Skip to content

American Quote by Jess Walter

“I doubt the terrorists saw 9/11 as a teaching opportunity. And we're not really a culture geared to anything as humble as 'learning.' But I was disappointed in how quickly everyone wanted to get back to normal. It was as if we watched terrorism on TV for a while, then got bored and turned back to…” quote by Jess Walter
Download Open image
“I doubt the terrorists saw 9/11 as a teaching opportunity. And we're not really a culture geared to anything as humble as 'learning.' But I was disappointed in how quickly everyone wanted to get back to normal. It was as if we watched terrorism on TV for a while, then got bored and turned back to 'American Idol.'”

Jess Walter

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Zeroes by Jess Walter, 2015

Society quickly returns to normal after trauma, showing a reluctance to learn from painful events.

In simple terms: People resume normal life quickly after tragedy.

Key Takeaway

Encourage deeper reflection after crises.

Themes

society trauma media consumption

Mood

critical somber

Type

literary social commentary

When to use this quote

  • post‑trauma counseling
  • public discourse
  • media analysis

Key Concepts

psychology cultural critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we sustain learning after tragedy?
  • What role should media play?
A Different Perspective

Desensitization can hinder learning.

3.3 out of 5 (10 ratings)

More by Jess Walter

Explore all 177 Jess Walter quotes

More American quotes

Browse all 7,717 American quotes