---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never met anyone who wanted to be a…"
description: "\"I've never met anyone who wanted to be a terrorist. They are desperate people.\" — John Perkins"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-perkins-17246_desperate_i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a_35857.png"
---

#  I've never met anyone who wanted to be a terrorist. They…

![“I've never met anyone who wanted to be a terrorist. They are desperate people.” quote by John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-perkins-17246_desperate_i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a_35857.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-perkins-17246_desperate_i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a_35857.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-perkins-17246_desperate_i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a_35857.png)

> “I've never met anyone who wanted to be a terrorist. They are desperate people.”

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote highlights that individuals who become terrorists are driven by desperation, not a genuine desire for terrorism.

**In simple terms:** Desperation fuels terrorism.

Key Takeaway

Terrorism stems from desperation.

Themes

radicalization psychology social marginalization conflict motivation

Mood

somber reflective

Type

observation analysis

When to use this quote

- political unrest
- economic hardship
- personal grievances
- social exclusion

Key Concepts

desperation identity political violence social alienation

Practical Applications

- counter‑radicalization programs
- policy analysis on terrorism drivers

Questions to Reflect On

- What underlying needs push people toward extremism?
- How can societies address the desperation that fuels terrorism?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Desperate People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate-people/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/)

## Related quotes

> [It seemed to be inadmissible to give in on such a fundamental point. This would have meant that any one who would have wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bourassa/it-seemed-to-be-inadmissible-to-give-in-on-such-a-fundamental-point/)

[Robert Bourassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bourassa/)

> [“A desperate people are a dangerous people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-f-breene/a-desperate-people-are-a-dangerous-people/)

[K.F. Breene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-f-breene/)

> [“Because desperate people cling to hope like sailors to their wreaks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/because-desperate-people-cling-to-hope-like-sailors-to-their-wreaks/)

[Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/)

> [(About Love)The most important thing in life, and you can't tell whether people have it or not. Surely this is wrong? Surely people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/about-love-the-most-important-thing-in-life-and-you-can-t-tell/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [There's this huge number of desperate people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/there-s-this-huge-number-of-desperate-people/)

[Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/)

> [“Desperate people do desperate things, and people with nothing left to lose are the most dangerous of them all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/desperate-people-do-desperate-things-and-people-with-nothing-left-to/)

[Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/)

> [People who say they don't care what people think are usually desperate to have people think they don't care what people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/people-who-say-they-don-t-care-what-people-think-are-usually/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Imagine yourself acclaimed, a decorated national hero, an idol to millions of desperate people, then within six months, condemned to death by hanging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joachim-peiper/imagine-yourself-acclaimed-a-decorated-national-hero-an-idol-to/)

Joachim Peiper

> [The weapon of suicide bombing is so desperate that you aren't even left with the possibility of taking revenge or punishing anyone; the terrorist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/the-weapon-of-suicide-bombing-is-so-desperate-that-you-aren-t-even/)

[A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/)

> [Terrorists have no religion, belief, or race. Having been a target of a number of terrorist attacks myself, I personally empathize with the victims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheikh-hasina/terrorists-have-no-religion-belief-or-race-having-been-a-target-of-a/)

[Sheikh Hasina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheikh-hasina/)

> [Democracies don't go to war against each other, and by and large they don't sponsor terrorism. They're more likely to respect the environment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/democracies-don-t-go-to-war-against-each-other-and-by-and-large-they/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [In '94, I started writing a novel about an enormous terrorist act that destroyed the United States. The novel takes place twenty years after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/in-94-i-started-writing-a-novel-about-an-enormous-terrorist-act-that/)

[Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/)

> [God's irony, that in order to fight and defeat the threat of terrorism, we shall have to be clear about the principle of justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/god-s-irony-that-in-order-to-fight-and-defeat-the-threat-of-terrorism/)

[Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/)

> [I am not a terrorist, but neither am I a pacifist. I am simply a regular guy from the Palestinian street advocating only what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marwan-barghouti/i-am-not-a-terrorist-but-neither-am-i-a-pacifist-i-am-simply-a/)

