---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Goddamn embarrassing what a civilian…"
description: "\"“Goddamn embarrassing what a civilian you've become, man.”\" — Dennis Lehane"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/dennis-lehane-1503_dennis-lehane_goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you_1268983.jpg"
---

#  Goddamn embarrassing what a civilian you've become, man.

![“Goddamn embarrassing what a civilian you've become, man.” quote by Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/dennis-lehane-1503_dennis-lehane_goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you_1268983.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/dennis-lehane-1503_dennis-lehane_goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you_1268983.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/dennis-lehane-1503_dennis-lehane_goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you_1268983.jpg)

> ““Goddamn embarrassing what a civilian you've become, man.””

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

## About This Quote

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

A character is mocked for losing civilian composure, highlighting the tension between street smarts and formal behavior.

**In simple terms:** Being mocked for losing composure.

Key Takeaway

Embrace authenticity over others' judgments.

Themes

identity social pressure authenticity

Mood

defensive reflective

Type

dialogue character

When to use this quote

- urban life
- law enforcement
- personal growth

Key Concepts

masculinity social expectations

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you hide your true self to fit in?
- How does ridicule affect confidence?

A Different Perspective

Criticism can reinforce negative self‑image.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Civilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilian/) [Civilian Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilian-ve-4060209/) [Dennis-lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dennis-lehane-44999/) [Embarrassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassing/) [Embarrassing Civilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassing-civilian-4060207/) [Goddamn Embarrassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goddamn-embarrassing-4060208/) [Moonlight-mile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moonlight-mile-124946/)

## Related quotes

> [“You're just pissed off. And when you're pissed off, you lash out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/you-re-just-pissed-off-and-when-you-re-pissed-off-you-lash-out/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“...someday..., we'll medicate human experience right out of the human experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/someday-we-ll-medicate-human-experience-right-out-of-the-human/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“Driving down 93, I realized once and for all, that I love the things that chafe. The things that fill me with stress so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/driving-down-93-i-realized-once-and-for-all-that-i-love-the-things/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“It's odd how fast a beautiful woman can turn a guy's mind into lint storage. Just by being a beautiful woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/it-s-odd-how-fast-a-beautiful-woman-can-turn-a-guy-s-mind-into-lint/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“All the stuff our fathers took for granted as long as you worked hard, the great safety net and the fair wage and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/all-the-stuff-our-fathers-took-for-granted-as-long-as-you-worked-hard/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [By citing the UN Charter I indicate that the defensive party to the conflict should use only proportionate force, try to avoid civilian casualties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhikkhu-bodhi/by-citing-the-un-charter-i-indicate-that-the-defensive-party-to-the/)

[Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhikkhu-bodhi/)

> [During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Latin America moved decisively away from military rule and toward civilian democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/during-the-late-1970s-and-early-1980s-latin-america-moved-decisively/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [WikiLeaks exposed corruption, war crimes, torture and cover-ups. It showed that we were lied to about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemima-khan/wikileaks-exposed-corruption-war-crimes-torture-and-cover-ups-it/)

[Jemima Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemima-khan/)

> [I'm a civilian, a citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/i-m-a-civilian-a-citizen/)

[David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/)

> [Let the soldier yield to the civilian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-the-soldier-yield-to-the-civilian/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [I think it's a common misconception in the civilian community that the military community is filled with just drills and discipline and pain. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-think-it-s-a-common-misconception-in-the-civilian-community-that/)

[Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/)

> [Some 70% to 80% of all who join the military will return to the civilian workforce. They'll return to communities, and one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/some-70-to-80-of-all-who-join-the-military-will-return-to-the/)

[Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/)

> [Spending should be transparent. All spending by the Pentagon should be online. Every check. Exceptions should be made for legitimate national security issues. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/spending-should-be-transparent-all-spending-by-the-pentagon-should-be/)

[Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/)

> [After I was discharged from the military, it was difficult trying to become a civilian,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/after-i-was-discharged-from-the-military-it-was-difficult-trying-to/)

[Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/)

> [Civilian law around aviation is much looser than those governing military. Civilian planes can basically fly wherever they want in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/civilian-law-around-aviation-is-much-looser-than-those-governing/)

[Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/)

## More by Dennis Lehane

> [He wondered if this was what clinical depression felt like, a total numbness, a weary lack of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/he-wondered-if-this-was-what-clinical-depression-felt-like-a-total/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [I held her, he wanted to say, and if I knew for certain that all it would take to hold her again would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/i-held-her-he-wanted-to-say-and-if-i-knew-for-certain-that-all-it/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“Everyone I know lies, breaks their word, and has perfectly legitimate excuses for why they do. Except you. Haven't you ever noticed that? Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/everyone-i-know-lies-breaks-their-word-and-has-perfectly-legitimate/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“If a man was lucky, he was moving toward something his whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/if-a-man-was-lucky-he-was-moving-toward-something-his-whole-life/)

