--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It looked like I was the dead itself, and…" description: "\"“It looked like I was the dead itself, and that isn't something someone should aspire to look like.”\" — Kelley Armstrong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/kelley-armstrong-581_dead_it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and_2877663.png" --- # It looked like I was the dead itself, and that isn't… ![“It looked like I was the dead itself, and that isn't something someone should aspire to look like.” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/kelley-armstrong-581_dead_it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and_2877663.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/kelley-armstrong-581_dead_it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and_2877663.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/kelley-armstrong-581_dead_it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and_2877663.png) > ““It looked like I was the dead itself, and that isn't something someone should aspire to look like.”” [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identifying with death is unhealthy; one should not aspire to such darkness. **In simple terms:** Seeing oneself as death is harmful. Key Takeaway Seek life-affirming identities. Themes psychology self-image dark themes literary analysis mental health Mood somber reflective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - counseling - creative writing - personal reflection Key Concepts identity formation existential dread self-perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you foster healthier self-concepts? - What alternatives to dark identification exist? A Different Perspective Romanticizing death can be dangerous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-isn-851083/) [Like Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-dead/) [Look like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-like/) [Looked Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked-like/) ## Related quotes > [The past is not dead - it isn't even past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christa-wolf/the-past-is-not-dead-it-isn-t-even-past/) [Christa Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christa-wolf/) > [“She looked like a dead Teletubby.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-walker/she-looked-like-a-dead-teletubby/) [Babe Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-walker/) > [We're here for such a short period of time. Live like you're already dead, man. Have a good time. Do your best. Let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/we-re-here-for-such-a-short-period-of-time-live-like-you-re-already/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [“That must have been what I looked like to my doctor friend. That must be what I look like to anyone with a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/that-must-have-been-what-i-looked-like-to-my-doctor-friend-that-must/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Searching for our kindred dead isn't just a hobby. It is a fundamental responsibility for all members of the Church. We believe that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/searching-for-our-kindred-dead-isn-t-just-a-hobby-it-is-a-fundamental/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Unbeing dead isn't being alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/unbeing-dead-isn-t-being-alive/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [“Being dead isn't scary, it's how you get dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-ra/being-dead-isn-t-scary-it-s-how-you-get-dead/) [Aron Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-ra/) > [I think being dead isn't any problem. It's the process of dying which is quite off-putting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-think-being-dead-isn-t-any-problem-it-s-the-process-of-dying-which/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“-No, the man said, looking past him with his empty gaze, the realm of the dead isn't anything. But to those who have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-r-lagerkvist/no-the-man-said-looking-past-him-with-his-empty-gaze-the-realm-of-the/) [Pär Lagerkvist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-r-lagerkvist/) > [Mostly every form of American music is dead. It's been dead. R&B isn't really good. You got a handful of great guys - Ne-Yo,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/mostly-every-form-of-american-music-is-dead-it-s-been-dead-r-b-isn-t/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Dead isn’t angels or ghosts. It’s a physical state of breakdown, a change in all those carbon atoms that create the temporary house of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/dead-isn-t-angels-or-ghosts-it-s-a-physical-state-of-breakdown-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [It's not just hip-hop that's dead. Mostly every form of American music is dead. It's been dead. R&B isn't really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/it-s-not-just-hip-hop-that-s-dead-mostly-every-form-of-american-music/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [It's silly to be depressed by it. I mean one thinks of it like being alive in a box, one keeps forgetting to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-silly-to-be-depressed-by-it-i-mean-one-thinks-of-it-like-being/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Half dead isn't dead, but half dead is still alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kells/half-dead-isn-t-dead-but-half-dead-is-still-alive/) [Kells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kells/) > [I'm married, I'm monogamous, but I'm not dead, and Bill isn't either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chirlane-mccray/i-m-married-i-m-monogamous-but-i-m-not-dead-and-bill-isn-t-either/) [Chirlane McCray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chirlane-mccray/) ## More by Kelley Armstrong > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He turned my way, and I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice for a second. Then I realized I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-turned-my-way-and-i-was-so-engrossed-in-my-thoughts-that-i-didn-t/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nuh-uh-no-deals-with-the-devil-i-ve-learned-my-lesson-on-that-one/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Reviews are great. I can read negative reviews and say, 'You know that point they made... they were dead on.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/reviews-are-great-i-can-read-negative-reviews-and-say-you-know-that/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When a series is doing well, it's very tempting to keep writing it, even when the creative well is drying up. It's tempting because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-a-series-is-doing-well-it-s-very-tempting-to-keep-writing-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [You bat your baby blues at tall, dark, and gruesome, and next thing you know, he's trailing you like a lost puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-bat-your-baby-blues-at-tall-dark-and-gruesome-and-next-thing-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [With no chance to take off, I had to play my role, searching for the rendezvous spot, which gave me the excuse to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/with-no-chance-to-take-off-i-had-to-play-my-role-searching-for-the/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When I glanced at the chair, it started to shake. I’d like to think it was scared of me, but I rarely invoked that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-i-glanced-at-the-chair-it-started-to-shake-i-d-like-to-think-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Nonsense, Chloe. I certainly hope you aren't afraid of cemeteries" "Um, no" Tori said. "It's the bodies buried in them that worry her. Uh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nonsense-chloe-i-certainly-hope-you-aren-t-afraid-of-cemeteries-um-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I was...a journalist...though my typical beat was freelancing articles on Canadian politics, which never included any mention of demonic phenomena, though it might explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-was-a-journalist-though-my-typical-beat-was-freelancing-articles-on/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I found something" Simon said as he walked in. He whipped out an old-fashioned key from his pocket and grinned at me. "It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-found-something-simon-said-as-he-walked-in-he-whipped-out-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He laughed and tugged me down in a kiss. Then, lips still close enough to feel them tickle mine, he said, "You know this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-laughed-and-tugged-me-down-in-a-kiss-then-lips-still-close-enough/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) [Explore all 458 Kelley Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More Dead quotes > [I'm going to stay on stage until I drop dead. Then I'm going to have myself stuffed, like Trigger, and I'm going to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-going-to-stay-on-stage-until-i-drop-dead-then-i-m-going-to-have/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. When I die, it will be 'Kathy 'Misery' Bates Is Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/misery-left-a-lasting-mark-on-me-when-i-die-it-will-be-kathy-misery/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [The only good Indian is a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-only-good-indian-is-a-dead-indian/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) [Browse all 3,376 Dead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It looked like I was the dead itself, and that isn't something someone should aspire to look like.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kelley Armstrong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and-that-isn-t-something-someone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and-that-isn-t-something-someone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/kelley-armstrong-581_dead_it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and_2877663.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/kelley-armstrong-581_dead_it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and_2877663.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/kelley-armstrong-581_dead_it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and_2877663.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It looked like I was the dead itself, and that isn't something someone should aspire to look like.” — Kelley Armstrong", "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": "Kelley Armstrong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It looked like I was the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and-that-isn-t-something-someone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/it-looked-like-i-was-the-dead-itself-and-that-isn-t-something-someone/#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 } } ] } ```