--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be honest, I didn't want to get inside…" description: "\"To be honest, I didn't want to get inside Jones's head. Every time I wrote about Jim Jones I practically had to tie myself to my chair to force myself ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/julia-scheeres-17172_being-honest_to-be-honest-i-didn-t-want-to-get-inside_1984733.jpg" --- # To be honest, I didn't want to get inside Jones's head… ![“To be honest, I didn't want to get inside Jones's head. Every time I wrote about Jim Jones I practically had to tie myself to my chair to force myself to do it; I hated him so much. He wanted to go down in history and he did. He's had hundreds of books and articles written about him. I was much…” quote by Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/julia-scheeres-17172_being-honest_to-be-honest-i-didn-t-want-to-get-inside_1984733.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/julia-scheeres-17172_being-honest_to-be-honest-i-didn-t-want-to-get-inside_1984733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/julia-scheeres-17172_being-honest_to-be-honest-i-didn-t-want-to-get-inside_1984733.jpg) > “To be honest, I didn't want to get inside Jones's head. Every time I wrote about Jim Jones I practically had to tie myself to my chair to force myself to do it; I hated him so much. He wanted to go down in history and he did. He's had hundreds of books and articles written about him. I was much more interested in the stories of the rank-and-file members of Peoples Temple, what drew them to Jones, and what they did once they were trapped in Jonestown and realized Jones was intent on killing them.” [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author was drawn to the victims' experiences rather than the notorious leader, seeking to understand why ordinary people followed him. **In simple terms:** Focus on victims' motivations, not just the villain. Key Takeaway Explore why people follow harmful leaders. Themes cult dynamics human behavior empathy Mood analytical empathetic Type documentary reflective When to use this quote - research - writing - education Key Concepts psychology history sociology Questions to Reflect On - What factors make individuals vulnerable to manipulation? - How can societies prevent such tragedies? A Different Perspective Complex motives may not be fully explainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) ## Related quotes > [My parents subscribed to both Time and Newsweek and in 1978, I remember the covers of both that December were of the bodies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/my-parents-subscribed-to-both-time-and-newsweek-and-in-1978-i/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I think the folks who joined Jim Jones's church did so because they truly believed in his stated ideals of racial equality and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-think-the-folks-who-joined-jim-jones-s-church-did-so-because-they/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [In California, Jim Jones even staged a shooting of himself. The lesson of this was two-fold. One, that he was a god - he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/in-california-jim-jones-even-staged-a-shooting-of-himself-the-lesson/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Jim Jones started out as a civil rights crusader in Indianapolis. As a young preacher in the mid-50s, he used members of his congregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jim-jones-started-out-as-a-civil-rights-crusader-in-indianapolis-as-a/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [As kids, my brother David and I longed for acceptance. We were desperate to belong. We would have been thrilled to see the pews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/as-kids-my-brother-david-and-i-longed-for-acceptance-we-were/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Jim Jones wanted his people to believe the establishment was trying to kill him because whites were threatened by his message of racial equality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jim-jones-wanted-his-people-to-believe-the-establishment-was-trying/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I was working on a satirical novel about a charismatic preacher who takes over a small Indiana town. Then I remembered Jim Jones was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-was-working-on-a-satirical-novel-about-a-charismatic-preacher-who/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [That's why I think it's important to revisit the story of Jonestown. I hope readers come away with a greater compassion for Jim Jones's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/that-s-why-i-think-it-s-important-to-revisit-the-story-of-jonestown-i/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Jim Jones used highly-edited videos and photos of Jonestown, showing what a supposed Eden it was. People were interviewed smiling and working in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jim-jones-used-highly-edited-videos-and-photos-of-jonestown-showing/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I was pregnant with my youngest child at the time, writing about mass death while I'm growing this precious little life inside me. Here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-was-pregnant-with-my-youngest-child-at-the-time-writing-about-mass/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Everybody hated me and also wanted me to lose, so they paid attention to my fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/everybody-hated-me-and-also-wanted-me-to-lose-so-they-paid-attention/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [Hated By Many Wanted By Plenty..