--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would just say there is one…" description: "\"I would just say there is one misperception of our veterans, and that is they are somehow damaged goods. I don't buy it.\" — Jim Mattis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/jim-mattis-7799_damaged_i-would-just-say-there-is-one-mispercept_2613803.jpg" --- # I would just say there is one misperception of our… ![“I would just say there is one misperception of our veterans, and that is they are somehow damaged goods. I don't buy it.” quote by Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/jim-mattis-7799_damaged_i-would-just-say-there-is-one-mispercept_2613803.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/jim-mattis-7799_damaged_i-would-just-say-there-is-one-mispercept_2613803.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/jim-mattis-7799_damaged_i-would-just-say-there-is-one-mispercept_2613803.jpg) > “I would just say there is one misperception of our veterans, and that is they are somehow damaged goods. I don't buy it.” [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Veterans are not damaged; they retain strength and value despite stereotypes. **In simple terms:** Veterans are strong, not broken. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes about veterans. Themes military stigma respect Mood respectful thoughtful Type advocacy philosophical When to use this quote - employment support - public policy - community integration - media representation Key Concepts psychology social perception valor Questions to Reflect On - How can society better honor veterans? - What assumptions do you hold about veterans? A Different Perspective Some veterans do experience trauma needing support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Damaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damaged/) [Damaged goods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damaged-goods/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Misperception Veterans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misperception-veterans-2050829/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Somehow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somehow/) [Veterans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veterans/) [Veterans Damaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veterans-damaged-2050830/) ## Related quotes > [“She was damaged goods. Spoiled meat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/she-was-damaged-goods-spoiled-meat/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) > [“Don’t play with damaged goods, you will only hurt yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osayi-osar-emokpae/don-t-play-with-damaged-goods-you-will-only-hurt-yourself/) [Osayi Osar-Emokpae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osayi-osar-emokpae/) > [We are all damaged goods in recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/we-are-all-damaged-goods-in-recovery/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [There is no room for military people, including our veterans, to see themselves as victims, even if so many of our countrymen are prone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/there-is-no-room-for-military-people-including-our-veterans-to-see/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [While victimhood in America is exalted, I don't think our veterans should join those ranks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/while-victimhood-in-america-is-exalted-i-don-t-think-our-veterans/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [I don't think we can reduce the prison population now, so many of these people are damaged goods once they've spent much time in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-moskos/i-don-t-think-we-can-reduce-the-prison-population-now-so-many-of/) [Peter Moskos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-moskos/) > [The Real You isn't damaged goods. The Real You is the light of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-real-you-isn-t-damaged-goods-the-real-you-is-the-light-of-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Perhaps I won’t tire of her,” Gray protested, just to be contrary. Because, apparently, that was how brothers behaved. “Perhaps a dolphin will fly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/perhaps-i-won-t-tire-of-her-gray-protested-just-to-be-contrary/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [Those damaged goods you see In your reflection Love sees them differently Love sees perfection A beautiful display Of healing on the way tonight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/those-damaged-goods-you-see-in-your-reflection-love-sees-them/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [The bodies lay on the ground like damaged goods from a warehouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-goldman/the-bodies-lay-on-the-ground-like-damaged-goods-from-a-warehouse/) [Peter Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-goldman/) > [“We're only lucky enough to see the wonders of nature's canyons because they're gracious enough to show us the places they've been damaged.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-tyrone-jones/we-re-only-lucky-enough-to-see-the-wonders-of-nature-s-canyons/) [Curtis Tyrone Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-tyrone-jones/) > [You've been told that you're broken. That you're damaged goods ... there is also Post-Traumatic Growth. You come back from war stronger and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/you-ve-been-told-that-you-re-broken-that-you-re-damaged-goods-there/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Dear Nintendo, We need a new Mario game, where you rescue the princess in the first ten minutes, and for the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-comeau/dear-nintendo-we-need-a-new-mario-game-where-you-rescue-the-princess/) [Joey Comeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-comeau/) > [“As specimens go, they always get excited about me. I'm a good one. A show-stopper. I'm the kind of kid they'll still enquire about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-fagan/as-specimens-go-they-always-get-excited-about-me-i-m-a-good-one-a/) [Jenni Fagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-fagan/) > [“I have more baggage than baggage claim. I'm damaged goods. I'm not good at...” she released him for a moment and fingered between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-mcgee/i-have-more-baggage-than-baggage-claim-i-m-damaged-goods-i-m-not-good/) [J.B. