--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He knew that these creatures were dead…" description: "\"He knew that these creatures were dead, that they were reanimated echoes who wore the disguise of the people they had once been, but Tom's words rang i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/jonathan-maberry-2912_children_he-knew-that-these-creatures-were-dead-t_668150.jpg" --- # He knew that these creatures were dead, that they were… ![“He knew that these creatures were dead, that they were reanimated echoes who wore the disguise of the people they had once been, but Tom's words rang in his mind. They used to be people. How could he strike them? How could he hurt them? Children, women, old people. Lost souls.” quote by Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/jonathan-maberry-2912_children_he-knew-that-these-creatures-were-dead-t_668150.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/jonathan-maberry-2912_children_he-knew-that-these-creatures-were-dead-t_668150.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/jonathan-maberry-2912_children_he-knew-that-these-creatures-were-dead-t_668150.jpg) > “He knew that these creatures were dead, that they were reanimated echoes who wore the disguise of the people they had once been, but Tom's words rang in his mind. They used to be people. How could he strike them? How could he hurt them? Children, women, old people. Lost souls.” [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on confronting reanimated beings who were once human, feeling moral conflict about harming them. **In simple terms:** He struggles with killing former humans. Key Takeaway Consider the ethics of fighting former enemies. Themes morality war identity empathy Mood somber conflicted Type fictional ethical When to use this quote - combat missions - post‑apocalyptic survival - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts reanimation memory loss of humanity Questions to Reflect On - What defines a person’s humanity? - Can violence be justified against former allies? A Different Perspective The beings' humanity may still be present, complicating decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Creatures Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures-dead-5309816/) [Dead Reanimated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-reanimated-1026082/) [Disguise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disguise/) [Echoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/echoes/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Knew Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-creatures-4601161/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lost souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-souls/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Old people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reanimated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reanimated-1026083/) [Reanimated Echoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reanimated-echoes-5309815/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [“The dead do not have to be reanimated; they live as long as someone who loved them is alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-dead-do-not-have-to-be-reanimated-they-live-as-long-as-someone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We were the only pulsating creatures in a dead world of ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-albert-cook/we-were-the-only-pulsating-creatures-in-a-dead-world-of-ice/) [Frederick Albert Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-albert-cook/) > [“Whoever that came up with the idea of people having to have 'a dream' sure knew how to keep these creatures called human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whoever-that-came-up-with-the-idea-of-people-having-to-have-a-dream/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [. . . from what he knew about the Creatures of the Dark they wouldn't waste their time laying elaborate traps. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/we-re-just-two-lost-souls-swimming-in-a-fish-bowl-year-after-year/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [“Luftmenschen were also eternal students, lost souls, young people who spent their lives arguing politics in cafés and drifting through the student communities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-furst/luftmenschen-were-also-eternal-students-lost-souls-young-people-who/) [Alan Furst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-furst/) > [“Illusion" A man wants to be free flying in the emptiness of the universe He thinks he means something in the endlessness of nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asper-blurry/illusion-a-man-wants-to-be-free-flying-in-the-emptiness-of-the/) [Asper Blurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asper-blurry/) > [The only test of possession is use. The talent that is buried is not owned. The napkin and the hole in the ground are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/the-only-test-of-possession-is-use-the-talent-that-is-buried-is-not/) [Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/) > [Sometimes I think about dying. And then I wonder about going to hell. And then I think that if and when I go there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sheffield/sometimes-i-think-about-dying-and-then-i-wonder-about-going-to-hell/) [Charles Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sheffield/) > [“FI: Elämä on julmaa ironiaa. Jotkut sielut kaipaavat taistella vapauden puolesta, mutta heiltä puuttuvat keinot. Toiset, joilla on kaikki mahdollisuudet vastustaa, valitsevat olla tekemättä…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-vuorenmaan/fi-el-m-on-julmaa-ironiaa-jotkut-sielut-kaipaavat-taistella-vapauden/) [Alex Vuorenmaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-vuorenmaan/) > [A date," Jace repeated. "Often a 'boring thing you have to memorize in history class," but in this case,' 'an offer of a n…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/a-date-jace-repeated-often-a-boring-thing-you-have-to-memorize-in/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Jonathan Maberry > [“Maybe you should go make that call again. Ask very specifically how much of who's ass needs to be kissed here. I'm pretty sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/maybe-you-should-go-make-that-call-again-ask-very-specifically-how/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Lilah growled low in her throat, grabbed his shirt with both hands, and hauled him toward her. Into a kiss that was fierce and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/lilah-growled-low-in-her-throat-grabbed-his-shirt-with-both-hands-and/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [Suddenly all those careful preparations disintegrated as predators far more dangerous than the walking dead proved what all wise killers already knew: that nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/suddenly-all-those-careful-preparations-disintegrated-as-predators/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Suddenly we were in outer space. Aboard a rusty old piece of junk freighter. Far away. And in real trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/suddenly-we-were-in-outer-space-aboard-a-rusty-old-piece-of-junk/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“The four of them stared at me. Half an hour ago we were strangers and I was beating the crap out of them; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/the-four-of-them-stared-at-me-half-an-hour-ago-we-were-strangers-and/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“The word "impossible" used to mean something. It was a line that couldn't be crossed. It was the outer edge of the safe zone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/the-word-impossible-used-to-mean-something-it-was-a-line-that-couldn/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Boy, there are people who conquered half the world, slaughtered whole populations, wiped cultures off the face of the planet, and you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/boy-there-are-people-who-conquered-half-the-world-slaughtered-whole/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Okay," I said slowly, "but what the hell would you mate a horse with to get a unicorn, because I don't see horses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/okay-i-said-slowly-but-what-the-hell-would-you-mate-a-horse-with-to/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“There were more of them out there. More walkers. And I was being asked to step up and be... what? Some kind of Captain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/there-were-more-of-them-out-there-more-walkers-and-i-was-being-asked/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [There are moments that define a person's whole life. Moments in which everything they are and everything they may possibly become balance on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/there-are-moments-that-define-a-person-s-whole-life-moments-in-which/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Leaving is never easy,” said Tom. “Even when you know you have to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/leaving-is-never-easy-said-tom-even-when-you-know-you-have-to-go/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [UNMARKED is both gorgeous and hideous. A frightening and disturbing tale spun with great beauty. Absolutely riveting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/unmarked-is-both-gorgeous-and-hideous-a-frightening-and-disturbing/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Benny took a steadying breath and let it out slowly. "Nix, I do understand what you're going through. I'm going through it too." "It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/benny-took-a-steadying-breath-and-let-it-out-slowly-nix-i-do/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [But sometimes shame is a more powerful engine than rage. Like rage, it burns hot; and like rage it tends to consume its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/but-sometimes-shame-is-a-more-powerful-engine-than-rage-like-rage-it/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Denial is stupid. We're fighting the living dead. Would you prefer we call them 'undead citizens'?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/denial-is-stupid-we-re-fighting-the-living-dead-would-you-prefer-we/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) [Explore all 138 Jonathan Maberry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [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/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? 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