--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In times of violence, there is always…" description: "\"“In times of violence, there is always that first acquaintance or intimate of ours, who, when they are touched, makes what had seemed like a bad dream ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/mohsin-hamid-798_bad-dream_in-times-of-violence-there-is-always-tha_3211064.jpg" --- # In times of violence, there is always that first… ![“In times of violence, there is always that first acquaintance or intimate of ours, who, when they are touched, makes what had seemed like a bad dream suddenly, evisceratingly real.” quote by Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/mohsin-hamid-798_bad-dream_in-times-of-violence-there-is-always-tha_3211064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/mohsin-hamid-798_bad-dream_in-times-of-violence-there-is-always-tha_3211064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/mohsin-hamid-798_bad-dream_in-times-of-violence-there-is-always-tha_3211064.jpg) > ““In times of violence, there is always that first acquaintance or intimate of ours, who, when they are touched, makes what had seemed like a bad dream suddenly, evisceratingly real.”” [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In violent times, a familiar person can become a vivid, painful reminder of reality when they are affected. **In simple terms:** Close ties intensify pain in chaos. Key Takeaway Recognize how relationships shape perception of conflict. Themes violence relationships reality Mood somber empathetic Type literary psychological When to use this quote - war zones - personal loss - community crises - family illness Key Concepts trauma empathy human connection Questions to Reflect On - How do personal connections alter your experience of danger? - What can you do to support those you care about in crises? A Different Perspective May overlook the protective role of such acquaintances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [I remember the '70s constantly being winter in Manchester and the Irish community in Manchester closing ranks because of the IRA bombings in Birmingham…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-remember-the-70s-constantly-being-winter-in-manchester-and-the/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [Personally, I can't stand violence. 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You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [A beard is something that is almost like a mirror to the viewer. When someone sees you wearing a beard, they're seeing something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/a-beard-is-something-that-is-almost-like-a-mirror-to-the-viewer-when/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [“I met her eyes, and for the first time I perceived that there was something broken behind them, like a tiny crack in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/i-met-her-eyes-and-for-the-first-time-i-perceived-that-there-was/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [“muscularity, made more pronounced by her gauntness, and the near-inanimate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/muscularity-made-more-pronounced-by-her-gauntness-and-the-near/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [“In this group, everyone was foreign, and so, in a sense, no one was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/in-this-group-everyone-was-foreign-and-so-in-a-sense-no-one-was/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [“It seemed to me then - and to be honest, sir, seems to me still - that America was engaged only in posturing. 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