--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We surrounded ourselves with smoke and…" description: "\"We surrounded ourselves with smoke and loud noise. That's the way we chose to live. I'm prepared to defend it.\" — Don DeLillo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a19/don-delillo-294_loud_we-surrounded-ourselves-with-smoke-and-l_1173123.jpg" --- # We surrounded ourselves with smoke and loud noise. That's… ![“We surrounded ourselves with smoke and loud noise. That's the way we chose to live. I'm prepared to defend it.” quote by Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a19/don-delillo-294_loud_we-surrounded-ourselves-with-smoke-and-l_1173123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a19/don-delillo-294_loud_we-surrounded-ourselves-with-smoke-and-l_1173123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a19/don-delillo-294_loud_we-surrounded-ourselves-with-smoke-and-l_1173123.jpg) > “We surrounded ourselves with smoke and loud noise. That's the way we chose to live. I'm prepared to defend it.” [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People create chaotic environments to mask discomfort, then defend those choices as identity. **In simple terms:** We hide behind noise and defend it. Key Takeaway Recognize and question the distractions you embrace. Themes alienation defense modern life Mood anxious defensive Type literary critical When to use this quote - urban living - media consumption - personal relationships Key Concepts consumerism identity distraction Questions to Reflect On - What noise are you using to avoid discomfort? - How does defending chaos affect your relationships? A Different Perspective Noise can become a barrier to authentic connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Live Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-prepared-3409509/) [Loud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loud/) [Loud noises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loud-noises/) [Noise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noise/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Prepared Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared-defend-1509824/) [Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke/) [Smoke Loud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke-loud-3409508/) [Surrounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded/) [Surrounded Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded-smoke-3409507/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I also learned that a person was not necessarily bad just because you did not agree with him, and that if you believed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-also-learned-that-a-person-was-not-necessarily-bad-just-because-you/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [You are far less likely to soil your pants and cry for your mother if you’re prepared to defend yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-are-far-less-likely-to-soil-your-pants-and-cry-for-your-mother-if/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We are always prepared to defend ourselves, because we all live with the fear and paranoia that other people don't like us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-are-always-prepared-to-defend-ourselves-because-we-all-live-with/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [We have to make sure that we are a force for peace and stability in the world, and that we're prepared to defend freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thad-cochran/we-have-to-make-sure-that-we-are-a-force-for-peace-and-stability-in/) [Thad Cochran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thad-cochran/) > [The law does not expect a man to be prepared to defend every act of his life which may be suddenly and without notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/the-law-does-not-expect-a-man-to-be-prepared-to-defend-every-act-of/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [“Although trained and prepared, I have not used a gun on anyone and actually do NOT have any desire to use a gun on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/col-ben-findley/although-trained-and-prepared-i-have-not-used-a-gun-on-anyone-and/) [Col Ben Findley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/col-ben-findley/) > [We need to be as well prepared to defend ourselves against public health dangers as we should be to defend ourselves against any foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-need-to-be-as-well-prepared-to-defend-ourselves-against-public/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Great way to fight a war - be prepared to defend yourself for winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/great-way-to-fight-a-war-be-prepared-to-defend-yourself-for-winning/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [When I was a child, my father taught me to put up my fists like a boy and to be prepared to defend myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/when-i-was-a-child-my-father-taught-me-to-put-up-my-fists-like-a-boy/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I play guitar because I like to make loud noises. 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