--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As much as they deny it, I think people…" description: "\"As much as they deny it, I think people want to be scared. It's a phenomenon, why people want to be scared when there is so much violence and craziness..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a21/dylan-mcdermott-13907_being-scared_as-much-as-they-deny-it-i-think-people-w_2943550.png" --- # As much as they deny it, I think people want to be scared… ![“As much as they deny it, I think people want to be scared. It's a phenomenon, why people want to be scared when there is so much violence and craziness in the world. People still really enjoy being scared. It's a conundrum to me. It's hard to explain. It's an unconscious thing, really, why people…” quote by Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a21/dylan-mcdermott-13907_being-scared_as-much-as-they-deny-it-i-think-people-w_2943550.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a21/dylan-mcdermott-13907_being-scared_as-much-as-they-deny-it-i-think-people-w_2943550.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a21/dylan-mcdermott-13907_being-scared_as-much-as-they-deny-it-i-think-people-w_2943550.png) > “As much as they deny it, I think people want to be scared. It's a phenomenon, why people want to be scared when there is so much violence and craziness in the world. People still really enjoy being scared. It's a conundrum to me. It's hard to explain. It's an unconscious thing, really, why people like that so much.” [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are drawn to fear as a safe way to experience excitement amid chaos. **In simple terms:** People enjoy being scared. Key Takeaway Explore why fear feels thrilling. Themes fear entertainment psychology Mood curious analytical Type cultural psychological When to use this quote - watching horror movies - reading thrillers - extreme sports - media consumption Key Concepts catharsis adrenaline seeking Questions to Reflect On - What does fear provide that safety does not? - How can you balance thrill with well‑being? A Different Perspective Fear can become desensitizing or harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-scared/) [Conundrums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conundrums/) [Craziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craziness/) [Hard To Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-to-explain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Phenomenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenon/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I was brought up when media still kept totally away from violence when it came to children. I don't think it would have made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-was-brought-up-when-media-still-kept-totally-away-from-violence/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [No real fairytale scared me, but Freddy Krueger did. 'Nightmare on Elm Street' scared the living hell out of me, but no fairytale. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-parrilla/no-real-fairytale-scared-me-but-freddy-krueger-did-nightmare-on-elm/) [Lana Parrilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-parrilla/) > [I've produced and gotten to do a lot of optimistic love stories, and that was so where I was at for 10 years in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-ve-produced-and-gotten-to-do-a-lot-of-optimistic-love-stories-and/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [Don't educate people; touch them emotionally. Remember that people want to be scared or they want to be made happy or they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/don-t-educate-people-touch-them-emotionally-remember-that-people-want/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [“I want you. But I’m scared to say it out loud. And it sucks because I've always been someone who always says things out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nessie-q/i-want-you-but-i-m-scared-to-say-it-out-loud-and-it-sucks-because-i/) [Nessie Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nessie-q/) > [I want someone who's scared as hell of losing me. I just want someone who's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-someone-who-s-scared-as-hell-of-losing-me-i-just-want-someone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We all want someone who is scared to lose us, and would do anything to keep us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-want-someone-who-is-scared-to-lose-us-and-would-do-anything-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate horror movies. I get really scared, and I don't want to be scared. I don't know why, but I'm one of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callum-turner/i-hate-horror-movies-i-get-really-scared-and-i-don-t-want-to-be/) [Callum Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callum-turner/) > [“I think a lot of people want to be someone, but we are scared that if we try, we won't be as good as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-dellaira/i-think-a-lot-of-people-want-to-be-someone-but-we-are-scared-that-if-2/) [Ava Dellaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-dellaira/) > [Love is scary: it changes; it can go away. That's the part of the risk. I don't want to be scared anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/love-is-scary-it-changes-it-can-go-away-that-s-the-part-of-the-risk-i/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“I think a lot of people want to be someone, but we are scared that if we try, we won’t be as good as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-dellaira/i-think-a-lot-of-people-want-to-be-someone-but-we-are-scared-that-if/) [Ava Dellaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-dellaira/) > [In my lifetime, I've come to realize that you can't depend upon other people for what you want. You can't be scared to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cee-lo-green/in-my-lifetime-i-ve-come-to-realize-that-you-can-t-depend-upon-other/) [Cee Lo Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cee-lo-green/) > [Why are people afraid of ghosts? 'Ooh, no, I wouldn't want to see one! I'd be too scared' - accompanied by a tremolo of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/why-are-people-afraid-of-ghosts-ooh-no-i-wouldn-t-want-to-see-one-i-d/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) > [“I don’t want to be so scared all the time. So alone. I want to believe something can be worth it. Worth the pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-harrington/i-don-t-want-to-be-so-scared-all-the-time-so-alone-i-want-to-believe/) [Hannah Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-harrington/) > [The minute I think 'Oh God, I don't want to do this because I'm scared,' is the moment I have to do something, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meaden/the-minute-i-think-oh-god-i-don-t-want-to-do-this-because-i-m-scared/) [Deborah Meaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meaden/) ## More by Dylan McDermott > [Style is innate to who I am. My father gave me a picture the other day. I must have been about seven, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/style-is-innate-to-who-i-am-my-father-gave-me-a-picture-the-other-day/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [It's the cable shows that are really the most interesting - 'Mad Men,' 'Breaking Bad,' those shows are really the premiere shows on television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/it-s-the-cable-shows-that-are-really-the-most-interesting-mad-men/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [Most of the time people are aiming so low on television. They're trying to reach that common denominator, especially on network