---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I am dead…"
description: "\"But I am dead certain--ba-dump-bump-ching--that I'm the first guy to lead an army of spirits in an assault from the spirit-world side...and had them st..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/jim-butcher-151_army_but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching_2842496.png"
---

#  But I am dead certain--ba-dump-bump-ching--that I'm the…

![“But I am dead certain--ba-dump-bump-ching--that I'm the first guy to lead an army of spirits in an assault from the spirit-world side...and had them start off screaming, &quot;BOO!” quote by Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/jim-butcher-151_army_but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching_2842496.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/jim-butcher-151_army_but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching_2842496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/jim-butcher-151_army_but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching_2842496.png)

> “But I am dead certain--ba-dump-bump-ching--that I'm the first guy to lead an army of spirits in an assault from the spirit-world side...and had them start off screaming, "BOO!”

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A leader can command forces from an unseen realm, turning fear into a tactical advantage.

**In simple terms:** Leading unseen forces can be powerful.

Key Takeaway

Use unexpected resources wisely.

Themes

leadership strategy spirituality fear tactics

Mood

determined strategic

Type

inspirational advisory

When to use this quote

- military planning
- team building
- creative problem solving

Key Concepts

psychology metaphysics combat

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you harness hidden strengths responsibly?
- What risks arise when using fear as a tool?

A Different Perspective

Relying on unseen forces may backfire if allies doubt legitimacy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Army Spirits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army-spirits-3733479/) [Assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault/) [Assault Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault-spirit-3733480/) [Bumps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bumps/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Dump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dump/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Screaming Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screaming-boo-3733481/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirits/) [Spirits Assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirits-assault-3733478/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't want to live in a world where the strong rule and the weak cower. I'd rather make a place where things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-don-t-want-to-live-in-a-world-where-the-strong-rule-and-the-weak/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Most people are walking around the city like corpses; they aren't alive enough to notice the trash. They come from other places and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/most-people-are-walking-around-the-city-like-corpses-they-aren-t/)

[Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/)

> [You can't flood the market with every TV show, every reality show, and dump your library into the market all at one time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mechanic/you-can-t-flood-the-market-with-every-tv-show-every-reality-show-and/)

[Bill Mechanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mechanic/)

> [I also really loved the sea when I was young, when I lived in Sicily, but unfortunately the sea here has been reduced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/i-also-really-loved-the-sea-when-i-was-young-when-i-lived-in-sicily/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [There are all sorts of dream interpretations, Freud's being the most notorious, but I have always believed they served a simple eliminatory function, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/there-are-all-sorts-of-dream-interpretations-freud-s-being-the-most/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [Real mothers don't just listen with humble embarrassment to the elderly lady who offers unsolicited advice in the checkout line when a child is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/real-mothers-don-t-just-listen-with-humble-embarrassment-to-the/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [I think the biggest mistake you can make in creator owned work is having info-dumps like, "Here's how this world works!" it's just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-remender/i-think-the-biggest-mistake-you-can-make-in-creator-owned-work-is/)

[Rick Remender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-remender/)

> [Is this just what you do? You start to get involved, get scared when the emotions are too much, and then dream up any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherryl-woods/is-this-just-what-you-do-you-start-to-get-involved-get-scared-when/)

[Sherryl Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherryl-woods/)

> [“If I could just get over this hump, But I need something to pull me out this dump.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/if-i-could-just-get-over-this-hump-but-i-need-something-to-pull-me/)

[Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/)

> [If food was no longer obliged to make intercontinental journeys, but stayed part of a system in which it can be consumed over short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-petrini/if-food-was-no-longer-obliged-to-make-intercontinental-journeys-but/)

[Carlo Petrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-petrini/)

> [Just took a massive dump on a vacuum cleaner. Your move, Bieber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/just-took-a-massive-dump-on-a-vacuum-cleaner-your-move-bieber/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [With the ability to dump someone, you'll have to have the ability to suffer being dumped!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-the-ability-to-dump-someone-you-ll-have-to-have-the-ability-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Artists of the world arise - it's time to dump your dealers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kostabi/artists-of-the-world-arise-it-s-time-to-dump-your-dealers/)

[Mark Kostabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kostabi/)

