---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of times, when doing the paranormal…"
description: "\"A lot of times, when doing the paranormal research and doing an investigation, you don't know what you're going to encounter. You don't know what you'r..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/john-zaffis-47750_home_a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal_575496.jpg"
---

#  A lot of times, when doing the paranormal research and…

![“A lot of times, when doing the paranormal research and doing an investigation, you don't know what you're going to encounter. You don't know what you're going to come up against. People have to realize that we don't know them and they don't know us. I'm talking about the people that live in the…” quote by John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/john-zaffis-47750_home_a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal_575496.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/john-zaffis-47750_home_a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal_575496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/john-zaffis-47750_home_a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal_575496.jpg)

> “A lot of times, when doing the paranormal research and doing an investigation, you don't know what you're going to encounter. You don't know what you're going to come up against. People have to realize that we don't know them and they don't know us. I'm talking about the people that live in the homes. Sometimes you don't know what you're going to encounter, what type of situation you're going to walk into.”

[John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

## About This Quote

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

Paranormal investigators face unknown entities and must respect both the unknown and the occupants.

**In simple terms:** Unknowns in investigations require respect.

Key Takeaway

Approach unknown situations with humility and caution.

Themes

uncertainty respect paranormal investigation

Mood

cautious inquisitive

Type

educational advisory

When to use this quote

- haunted house tours
- research fieldwork
- first‑time investigations
- homeowner interactions

Key Concepts

ethics risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- What protocols help you stay safe and respectful?
- How can you build trust with those you investigate?

A Different Perspective

Assuming danger can cause unnecessary fear.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Paranormal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paranormal/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“The evidence of paranormal research shows that there is a part of our being that knows far more than the conscious mind. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-wilson/the-evidence-of-paranormal-research-shows-that-there-is-a-part-of-our/)

[Colin Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-wilson/)

> [We do have certain protocols in place with respect to doing the investigation by the FBI. And then prosecutors at the Department of Justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/we-do-have-certain-protocols-in-place-with-respect-to-doing-the/)

[Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/)

> [When you're doing an investigation of a company that is doing things that they don't want to be found out, and they say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-farrier/when-you-re-doing-an-investigation-of-a-company-that-is-doing-things/)

[David Farrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-farrier/)

> [More and more of out colleagues fail to understand our work because of the high specialization of research problems. We must not be discouraged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theobald-smith/more-and-more-of-out-colleagues-fail-to-understand-our-work-because/)

[Theobald Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theobald-smith/)

> [Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wernher-von-braun/research-is-what-i-m-doing-when-i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing/)

[Wernher von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wernher-von-braun/)

> [“Basic research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I am doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wernher-von-braun/basic-research-is-what-i-m-doing-when-i-don-t-know-what-i-am-doing/)

[Wernher Von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wernher-von-braun/)

> [The research I have been doing - studying how foodstuffs yield energy in living cells - does not lead to the kind of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-adolf-krebs/the-research-i-have-been-doing-studying-how-foodstuffs-yield-energy/)

Hans Adolf Krebs

> [It's such a long mission and we get to spend so much time in space... we're doing such exciting research. And I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/it-s-such-a-long-mission-and-we-get-to-spend-so-much-time-in-space-we/)

[Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/)

> [Once I discovered the endless fascination of doing the research and of doing the writing, I knew I had found what I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/once-i-discovered-the-endless-fascination-of-doing-the-research-and/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [I'm connected with a lot of different paranormal groups out there worldwide, a lot of different spiritual people. My networking over the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/i-m-connected-with-a-lot-of-different-paranormal-groups-out-there/)

[John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

> [“Unable to help herself, she traced the tat, startled by the black and red ink mixed together. But it was the dragon design itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/unable-to-help-herself-she-traced-the-tat-startled-by-the-black-and/)

[Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/)

> [“What do you want?" "You." His voice was soft, low. His eyes were intense and watchful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/what-do-you-want-you-his-voice-was-soft-low-his-eyes-were-intense-and/)

[Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/)

> [“I mean, that was the code, wasn’t it? Single girls and taken guys weren’t allowed to be friends. The leash always got in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-butler/i-mean-that-was-the-code-wasn-t-it-single-girls-and-taken-guys-weren/)

[Carrie Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-butler/)

> [“My hopes for pie died on the sidewalk. There went my grin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-butler/my-hopes-for-pie-died-on-the-sidewalk-there-went-my-grin/)

[Carrie Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-butler/)

> [“I could see her will leaving and death seeping through her skin to skewer her soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-stroube/i-could-see-her-will-leaving-and-death-seeping-through-her-skin-to/)

[J.D. Stroube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-stroube/)

## More by John Zaffis

> [I'm connected with a lot of different paranormal groups out there worldwide, a lot of different spiritual people. My networking over the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/i-m-connected-with-a-lot-of-different-paranormal-groups-out-there/)

[John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

> [I'm Roman Catholic and I believe very strongly in the power of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/i-m-roman-catholic-and-i-believe-very-strongly-in-the-power-of-prayer/)

[John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

> [I'm very hands-on. I was very hands-on with talking to individuals. That's very important, whether it be someone giving me advice or trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/i-m-very-hands-on-i-was-very-hands-on-with-talking-to-individuals/)

[John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

> [I always do things before I go on a case and when I leave a case. I even do that when I'm out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/i-always-do-things-before-i-go-on-a-case-and-when-i-leave-a-case-i/)

[John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

> [You have to be extremely careful because not only do you not know what you're going to be coming up against when dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/you-have-to-be-extremely-careful-because-not-only-do-you-not-know/)

[John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

> [I like getting involved with the people and finding out exactly what is happening. Does it have to do with the property, the home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/i-like-getting-involved-with-the-people-and-finding-out-exactly-what/)

[John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

> [I work with a lot of spiritual people. Now, when I say spiritual people, I not only work with priests, rabbis, and ministers -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/i-work-with-a-lot-of-spiritual-people-now-when-i-say-spiritual-people/)

[John Zaffis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

[Explore all 8 John Zaffis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/)

## More Home quotes

> [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/)

[Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/)

> [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/)

[Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/)

> [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [If your life's at a juncture and you need to think about things, there's nowhere better than home. However old you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/if-your-life-s-at-a-juncture-and-you-need-to-think-about-things-there/)

[Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/)

> [Most days, I go home and I feel rejuvenated. I feel ebullient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/most-days-i-go-home-and-i-feel-rejuvenated-i-feel-ebullient/)

[Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [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/)

> [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/)

[Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/)

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/)

[James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [Everything comes home, my mother used to say; every word spoken, every shadow cast, every footprint in the sand. It can't be helped; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/everything-comes-home-my-mother-used-to-say-every-word-spoken-every/)

[Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/)

> [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/)

[Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [You play a part, and as soon as a movie is over and the camera stops, you go home and you're not really responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nastassja-kinski/you-play-a-part-and-as-soon-as-a-movie-is-over-and-the-camera-stops/)

[Nastassja Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nastassja-kinski/)

[Browse all 25,855 Home quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A lot of times, when doing the paranormal research and doing an investigation, you don't know what you're going to encounter. You don't know what you're going to come up against. People have to realize that we don't know them and they don't know us. I'm talking about the people that live in the homes. Sometimes you don't know what you're going to encounter, what type of situation you're going to walk into.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Zaffis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal-research-and-doing-an/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Home"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal-research-and-doing-an/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/john-zaffis-47750_home_a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal_575496.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/john-zaffis-47750_home_a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal_575496.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/john-zaffis-47750_home_a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal_575496.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A lot of times, when doing the paranormal research and doing an investigation, you don't know what you're…” — John Zaffis",
                "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 Zaffis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zaffis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A lot of times, when doing...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal-research-and-doing-an/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zaffis/a-lot-of-times-when-doing-the-paranormal-research-and-doing-an/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