television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/most-of-the-time-people-are-aiming-so-low-on-television-they-re/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [L.A. is still such a fascinating place to me, so big and diverse. It's so spread out that you can go from Zuma to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/l-a-is-still-such-a-fascinating-place-to-me-so-big-and-diverse-it-s/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [In the consciousness of the end is the limitation of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/in-the-consciousness-of-the-end-is-the-limitation-of-the-moment/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [As an actor, you always have to reinvent yourself or you end up in the gutter somewhere. It's my job to always change people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/as-an-actor-you-always-have-to-reinvent-yourself-or-you-end-up-in-the/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [I always felt like I needed to act. Not that I wanted to act, but I needed to. And I still feel that same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/i-always-felt-like-i-needed-to-act-not-that-i-wanted-to-act-but-i/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [I really am a character actor, in my heart of hearts, because I really do like developing characters and painting a past for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/i-really-am-a-character-actor-in-my-heart-of-hearts-because-i-really/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [The Victorian era is the sexiest age for me, but I also like a woman in a pair of jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/the-victorian-era-is-the-sexiest-age-for-me-but-i-also-like-a-woman/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [I've always been fascinated by Baretta and Donny Brasco, and other undercover cops in movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-baretta-and-donny-brasco-and-other/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [With the rise of cable, network is clearly floundering because the characters on cable are far more fascinating than they are on network. Network…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/with-the-rise-of-cable-network-is-clearly-floundering-because-the/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [You never want to have a movie be derivative, because that's the worst if you ask me. I always want to be in original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/you-never-want-to-have-a-movie-be-derivative-because-that-s-the-worst/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [Everything keeps changing. People want to label things all the time and once you label it, it changes again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/everything-keeps-changing-people-want-to-label-things-all-the-time/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [Dark Blue' is ultimately a gritty crime drama, at its core. I don't think that is ever going to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/dark-blue-is-ultimately-a-gritty-crime-drama-at-its-core-i-don-t/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [My theory about actors is we're all walking milk cartons. Expirations dates everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/my-theory-about-actors-is-we-re-all-walking-milk-cartons-expirations/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) [Explore all 48 Dylan McDermott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) ## More Being scared quotes > [The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [Being scared is part of being alive. Accept it. Walk through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/being-scared-is-part-of-being-alive-accept-it-walk-through-it/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [When our favorite anime characters finally realize what torture we're putting them thru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-our-favorite-anime-characters-finally-realize-what-torture-we-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have something great right here, now I just need to work on letting it in rather then being scared and pushing it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-something-great-right-here-now-i-just-need-to-work-on-letting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Regalia Mason frightened her because she was very clever and almost kind sometimes, the way people who didn't care about you at all could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/regalia-mason-frightened-her-because-she-was-very-clever-and-almost/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [All of us experience fear, but when we confront and acknowledge it, we are able to turn it into courage. Being courageous does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/all-of-us-experience-fear-but-when-we-confront-and-acknowledge-it-we/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“It’s OKAY to be scared. Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/it-s-okay-to-be-scared-being-scared-means-you-re-about-to-do/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [My daddy always said being brave wasn’t not being scared. Being brave was keeping going when you were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/my-daddy-always-said-being-brave-wasn-t-not-being-scared-being-brave/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) > [Running away from fear is fear; fighting pain is pain; trying to be brave is being scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/running-away-from-fear-is-fear-fighting-pain-is-pain-trying-to-be/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [After you take time off, it can be really scary to do the harder things you used to do, and I personally hate being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunisa-lee/after-you-take-time-off-it-can-be-really-scary-to-do-the-harder/) [Sunisa Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunisa-lee/) > [I don't want to get to the belt without ever going to a second or third round, without ever being in trouble in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-don-t-want-to-get-to-the-belt-without-ever-going-to-a-second-or/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [I just suddenly thought, people really get off on being scared. They pay money to see green foam come out of people's mouths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-just-suddenly-thought-people-really-get-off-on-being-scared-they/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [I think, as women, we have to stop being scared to be the women we want to be and we have to raise our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/i-think-as-women-we-have-to-stop-being-scared-to-be-the-women-we-want/) [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/) > [Don't be afraid of being scared. To be afraid is a sign of common sense. Only complete idiots are not afraid of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/don-t-be-afraid-of-being-scared-to-be-afraid-is-a-sign-of-common/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I would love to direct videos and that's what it keeps moving towards, but I have to stop being scared in order to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/i-would-love-to-direct-videos-and-that-s-what-it-keeps-moving-towards/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) [Browse all 121 Being scared quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-scared/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As much as they deny it, I think people want to be scared. It's a phenomenon, why people want to be scared when there is so much violence and craziness in the world. People still really enjoy being scared. It's a conundrum to me. It's hard to explain. 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