Marwan Barghouti

> [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

## More by John Perkins

> [I was initially recruited while I was in business school back in the late sixties by the National Security Agency, the nation's largest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/i-was-initially-recruited-while-i-was-in-business-school-back-in-the/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [But when 9/11 struck, I had a change of heart. I knew the story had to be told because what happened at 9/11 is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/but-when-9-11-struck-i-had-a-change-of-heart-i-knew-the-story-had-to/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [Basically, what Economic Hit Men are trained to do is to build up the American empire. To create situations where as many resources as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/basically-what-economic-hit-men-are-trained-to-do-is-to-build-up-the/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [The Treasury Department would use the interest from these securities to hire U.S. companies to build Saudi Arabia - new cities, new infrastructure -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/the-treasury-department-would-use-the-interest-from-these-securities/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [When the National Security Agency recruited me, they put me through a day of lie detector tests. They found out all my weaknesses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/when-the-national-security-agency-recruited-me-they-put-me-through-a/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [“How, I asked myself, do you convince men and women who live comfortably to change a system that provides their comforts--even when they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/how-i-asked-myself-do-you-convince-men-and-women-who-live-comfortably/)

[john perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [“The first question we must address deals with optimism, the possibility of achieving our goal. Are we in a position where we can actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/the-first-question-we-must-address-deals-with-optimism-the/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [And in Iraq we tried to implement the same policy that was so successful in Saudi Arabia, but Saddam Hussein didn't buy. When the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/and-in-iraq-we-tried-to-implement-the-same-policy-that-was-so/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [I felt guilty throughout the whole time, but I was seduced. The power of these drugs, sex, power, and money, was extremely strong for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/i-felt-guilty-throughout-the-whole-time-but-i-was-seduced-the-power/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [None of the quick fixes to the world's problems are going to work, unless we change the dream of greed and scarcity that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/none-of-the-quick-fixes-to-the-world-s-problems-are-going-to-work/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [“Stop being so greedy," she said, "and so selfish. Realize that there is more to the world than your big houses and fancy stores.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/stop-being-so-greedy-she-said-and-so-selfish-realize-that-there-is/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [Had Roosevelt been caught, we would have been in a lot of trouble. It would have been very embarrassing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/had-roosevelt-been-caught-we-would-have-been-in-a-lot-of-trouble-it/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [“The income ratio of the one-fifth of the world's population in the wealthiest countries to the one-fifth in the poorest went from 30 to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/the-income-ratio-of-the-one-fifth-of-the-world-s-population-in-the/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [These were big ones. Those companies would then go in and build an electrical system or ports or highways, and these would basically serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/these-were-big-ones-those-companies-would-then-go-in-and-build-an/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [“This book was written so that we may take heed and remold our story. I am certain that when enough of us become aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/this-book-was-written-so-that-we-may-take-heed-and-remold-our-story-i/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

[Explore all 30 John Perkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

## More Desperate quotes

> [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/)

[John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/)

> [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

> [“I am a desperate romantic. I love the idea of random collisions of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-am-a-desperate-romantic-i-love-the-idea-of-random-collisions-of-the/)

[Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/)

> [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/)

[Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/)

> [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/)

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

> [“She was stupid and lonely. So desperate to be touched and loved with a good love. I need you, don't leave me, you're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/she-was-stupid-and-lonely-so-desperate-to-be-touched-and-loved-with-a/)

[Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/)

> [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/)

[Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/)

> [The World Health Organisation has a lot of its medical experts sitting in Geneva while hospitals in Africa have no drugs and desperate patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/the-world-health-organisation-has-a-lot-of-its-medical-experts/)

[Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/)

> [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/)

[Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/)

> [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/)

[Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/)

> [“you think I"m that desperate?" "The raging hard-on jabbing at me says yes." ~Creed/Annika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-croft/you-think-i-m-that-desperate-the-raging-hard-on-jabbing-at-me-says/)

[Sydney Croft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-croft/)

> [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/)

[Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/)

> [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/)

[Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/)

[Browse all 1,618 Desperate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've never met anyone who wanted to be a terrorist. They are desperate people.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Perkins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a-terrorist-they-are-desperate/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Desperate"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a-terrorist-they-are-desperate/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-perkins-17246_desperate_i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a_35857.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-perkins-17246_desperate_i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a_35857.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-perkins-17246_desperate_i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a_35857.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've never met anyone who wanted to be a terrorist. They are desperate people.” — John Perkins",
                "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": "John Perkins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've never met anyone who wanted...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a-terrorist-they-are-desperate/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a-terrorist-they-are-desperate/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
