--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: they were in that bulging-eyed…" description: "\"“they were in that bulging-eyed, unreachable state human beings morph into right before they kill.”\" — Jeffrey Gettleman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/jeffrey-gettleman-15142_quote_they-were-in-that-bulging-eyed-unreachab_1841902.jpg" --- # they were in that bulging-eyed, unreachable state human… ![“they were in that bulging-eyed, unreachable state human beings morph into right before they kill.” quote by Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/jeffrey-gettleman-15142_quote_they-were-in-that-bulging-eyed-unreachab_1841902.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/jeffrey-gettleman-15142_quote_they-were-in-that-bulging-eyed-unreachab_1841902.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/jeffrey-gettleman-15142_quote_they-were-in-that-bulging-eyed-unreachab_1841902.jpg) > ““they were in that bulging-eyed, unreachable state human beings morph into right before they kill.”” [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans enter a detached, almost animalistic state before committing violence. **In simple terms:** People become detached before killing. Key Takeaway Recognize and address dehumanizing mindsets. Themes violence psychology humanity Mood somber analytical Type journalistic observational When to use this quote - law enforcement training - peacebuilding - mental health support Key Concepts moral psychology conflict studies Questions to Reflect On - What triggers this detachment? - How can societies prevent it? A Different Perspective May not apply to all violent acts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beings Morph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-morph-2357384/) [Bulging Eyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bulging-eyed-2357386/) [Eyed Unreachable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyed-unreachable-2357385/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [State Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-human-348238/) ## Related quotes > [The plain state of being human is dramatic enough for anyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/the-plain-state-of-being-human-is-dramatic-enough-for-anyone/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [It's slightly complicated for people to grasp the idea of a head of state in human form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-andrew/it-s-slightly-complicated-for-people-to-grasp-the-idea-of-a-head-of/) [Prince Andrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-andrew/) > [The most powerful state for a human to be in is the state of embracing completely the reality of what is - Now. 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We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## More by Jeffrey Gettleman > [“First comes Coke, then asphalt, then power lines, then maybe education, justice, and human rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gettleman/first-comes-coke-then-asphalt-then-power-lines-then-maybe-education/) [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) > [“The Oxford dons had accomplished the impossible. 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It’s an addiction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gettleman/the-more-war-you-get-the-more-war-you-want-it-s-an-addiction/) [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) > [“as soon as the Berlin Wall came crumbling down, the Mobutus became an embarrassment. There was suddenly no reason to prop them up. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gettleman/as-soon-as-the-berlin-wall-came-crumbling-down-the-mobutus-became-an/) [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) > [“if you’re wondering if we were absolutely insane to march out into the middle of the desert and place our lives in the hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gettleman/if-you-re-wondering-if-we-were-absolutely-insane-to-march-out-into/) [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) > [“There’s this notion, lived just about every day out here, that nothing’s easy but anything’s possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gettleman/there-s-this-notion-lived-just-about-every-day-out-here-that-nothing/) [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) > [“There’s always that thrill of learning something new, feeling your brain grow inside your head, no matter what that something is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gettleman/there-s-always-that-thrill-of-learning-something-new-feeling-your/) [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) [Explore all 44 Jeffrey Gettleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) ## More Human beings quotes > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. 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And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. 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