had been outside society, distanced in mind and spirit if not in body. But now, for the first time since Centeral Am..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/dean-koontz-118_first-time_for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-bee_389588.jpg"
---

#  For a better part of a decade, he had been outside…

![“For a better part of a decade, he had been outside society, distanced in mind and spirit if not in body. But now, for the first time since Centeral America, Jack Twist had the need, the desire, and ability to reach out to society around him, to make friends.” quote by Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/dean-koontz-118_first-time_for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-bee_389588.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/dean-koontz-118_first-time_for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-bee_389588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/dean-koontz-118_first-time_for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-bee_389588.jpg)

> ““For a better part of a decade, he had been outside society, distanced in mind and spirit if not in body. But now, for the first time since Centeral America, Jack Twist had the need, the desire, and ability to reach out to society around him, to make friends.””

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A solitary person, after long isolation, begins to reconnect with others, seeking friendship and community.

**In simple terms:** A lone person starts making friends after isolation.

Key Takeaway

Reach out and build connections.

Themes

isolation friendship reconnection personal growth

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

narrative inspirational

When to use this quote

- starting a new job
- joining a club
- volunteering
- moving to a new city

Key Concepts

psychology social integration human needs

Questions to Reflect On

- What fears hold you back from reaching out?
- How can you nurture new relationships?

A Different Perspective

Loneliness may persist despite attempts; trust takes time to develop.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-jack-3516644/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Jack Twist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jack-twist-3516643/) [Outside Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-society-233626/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Society Distanced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-distanced-3516645/) [Twist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twist/)

## Related quotes

> [When I arrive in Los Angeles in the entertainment community, and I use implements like a shovel and a hammer, our society has distanced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/when-i-arrive-in-los-angeles-in-the-entertainment-community-and-i-use/)

[Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/)

> [If someone wrote it and it had a peculiar twist, I've read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/if-someone-wrote-it-and-it-had-a-peculiar-twist-i-ve-read-it/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [I like the idea of playing people outside of society. That's where I tend to be drawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-harris/i-like-the-idea-of-playing-people-outside-of-society-that-s-where-i/)

[Sean Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-harris/)

> [“Were all people who tried to help doomed to live outside society because others didn't understand them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-bohnhoff/were-all-people-who-tried-to-help-doomed-to-live-outside-society/)

[Jennifer Bohnhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-bohnhoff/)

> [I believe that writers, unless they consider themselves terribly exquisite, are at heart people who live by night, a little bit outside society, moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-cabrera-infante/i-believe-that-writers-unless-they-consider-themselves-terribly/)

[Guillermo Cabrera Infante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-cabrera-infante/)

> [Democracy cannot be imposed on any nation from the outside. Each society must search for its own path, and no path is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/democracy-cannot-be-imposed-on-any-nation-from-the-outside-each/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I'm attracted to stories about people who feel themselves outside of society, kind of start out with a longing to be part of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-m-attracted-to-stories-about-people-who-feel-themselves-outside-of/)

[Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/)

> [Jealousy is a human emotion, regardless of whether you're a Branch Davidian or you're whomever, outside in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-benoist/jealousy-is-a-human-emotion-regardless-of-whether-you-re-a-branch/)

[Melissa Benoist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-benoist/)

> [Outside of society, if you're looking that's where you'll find me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/outside-of-society-if-you-re-looking-that-s-where-you-ll-find-me/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [The revolutionary and critical thinker is in a certain way always outside of his society while of course he is at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-revolutionary-and-critical-thinker-is-in-a-certain-way-always/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [China is completely lacking in self-awareness and as someone who has stepped outside that society, I have a responsibility to write about it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/china-is-completely-lacking-in-self-awareness-and-as-someone-who-has/)

[Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/)

> [I am still attracted to stories about people who are considered to be on the outside of society. I still seek inspiration from those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-nair/i-am-still-attracted-to-stories-about-people-who-are-considered-to-be/)

[Mira Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-nair/)

> [The writer is the person who stands outside society, independent of affiliation and independent of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-writer-is-the-person-who-stands-outside-society-independent-of/)

[Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/)

> [“Instead of being a gift that separates us from the animals, free will has become my gaoler. Junkies are the ultimate outsider, not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-gates/instead-of-being-a-gift-that-separates-us-from-the-animals-free-will/)

[Drew Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-gates/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