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-mcgee/) ## More by Jim Mattis > [There is no room for military people, including our veterans, to see themselves as victims, even if so many of our countrymen are prone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/there-is-no-room-for-military-people-including-our-veterans-to-see/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [The Corps is in good hands, and it's been a privilege to serve with the Leathernecks. Now it's time to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/the-corps-is-in-good-hands-and-it-s-been-a-privilege-to-serve-with/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [We should not fight wars without a clearly defined end state... when you go to war, it can't be a half-step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/we-should-not-fight-wars-without-a-clearly-defined-end-state-when-you/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [It's very hard to live with yourself if you don't stick with your moral code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/it-s-very-hard-to-live-with-yourself-if-you-don-t-stick-with-your/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [There is no God-given right to victory on the battlefield. You win that through the skill and the devotion, the valor and the ferocity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/there-is-no-god-given-right-to-victory-on-the-battlefield-you-win/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [The most important 6 inches on the battlefield is between your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/the-most-important-6-inches-on-the-battlefield-is-between-your-ears/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [Now from a distance, I look back on what the Corps taught me: to think like men of action, and to act like men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/now-from-a-distance-i-look-back-on-what-the-corps-taught-me-to-think/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [Most people know nobody in the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/most-people-know-nobody-in-the-military/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/engage-your-brain-before-you-engage-your-weapon/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [It's not an easy course. It's not designed to be. We're not here to get you in touch with your inner child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/it-s-not-an-easy-course-it-s-not-designed-to-be-we-re-not-here-to-get/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [I don't have the best track record with quotes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/i-don-t-have-the-best-track-record-with-quotes/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/you-go-into-afghanistan-you-got-guys-who-slap-women-around-for-five/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [I've lived a very colorful life, and I've said some things, But not once have I taken them back, and I've never apologized for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/i-ve-lived-a-very-colorful-life-and-i-ve-said-some-things-but-not/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [I have never thought it necessary to patronize the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/i-have-never-thought-it-necessary-to-patronize-the-american-people/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [Basically, Islamic State is a combined al Qaeda and Lebanese Hezbollah on steroids, destabilizing the region, dissolving borders/changing the political geography in the Mid-east,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/basically-islamic-state-is-a-combined-al-qaeda-and-lebanese-hezbollah/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) [Explore all 87 Jim Mattis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) ## More Damaged quotes > [“We are all a little damaged, Bee. Some of us more than others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-frazier/we-are-all-a-little-damaged-bee-some-of-us-more-than-others/) [T.M. Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-frazier/) > [“If she wanted this man to trust her, to open up to her, she would have to strip every last piece of herself away,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/if-she-wanted-this-man-to-trust-her-to-open-up-to-her-she-would-have/) [Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/) > [He's psychologically damaged, I suppose, if you stand back and look objectively at him, but then, who isn't?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-darrow/he-s-psychologically-damaged-i-suppose-if-you-stand-back-and-look/) [Paul Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-darrow/) > [People have given me the freedom and believe in me enough to say if I want to do these things that I will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-coyne/people-have-given-me-the-freedom-and-believe-in-me-enough-to-say-if-i/) [Wayne Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-coyne/) > [“So pretty with her long hair and bright eyes. And so pure and damaged at the same time, like a priceless vase threaded with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lane/so-pretty-with-her-long-hair-and-bright-eyes-and-so-pure-and-damaged/) [Nina Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lane/) > [Here's the thing: Nobody gets extradited for a crime where nobody's been hurt, where no property's been damaged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/here-s-the-thing-nobody-gets-extradited-for-a-crime-where-nobody-s/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [But I don't think I've grown up to be a damaged adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-mae/but-i-don-t-think-i-ve-grown-up-to-be-a-damaged-adult/) [Vanessa Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-mae/) > [“It is easy to remove a weevil from a grain, but hard to reverse the damage it does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-remove-a-weevil-from-a-grain-but-hard-to-reverse-the/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“all of us are damaged in our own ways. It's just that most people call it 'experience'. And you've had a lot of experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/all-of-us-are-damaged-in-our-own-ways-it-s-just-that-most-people-call/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [When your heart breaks, tears fall from you eyes. Those tears are pieces of your heart chasing after the one you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blondie/when-your-heart-breaks-tears-fall-from-you-eyes-those-tears-are/) [Blondie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blondie/) > [In New York, FEMA granted the Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club's request to be remapped from the high-risk flood zone in August 2012 -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/in-new-york-fema-granted-the-mamaroneck-beach-yacht-club-s-request-to/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [Just because you're damaged doesn't mean you must damage others. You have choices. We all make them every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-delany/just-because-you-re-damaged-doesn-t-mean-you-must-damage-others-you/) [Shannon Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-delany/) > [What did Republicans get for 16 days of a government shutdown with people being hurt? We have absolutely nothing to show for it, other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-did-republicans-get-for-16-days-of-a-government-shutdown-with/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Instead of the traditional emphasis on the sanctity of life, bioethics began to stress the quality of life, meaning that many damaged humans, young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/instead-of-the-traditional-emphasis-on-the-sanctity-of-life-bioethics/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [In our equities business, 49 of the 50 most important Lehman clients are back doing business with us. The flows are 75 to 80…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-diamond/in-our-equities-business-49-of-the-50-most-important-lehman-clients/) [Bob Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-diamond/) [Browse all 183 Damaged quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damaged/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would just say there is one misperception of our veterans, and that is they are somehow damaged goods. 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