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenice-cherry/hated-by-many-wanted-by-plenty/) Jenice Cherry > [“Still, I never heard him say that he hated or wanted to hurt or kill someone for all the horrific things that had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savo-heleta/still-i-never-heard-him-say-that-he-hated-or-wanted-to-hurt-or-kill/) [Savo Heleta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savo-heleta/) > [I've been hated by many, wanted by plenty, disliked by some, but confronted by none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-ve-been-hated-by-many-wanted-by-plenty-disliked-by-some-but/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [I never wanted to play a character that hated herself. I wanted people to know that those aren't the only roles for people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-riley/i-never-wanted-to-play-a-character-that-hated-herself-i-wanted-people/) [Amber Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-riley/) ## More by Julia Scheeres > [“This here is: JESUS LAND”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/this-here-is-jesus-land/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [My parents subscribed to both Time and Newsweek and in 1978, I remember the covers of both that December were of the bodies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/my-parents-subscribed-to-both-time-and-newsweek-and-in-1978-i/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I didn't fit into the Christian college my parents sent me to. 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This appealed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jonestown-was-supposed-to-be-a-great-socialist-experiment-a-place/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Jim Jones used highly-edited videos and photos of Jonestown, showing what a supposed Eden it was. People were interviewed smiling and working in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jim-jones-used-highly-edited-videos-and-photos-of-jonestown-showing/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I only wish my brother David had survived to experience Berkeley as well. No one would flinch here if we were to walk down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-only-wish-my-brother-david-had-survived-to-experience-berkeley-as/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [“Seems we can never just be brother and sister like in other families. Our whole lives, people have felt an urge to make up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/seems-we-can-never-just-be-brother-and-sister-like-in-other-families/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [That's why I think it's important to revisit the story of Jonestown. I hope readers come away with a greater compassion for Jim Jones's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/that-s-why-i-think-it-s-important-to-revisit-the-story-of-jonestown-i/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [In my view, the problem with many conservative Christian parents is that they won't allow their children to have a different worldview from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/in-my-view-the-problem-with-many-conservative-christian-parents-is/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I was working on a satirical novel about a charismatic preacher who takes over a small Indiana town. Then I remembered Jim Jones was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-was-working-on-a-satirical-novel-about-a-charismatic-preacher-who/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Jim Jones wanted his people to believe the establishment was trying to kill him because whites were threatened by his message of racial equality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jim-jones-wanted-his-people-to-believe-the-establishment-was-trying/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [“As we paint each other's nails Cinnamon Vixen, I consider telling her how bad things are at home. After she and Dan and Laura…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/as-we-paint-each-other-s-nails-cinnamon-vixen-i-consider-telling-her/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [“One of the most popular genital surgeries is labia minora reduction. 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Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [I think what saved me is me being honest. 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That's part of the word 'jazz'... it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-ferguson/i-m-a-person-of-change-and-i-must-be-honest-to-my-artistry-and-my/) Maynard Ferguson > [I'm going to be honest, I would love for Flava Flav to be president. It would bring a lot of excitement to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/i-m-going-to-be-honest-i-would-love-for-flava-flav-to-be-president-it/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [The buildings that were in question, they said in the same report, which was - actually, it wasn't even a bad story, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-buildings-that-were-in-question-they-said-in-the-same-report/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I guess it has to be healthy, you have to be honest with yourself and I think that's when ego is okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/i-guess-it-has-to-be-healthy-you-have-to-be-honest-with-yourself-and/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [ The opening for solid waste is very small \[in the space ship\]. It's not toilet-bowl size. And aim is critical. To be honest with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mullane/the-opening-for-solid-waste-is-very-small-in-the-space-ship-it-s-not/) [Mike Mullane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mullane/) > [We had 90 percent rates, but nobody paid them. And so you had all these exemptions, exclusions, shelters, all this kind of stuff. 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