> [You know it's time to dump them when they only want to hang out with you for free stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/you-know-it-s-time-to-dump-them-when-they-only-want-to-hang-out-with/)

[Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/)

> [“Rain in the dump makes water filthy. Rain in the garden cleanses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camron-wright/rain-in-the-dump-makes-water-filthy-rain-in-the-garden-cleanses/)

[Camron Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camron-wright/)

## More by Jim Butcher

> [“I stared at MacFinn for a long moment. I believed that he was telling me the truth. That he didn’t have much control, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-stared-at-macfinn-for-a-long-moment-i-believed-that-he-was-telling/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“So you really could die. Your godmother is right, you know. You are mad as a hatter. Nutty as a fruitcake.” “Crazy like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/so-you-really-could-die-your-godmother-is-right-you-know-you-are-mad/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“I knew I didn't have much of a chance of getting away from that swarm of fae piranha, but it was an infinitely larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-knew-i-didn-t-have-much-of-a-chance-of-getting-away-from-that-swarm/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“I told you," Molly said, never looking toward me. "It's in the past. Leave it there." "You listening to my head, kiddo?" Her mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-told-you-molly-said-never-looking-toward-me-it-s-in-the-past-leave/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Punctuality is for people with nothing better to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/punctuality-is-for-people-with-nothing-better-to-do/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“Look,” I said. “Me and the island are . . . kind of partners.” “Oh, right,” Thomas said. He looked at Karrin and said, “Harry’s a geosexual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/look-i-said-me-and-the-island-are-kind-of-partners-oh-right-thomas/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“I swear , this stupid town. Why does every hideous supernatural thing that happens happen here ? I'm gone for a few months and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-swear-this-stupid-town-why-does-every-hideous-supernatural-thing/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Well. We’ll just have to hope that this wasn’t a loup-garou, I guess.” “If it was a louper, you’d know,” Bob said wisely. “In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/well-we-ll-just-have-to-hope-that-this-wasn-t-a-loup-garou-i-guess-if/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“But you can't go around changing your definition of right and wrong (or smart and stupid) just because doing the wrong thing happens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/but-you-can-t-go-around-changing-your-definition-of-right-and-wrong/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“Not everyone can be equally right, Harry.” “But believe you me, everyone can be equally wrong,” I said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/not-everyone-can-be-equally-right-harry-but-believe-you-me-everyone/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [You are a drug dealer. To tiny faeries. Shame." Sanya to Dresden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/you-are-a-drug-dealer-to-tiny-faeries-shame-sanya-to-dresden/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“He fell into step beside me and we both got into the Blue Beetle — he got in the red door. I got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/he-fell-into-step-beside-me-and-we-both-got-into-the-blue-beetle-he/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Something like this will test you like nothing else," Mac said. "You're going to find out who you are, Harry. You're going to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/something-like-this-will-test-you-like-nothing-else-mac-said-you-re/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“Mort looked at the cat and sighed. “Oh, sure. Professional ectomancer with a national reputation as a medium tells you what’s going on, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/mort-looked-at-the-cat-and-sighed-oh-sure-professional-ectomancer/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

[Explore all 1,110 Jim Butcher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

## More Army quotes

> [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“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/)

> [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/)

[Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/)

> [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/)

[Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/)

> [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/)

[James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

> [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/)

[Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/)

> [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/)

[William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/)

> [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/)

[Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/)

> [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/)

[William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/)

> [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/)

[Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/)

[Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "But I am dead certain--ba-dump-bump-ching--that I'm the first guy to lead an army of spirits in an assault from the spirit-world side...and had them start off screaming, \"BOO!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jim Butcher"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching-that-i-m-the-first-guy-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Army"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching-that-i-m-the-first-guy-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/jim-butcher-151_army_but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching_2842496.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/jim-butcher-151_army_but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching_2842496.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/jim-butcher-151_army_but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching_2842496.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But I am dead certain--ba-dump-bump-ching--that I'm the first guy to lead an army of spirits in an assault…” — Jim Butcher",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jim Butcher",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "But I am dead certain--ba-dump-bump-ching--that I'm...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching-that-i-m-the-first-guy-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/but-i-am-dead-certain-ba-dump-bump-ching-that-i-m-the-first-guy-to/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