[dennis lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“After my daughter was born, I'd considered buying a shotgun to ward off potention suitors fourteen or so years up the road. Now, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/after-my-daughter-was-born-i-d-considered-buying-a-shotgun-to-ward/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“I once again felt an odd flush of admiration for my partner's faith in a religion I had long ago abandoned. She doesn't advertise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/i-once-again-felt-an-odd-flush-of-admiration-for-my-partner-s-faith/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“And she was-definitely-a woman who did not shrink from gauntlets, but stepped up to them, and said, Okay, bring it. Bring your worst. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/and-she-was-definitely-a-woman-who-did-not-shrink-from-gauntlets-but/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“Jimmy looked back over at his wife, and Celeste could feel the tenderest of aches in the look. She could feel another teardrop piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/jimmy-looked-back-over-at-his-wife-and-celeste-could-feel-the/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“She told him that he had the most beautiful voice she'd ever heard, that it sounded like whiskey and wood smoke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/she-told-him-that-he-had-the-most-beautiful-voice-she-d-ever-heard/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [My daughter squealed again and both Bubba and I winced. It’s not an attractive sound, that. It’s high-pitched and it enters your ear canals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/my-daughter-squealed-again-and-both-bubba-and-i-winced-it-s-not-an/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“It’s been a complicated decade for me.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/it-s-been-a-complicated-decade-for-me-she/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“The only people who ask questions like ‘Did he want to be something besides a bartender?’ are people who can become whatever they want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/the-only-people-who-ask-questions-like-did-he-want-to-be-something/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“Love, impossible, yet there was no mistaking it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/love-impossible-yet-there-was-no-mistaking-it/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“She blew a stream of smoke up at the empty clotheslines. 'These silly dreams you have when you're young. I mean, what, Katie and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/she-blew-a-stream-of-smoke-up-at-the-empty-clotheslines-these-silly/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

> [“He looked back at the page, got one last glimpse before the match blew itself out. Going to find you today, Andrew. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/he-looked-back-at-the-page-got-one-last-glimpse-before-the-match-blew/)

[Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

[Explore all 231 Dennis Lehane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/)

## More Civilian quotes

> [Civilian law around aviation is much looser than those governing military. Civilian planes can basically fly wherever they want in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/civilian-law-around-aviation-is-much-looser-than-those-governing/)

[Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/)

> [After I was discharged from the military, it was difficult trying to become a civilian,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/after-i-was-discharged-from-the-military-it-was-difficult-trying-to/)

[Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/)

> [Spending should be transparent. All spending by the Pentagon should be online. Every check. Exceptions should be made for legitimate national security issues. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/spending-should-be-transparent-all-spending-by-the-pentagon-should-be/)

[Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/)

> [Some 70% to 80% of all who join the military will return to the civilian workforce. They'll return to communities, and one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/some-70-to-80-of-all-who-join-the-military-will-return-to-the/)

[Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/)

> [I think it's a common misconception in the civilian community that the military community is filled with just drills and discipline and pain. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-think-it-s-a-common-misconception-in-the-civilian-community-that/)

[Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/)

> [Let the soldier yield to the civilian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-the-soldier-yield-to-the-civilian/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [I'm a civilian, a citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/i-m-a-civilian-a-citizen/)

[David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/)

> [WikiLeaks exposed corruption, war crimes, torture and cover-ups. It showed that we were lied to about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemima-khan/wikileaks-exposed-corruption-war-crimes-torture-and-cover-ups-it/)

[Jemima Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemima-khan/)

> [During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Latin America moved decisively away from military rule and toward civilian democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/during-the-late-1970s-and-early-1980s-latin-america-moved-decisively/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [By citing the UN Charter I indicate that the defensive party to the conflict should use only proportionate force, try to avoid civilian casualties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhikkhu-bodhi/by-citing-the-un-charter-i-indicate-that-the-defensive-party-to-the/)

[Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhikkhu-bodhi/)

> [During my administration, our desire has been to strengthen the civilian spirit of our people. Thus, we have eliminated military ranks and salutes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/during-my-administration-our-desire-has-been-to-strengthen-the/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [I'm a fully trained cosmonaut and have completed 800 hours training, which has made me the No. 1 civilian reserve ready to visit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/i-m-a-fully-trained-cosmonaut-and-have-completed-800-hours-training/)

[Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/)

> [“I’ve never shot a civilian except when under orders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/i-ve-never-shot-a-civilian-except-when-under-orders/)

[William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/)

> [It's important. One of the principles in the United States is civilian control of the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/it-s-important-one-of-the-principles-in-the-united-states-is-civilian/)

[Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/)

> [Nonetheless, Article 5 makes clear that if an Iraqi civilian who is not a member of the armed forces, has engaged in attacks on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/nonetheless-article-5-makes-clear-that-if-an-iraqi-civilian-who-is/)

[John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/)

[Browse all 108 Civilian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilian/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Goddamn embarrassing what a civilian you've become, man.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dennis Lehane"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you-ve-become-man/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Civilian"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you-ve-become-man/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/dennis-lehane-1503_dennis-lehane_goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you_1268983.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/dennis-lehane-1503_dennis-lehane_goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you_1268983.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/dennis-lehane-1503_dennis-lehane_goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you_1268983.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Goddamn embarrassing what a civilian you've become, man.” — Dennis Lehane",
                "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": "Dennis Lehane",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Goddamn embarrassing what a civilian you've...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you-ve-become-man/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/goddamn-embarrassing-what-a-civilian-you-ve-become-man/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
