--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They were all so nice and it was just…" description: "\"“They were all so nice and it was just excruciating. I was never taking off the helmet again. I can't do even the half-assed version of this stupid job..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/martha-wells-19049_excruciating_they-were-all-so-nice-and-it-was-just-ex_2295640.png" --- # They were all so nice and it was just excruciating. I was… ![“They were all so nice and it was just excruciating. I was never taking off the helmet again. I can't do even the half-assed version of this stupid job if I have to talk to humans.” quote by Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/martha-wells-19049_excruciating_they-were-all-so-nice-and-it-was-just-ex_2295640.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/martha-wells-19049_excruciating_they-were-all-so-nice-and-it-was-just-ex_2295640.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/martha-wells-19049_excruciating_they-were-all-so-nice-and-it-was-just-ex_2295640.png) > ““They were all so nice and it was just excruciating. I was never taking off the helmet again. I can't do even the half-assed version of this stupid job if I have to talk to humans.”” [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator refuses to engage with humans, finding the job intolerable without interaction. **In simple terms:** Avoiding human contact feels unbearable. Key Takeaway Set boundaries for mental health. Themes isolation work technology Mood frustrated defensive Type critical reflective When to use this quote - remote work - customer service - AI assistants - stress management Key Concepts AI ethics human‑machine interaction Questions to Reflect On - When is it necessary to interact despite discomfort? - How can you balance solitude and connection? A Different Perspective Complete isolation can hinder collaboration and growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excruciating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excruciating/) [Helmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helmet/) [Helmet Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helmet-half-5411348/) [Taking Helmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-helmet-3102027/) [Talk Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-humans-3053247/) ## Related quotes > [“But he couldn’t risk taking the helmet off. It was the only thing saving him from the firing squad. He was no longer able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-avey/but-he-couldn-t-risk-taking-the-helmet-off-it-was-the-only-thing/) [T.C. Avey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-avey/) > [“That was fucking awesome," Boyd enthused with a huge grin. "It's pretty amazing," Kassian agreed, taking off his own helmet. "I had a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ais/that-was-fucking-awesome-boyd-enthused-with-a-huge-grin-it-s-pretty/) [Ais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ais/) > [People talk too much. Humans aren't descended from monkeys. They come from parrots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/people-talk-too-much-humans-aren-t-descended-from-monkeys-they-come/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“The humans are dead(I see that they're dead) The humans are dead(I'm glad that they're dead) It had to be done(I've just confirmed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flight-of-the-conchords/the-humans-are-dead-i-see-that-they-re-dead-the-humans-are-dead-i-m/) [Flight of the Conchords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flight-of-the-conchords/) > [“People talk too much, humans aren't descended from monkeys, they're descended from parrots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/people-talk-too-much-humans-aren-t-descended-from-monkeys-they-re/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [There was this point about, you know, the basic point there as well - this statute treats some parts of the country different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/there-was-this-point-about-you-know-the-basic-point-there-as-well/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [The thing about ballet that I never knew about is that it's one of the most excruciating sports that I've ever been a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/the-thing-about-ballet-that-i-never-knew-about-is-that-it-s-one-of/) [Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/) > [To be honest, making albums is really never easy. It's always a bit excruciating because there's always this fight to make it great, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/to-be-honest-making-albums-is-really-never-easy-it-s-always-a-bit/) [Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/) > [Every movie I make I find kind of excruciating. I get a lot back from it, but I feel like I'm kind of always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/every-movie-i-make-i-find-kind-of-excruciating-i-get-a-lot-back-from/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [ I haven't watched it \[the film 'Pink Floyd at Pompeii'\] in years. I find it excruciating. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/i-haven-t-watched-it-the-film-pink-floyd-at-pompeii-in-years-i-find/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) > [Sometimes the most excruciating experiences in rehearsals and performances yield the most beautiful work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/sometimes-the-most-excruciating-experiences-in-rehearsals-and/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Since September 11 2001, editors in America have faced some excruciating choices, as the attempt to wage a war against a new kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/since-september-11-2001-editors-in-america-have-faced-some/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [I find that women want to tell me about their birthing experiences. In the most excruciating detail. It's not put me off having children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-raine/i-find-that-women-want-to-tell-me-about-their-birthing-experiences-in/) [Jessica Raine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-raine/) > [Jamming is really the most awful, excruciating experience for me; I really don't enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-edge/jamming-is-really-the-most-awful-excruciating-experience-for-me-i/) [The Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-edge/) > [Go ahead. Weep for the rare, the never seen this way again, the excruciating, ineffable, unmitigated beauty of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/go-ahead-weep-for-the-rare-the-never-seen-this-way-again-the/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) ## More by Martha Wells > [“This is how we fight: throw ourselves at each other and see whose parts give out first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/this-is-how-we-fight-throw-ourselves-at-each-other-and-see-whose/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“About forty turns ago there was a colony in the east, and a warrior named Swift, who had to change her name to Sorrow...