--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard to keep your backbone straight…" description: "\"It's hard to keep your backbone straight in America. It's easy to turn into that which you hate, and to get smashed.\" — Henry Rollins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43a/henry-rollins-170_america_it-s-hard-to-keep-your-backbone-straight_2191785.png" --- # It's hard to keep your backbone straight in America. It's… ![“It's hard to keep your backbone straight in America. It's easy to turn into that which you hate, and to get smashed.” quote by Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43a/henry-rollins-170_america_it-s-hard-to-keep-your-backbone-straight_2191785.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43a/henry-rollins-170_america_it-s-hard-to-keep-your-backbone-straight_2191785.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43a/henry-rollins-170_america_it-s-hard-to-keep-your-backbone-straight_2191785.png) > “It's hard to keep your backbone straight in America. It's easy to turn into that which you hate, and to get smashed.” [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maintaining personal integrity in a hostile environment is difficult; one may become the very thing they despise and suffer damage. **In simple terms:** Staying true is hard; you can become what you hate and get hurt. Key Takeaway Guard your values, resist negative influences. Themes integrity identity resilience societal pressure Mood defiant reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political activism - personal relationships - workplace culture - online communities Key Concepts psychology ethics self‑preservation Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when you’re adopting traits you oppose? - What steps protect your core values? A Different Perspective Even with vigilance, external forces can erode resolve over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Backbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backbone/) [Backbone Straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backbone-straight-4777197/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Backbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-backbone-2993784/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate Smashed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-smashed-4777196/) [Turn Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-hate-266668/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [It’s hard to find backbone.I never had crisis of identity. But I think many Americans have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-makarova/it-s-hard-to-find-backbone-i-never-had-crisis-of-identity-but-i-think/) [Natalia Makarova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-makarova/) > [America's foreign policy lacks the backbone to do the right thing in Afghanistan - which is leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/america-s-foreign-policy-lacks-the-backbone-to-do-the-right-thing-in/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Sometimes we have our love ones & family by our sides, but we get no support from them, they turn on us like they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/sometimes-we-have-our-love-ones-family-by-our-sides-but-we-get-no/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Its crazy how love can turn into hate and hate can turn into love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lee-riner/its-crazy-how-love-can-turn-into-hate-and-hate-can-turn-into-love/) [Justin Lee Riner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lee-riner/) > [As soon as the groupie finds out that you make errors in everyday life like everybody else does and that you are human, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fahey/as-soon-as-the-groupie-finds-out-that-you-make-errors-in-everyday/) [John Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fahey/) > [“Turn off the hate. Turn up the love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/turn-off-the-hate-turn-up-the-love/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“My mother calls it the pretty hate. It comes on you like a fever when someone you love up and leaves you with nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-ayers/my-mother-calls-it-the-pretty-hate-it-comes-on-you-like-a-fever-when/) [Ava Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-ayers/) > [You have let your fear of magic turn to hate. I pity you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cerdan/you-have-let-your-fear-of-magic-turn-to-hate-i-pity-you/) [Cerdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cerdan/) > [Sometimes love can turn into hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kale-bell/sometimes-love-can-turn-into-hate/) [Kale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kale-bell/) > [There will be outrage and disgust and people will turn on me at the last, they will hate me, my reputation will forever be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/there-will-be-outrage-and-disgust-and-people-will-turn-on-me-at-the/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Just as extreme love, in a marriage, for example, can turn to hate. They're the same coin, just different sides.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kuhn/just-as-extreme-love-in-a-marriage-for-example-can-turn-to-hate-they/) [William Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kuhn/) > [All the love and smiles you have for someone will eventually turn into hate and frowns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-marcellin/all-the-love-and-smiles-you-have-for-someone-will-eventually-turn/) [Sam Marcellin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-marcellin/) > [Let the grassroots turn on the hate because that's the only thing that will make them do their duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/let-the-grassroots-turn-on-the-hate-because-that-s-the-only-thing/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [Love may sometimes turn itself into hate. Hate, however, rarely and hardly ever becomes love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti-2/love-may-sometimes-turn-itself-into-hate-hate-however-rarely-and/) [Jean Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti-2/) > [Ever use anger to cover some thing that hurt you? After awhile that feelings does turn into hate. Sometimes when a love one hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/ever-use-anger-to-cover-some-thing-that-hurt-you-after-awhile-that/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) ## More by Henry Rollins > [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In the summer of '84, you just couldn't escape the Born in the USA record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/in-the-summer-of-84-you-just-couldn-t-escape-the-born-in-the-usa/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [We spend millions of dollars to remove pain from our lives. It's why so many people get hooked on painkillers. The body becomes addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/we-spend-millions-of-dollars-to-remove-pain-from-our-lives-it-s-why/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Sleep is for squares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/sleep-is-for-squares/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's a lot of mountain climbers trapped inside of bodies of people behind the counter at Kinko's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-a-lot-of-mountain-climbers-trapped-inside-of-bodies-of-people/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-i-lose-the-light-of-the-sun-i-will-write-by-candlelight-moonlight/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was raised in Washington, DC, very violent place. I grew up with violence. My introduction to music was violent. The years I've spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-raised-in-washington-dc-very-violent-place-i-grew-up-with/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel pain everyday of my life. When you see me perform, it's that pain you're seeing coming out. I put all my emotions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-pain-everyday-of-my-life-when-you-see-me-perform-it-s-that/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel close to people like Jimi Hendrix because I connect with his music. Not the man but what he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-close-to-people-like-jimi-hendrix-because-i-connect-with-his/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe in various degrees of hatred, paranoia, and abandonment. However much of that gets heaped upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-or-destiny-i-believe-in-various-degrees-of/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Young, gay and stuck in Arkansas? Sounds like a horror flick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/young-gay-and-stuck-in-arkansas-sounds-like-a-horror-flick/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was never told to "Get up, get out there, get a job." It was never a thing either parent ever said I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-never-told-to-get-up-get-out-there-get-a-job-it-was-never-a/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's no retirement, there's just a few years of non-work by the fire with someone bringing you some tea and relative peace and playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-no-retirement-there-s-just-a-few-years-of-non-work-by-the/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I love being a storyteller. I love telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-love-being-a-storyteller-i-love-telling-stories/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) [Explore all 1,006 Henry Rollins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's hard to keep your backbone straight in America. 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