## More by Dean Koontz

> [“This kind of derangement is emblematic of humankind. Grave faults are said to be only eccentricities, and imperfections are routinely celebrated as mere differences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/this-kind-of-derangement-is-emblematic-of-humankind-grave-faults-are/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [What really holds their marriage together are mutual respect of an awesome depth, a shared sense of humor, faith that they were brought together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/what-really-holds-their-marriage-together-are-mutual-respect-of-an/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“Her mother said that three great powers kept the universe going. The first and the strongest was God. Each of the two additional powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/her-mother-said-that-three-great-powers-kept-the-universe-going-the/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“I stopped keeping an eye out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve because, when I was five, my mother told me that Santa was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-stopped-keeping-an-eye-out-for-santa-claus-on-christmas-eve-because/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“To one degree or another, I have been happy most of my life, in part because the world has infinite charms if you wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/to-one-degree-or-another-i-have-been-happy-most-of-my-life-in-part/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“This life is just a bootcamp, to test and toughen us, to prepare us for the next life of service in some great adventure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/this-life-is-just-a-bootcamp-to-test-and-toughen-us-to-prepare-us-for/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“A madman should have a madman’s laugh, not the warm chuckle of a favorite uncle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/a-madman-should-have-a-madman-s-laugh-not-the-warm-chuckle-of-a/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“Anger was a reliable defense, but one that allowed no chance of final victory. Anger was a medicine but never a cure, briefly numbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/anger-was-a-reliable-defense-but-one-that-allowed-no-chance-of-final/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“Nothing is predetermined for us, and yet all our possible choices are threads in the vast weave of things, so that we have free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/nothing-is-predetermined-for-us-and-yet-all-our-possible-choices-are/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“In fact, time teaches us that the musical score of life oscillates between that of Psycho and that of The Sound of Music, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/in-fact-time-teaches-us-that-the-musical-score-of-life-oscillates/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“Some will accuse me of being judgmental. Thank you. And proud of it. You wreck a kid's life, I have no pity for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/some-will-accuse-me-of-being-judgmental-thank-you-and-proud-of-it-you/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“Waiting is one of the things that humans beings cannot do well, though it is one of the essential things we must do successfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/waiting-is-one-of-the-things-that-humans-beings-cannot-do-well-though/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“Dogs know we need to give affection as much as they need to receive it. They were the first therapists; they've been in practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/dogs-know-we-need-to-give-affection-as-much-as-they-need-to-receive/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

[Explore all 1,233 Dean Koontz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

## More First time quotes

> [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/)

[Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/)

> [“I’m so stressed that a weird Olympic-style commentary starts up in my head. And here we have Zelah Green, the fourteen-year-old champion of rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-curtis/i-m-so-stressed-that-a-weird-olympic-style-commentary-starts-up-in-my/)

[Vanessa Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-curtis/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [“I’m waiting for you,” he murmured, smiling a slow, familiar grin that seemed to hint at a secret between them. And for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/i-m-waiting-for-you-he-murmured-smiling-a-slow-familiar-grin-that/)

[Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/)

> [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“I won’t break your heart. For the first time in my life, I’ve found something worth fighting for, someone more important than me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelle-bliss/i-won-t-break-your-heart-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-ve-found/)

[Chelle Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelle-bliss/)

> [Life is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-like-a-parachute-jump-you-have-to-get-it-right-the-first-time/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/)

[Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/)

> [When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/when-my-kids-were-in-the-school-play-for-the-first-time-i-decided-i/)

[Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/)

> [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/)

[Mennah al refaey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mennah-al-refaey/)

> [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. The rain of Doritos, the bed thing,this...Maybe it's just that you create too big, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/or-maybe-your-magic-isn-t-that-destructive-after-all-the-rain-of/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/)

[Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/)

> [I don't know why, but everybody thinks that I'm short. When they see me for the first time, women are always surprised to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/i-don-t-know-why-but-everybody-thinks-that-i-m-short-when-they-see-me/)

[Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/)

> [“I met Suffering on a quiet road, just as the sun was setting behind me. Its presence was heavy, like an old coat I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/i-met-suffering-on-a-quiet-road-just-as-the-sun-was-setting-behind-me/)

[Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/)

> [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/)

[Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/)

[Browse all 9,309 First time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“For a better part of a decade, he had been outside society, distanced in mind and spirit if not in body. But now, for the first time since Centeral America, Jack Twist had the need, the desire, and ability to reach out to society around him, to make friends.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dean Koontz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-been-outside-society-distanced/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "First time"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-been-outside-society-distanced/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/dean-koontz-118_first-time_for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-bee_389588.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/dean-koontz-118_first-time_for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-bee_389588.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/dean-koontz-118_first-time_for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-bee_389588.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For a better part of a decade, he had been outside society, distanced in mind and spirit if not in body. But…” — Dean Koontz",
                "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": "Dean Koontz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“For a better part of a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-been-outside-society-distanced/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/for-a-better-part-of-a-decade-he-had-been-outside-society-distanced/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