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/about-forty-turns-ago-there-was-a-colony-in-the-east-and-a-warrior/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“Why, thank you for your permission, Tremaine.” Tremaine made a derisive noise, unimpressed. “Somebody’s got to give you permission, if you won’t give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/why-thank-you-for-your-permission-tremaine-tremaine-made-a-derisive/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“This is why I didn’t want to come. I’ve got four perfectly good humans here and I didn’t want them to get killed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/this-is-why-i-didn-t-want-to-come-i-ve-got-four-perfectly-good-humans/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“We’re not murderers, Tremaine. We’re killers. There’s a difference. A small difference, but a difference nonetheless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/we-re-not-murderers-tremaine-we-re-killers-there-s-a-difference-a/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“Nicholas, dressed in black and trailing them like a sinister storm cloud, had a dry little preoccupied smile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/nicholas-dressed-in-black-and-trailing-them-like-a-sinister-storm/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“The report was so loud Nicholas thought the guard had fired into his head. He staggered as the man’s grip fell away, his hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/the-report-was-so-loud-nicholas-thought-the-guard-had-fired-into-his/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“Also, if I’m not in the armor then it’s because I’m wounded and one of my organic parts may fall off and plop on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/also-if-i-m-not-in-the-armor-then-it-s-because-i-m-wounded-and-one-of/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“I thought I had one of your father, but it didn’t develop.” Tremaine nodded ruefully. “It’s the silver nitrate in the film stock. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/i-thought-i-had-one-of-your-father-but-it-didn-t-develop-tremaine/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“It calls itself ‘Murderbot,’” Gurathin said. I opened my eyes and looked at him; I couldn’t stop myself. From their expressions I knew everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/it-calls-itself-murderbot-gurathin-said-i-opened-my-eyes-and-looked/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“The humans hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep last night, from the crowding and the strong possibility of dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/the-humans-hadn-t-gotten-a-lot-of-sleep-last-night-from-the-crowding/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“Moon couldn’t think of anything reassuring to say. They were trapped inside a leviathan, standing in a tunnel gnawed out by giant parasites. Going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/moon-couldn-t-think-of-anything-reassuring-to-say-they-were-trapped/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“It's not going to make a very good story, in the annals of my time as sister queen.” She quoted dryly, “‘Then her consort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/it-s-not-going-to-make-a-very-good-story-in-the-annals-of-my-time-as/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [Flower lifted a brow, dubious. 'You have to pay for a place to be dead in?' Moon shrugged. 'Sometimes, in cities. It’s a groundling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/flower-lifted-a-brow-dubious-you-have-to-pay-for-a-place-to-be-dead/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [“Morane gestured them to some seats near the front, but close to the archway. Probably Nicholas’s preference, in case someone threw a bomb. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/morane-gestured-them-to-some-seats-near-the-front-but-close-to-the/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) [Explore all 33 Martha Wells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) ## More Excruciating quotes > [Go ahead. Weep for the rare, the never seen this way again, the excruciating, ineffable, unmitigated beauty of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/go-ahead-weep-for-the-rare-the-never-seen-this-way-again-the/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) > [Jamming is really the most awful, excruciating experience for me; I really don't enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-edge/jamming-is-really-the-most-awful-excruciating-experience-for-me-i/) [The Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-edge/) > [I find that women want to tell me about their birthing experiences. In the most excruciating detail. It's not put me off having children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-raine/i-find-that-women-want-to-tell-me-about-their-birthing-experiences-in/) [Jessica Raine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-raine/) > [Since September 11 2001, editors in America have faced some excruciating choices, as the attempt to wage a war against a new kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/since-september-11-2001-editors-in-america-have-faced-some/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [Sometimes the most excruciating experiences in rehearsals and performances yield the most beautiful work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/sometimes-the-most-excruciating-experiences-in-rehearsals-and/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [ I haven't watched it \[the film 'Pink Floyd at Pompeii'\] in years. I find it excruciating. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/i-haven-t-watched-it-the-film-pink-floyd-at-pompeii-in-years-i-find/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) > [Every movie I make I find kind of excruciating. I get a lot back from it, but I feel like I'm kind of always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/every-movie-i-make-i-find-kind-of-excruciating-i-get-a-lot-back-from/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [To be honest, making albums is really never easy. It's always a bit excruciating because there's always this fight to make it great, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/to-be-honest-making-albums-is-really-never-easy-it-s-always-a-bit/) [Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/) > [The thing about ballet that I never knew about is that it's one of the most excruciating sports that I've ever been a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/the-thing-about-ballet-that-i-never-knew-about-is-that-it-s-one-of/) [Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/) > [There was this point about, you know, the basic point there as well - this statute treats some parts of the country different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/there-was-this-point-about-you-know-the-basic-point-there-as-well/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [Because there was nothing more terrifying to me, more excruciating, than the thought of turning away from him. it was an impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/because-there-was-nothing-more-terrifying-to-me-more-excruciating/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [I was really, because I thought it was extremely excruciating when I watched a tape of it, that my husband taped for me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-was-really-because-i-thought-it-was-extremely-excruciating-when-i/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [To create something new is both thrilling and excruciating at the same time. It's great to have all these choices in front of you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-baldwin/to-create-something-new-is-both-thrilling-and-excruciating-at-the/) [Kate Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-baldwin/) > [It's a very excruciating life facing that blank piece of paper every day and having to reach up somewhere into the clouds and bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/it-s-a-very-excruciating-life-facing-that-blank-piece-of-paper-every/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Dr. Bone Specialist came in, made me stand up and hobble across the room, checked my reflexes, and then made me lie down on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-notaro/dr-bone-specialist-came-in-made-me-stand-up-and-hobble-across-the/) [Laurie Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-notaro/) [Browse all 40 Excruciating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excruciating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They were all so nice and it was just excruciating. 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