--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most guys arrived here normal, and they…" description: "\"“Most guys arrived here normal, and they were shocked and sickened by the behavior of the guys who'd been here a while. Then within a few weeks, they'd..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/nelson-demille-3019_habits_most-guys-arrived-here-normal-and-they-w_1182440.png" --- # Most guys arrived here normal, and they were shocked and… ![“Most guys arrived here normal, and they were shocked and sickened by the behavior of the guys who'd been here a while. Then within a few weeks, they'd stop being shocked, and within a few months a lot of them joined the club of the crazies. And most of them, I think, went home and became normal…” quote by Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/nelson-demille-3019_habits_most-guys-arrived-here-normal-and-they-w_1182440.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/nelson-demille-3019_habits_most-guys-arrived-here-normal-and-they-w_1182440.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/nelson-demille-3019_habits_most-guys-arrived-here-normal-and-they-w_1182440.png) > ““Most guys arrived here normal, and they were shocked and sickened by the behavior of the guys who'd been here a while. Then within a few weeks, they'd stop being shocked, and within a few months a lot of them joined the club of the crazies. And most of them, I think, went home and became normal again, though some didn't. But I never once saw anyone here who had gone around the bend ever return to normal while they were still here. It only got worse because in this environment they'd lost any sense of. . . humanity. Or you could be nice and say they'd become desensitized. It was actually more frightening than sickening. A guy who'd sliced off the ear of a VC he'd killed that morning would be joking with the village kids and the old Mama-sans that afternoon and handing out candy. I mean, they weren't evil or psychotic, we were normal, which is was really scared the hell out of me.”” [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He recounts how prolonged exposure to violence desensitizes people, eroding humanity and normalcy. **In simple terms:** Violence erodes empathy, turning people into hardened survivors. Key Takeaway Maintain humanity by fostering empathy and critical reflection. Themes violence desensitization humanity psychology survival Mood grim introspective Type literary observational When to use this quote - military training - prison environments - conflict zones - media consumption Key Concepts psychological impact social decay moral erosion Questions to Reflect On - How does prolonged violence affect moral judgment? - What safeguards can preserve humanity in harsh environments? A Different Perspective Recovery of empathy may be slow and uneven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Frightening Sickening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening-sickening-3473191/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Scared Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-hell-657064/) [Sickened Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickened-behavior-3473190/) [Sickening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickening/) [Sickening Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickening-guy-3473189/) ## Related quotes > [“Religion is for those who are scared of hell, and spirituality is for those who have been there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/religion-is-for-those-who-are-scared-of-hell-and-spirituality-is-for/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [My father ran a saloon in Kenosha, Wis., which is just about as rough a living as I can think of. It was brutal;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-ameche/my-father-ran-a-saloon-in-kenosha-wis-which-is-just-about-as-rough-a/) [Don Ameche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-ameche/) > [“You bet." But he just leaned down, held on. "Scared me," he murmured against her cheek. "Scared hell out of me, Sophie." Hearing that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-bet-but-he-just-leaned-down-held-on-scared-me-he-murmured-against/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Sorry,” he mumbled. “You should be!” Zoe snapped. “You scared the hell out of me and now I’m about to give birth to two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-mathewson/sorry-he-mumbled-you-should-be-zoe-snapped-you-scared-the-hell-out-of/) [R.L. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-mathewson/) > [The movie that scared the hell out of me was 'The Blair Witch Project.' 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Smoke a bit, stare blankly at some ceilings, beat your head against some walls, refuse to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/get-scared-it-will-do-you-good-smoke-a-bit-stare-blankly-at-some/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Breathing hard, Patrick wants to get back out of the shower, press his wet body against Will’s strong one, and ask, “How do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leta-blake/breathing-hard-patrick-wants-to-get-back-out-of-the-shower-press-his/) [Leta Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leta-blake/) > [“I’m not scared of hell. I lived a decent life, and I don’t think there is such a place, anyway. I’m scared there’s nothing.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-m-not-scared-of-hell-i-lived-a-decent-life-and-i-don-t-think-there/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I want someone who's scared as hell of losing me. I just want someone who's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-someone-who-s-scared-as-hell-of-losing-me-i-just-want-someone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thought of playing a New York detective scared the hell out of me. I didn't know if people would believe me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-ross/the-thought-of-playing-a-new-york-detective-scared-the-hell-out-of-me/) [Charlotte Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-ross/) > [“I know you'd risk everything to protect us, and that's what worries me. You still don't know enough about this world to be properly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-know-you-d-risk-everything-to-protect-us-and-that-s-what-worries-me/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“She found herself smiling. "Was the big, bad forest ranger scared?" "I stared a fire," he said instead of answering, and the typical guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/she-found-herself-smiling-was-the-big-bad-forest-ranger-scared-i/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“The sun is high and I’m surrounded by sand. For as far as my eyes can see I’m strapped into a rocking chair With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-ngel-ma-as/the-sun-is-high-and-i-m-surrounded-by-sand-for-as-far-as-my-eyes-can/) [José Ángel Mañas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-ngel-ma-as/) > [I was overwhelmed and frankly scared as hell, because I really fell for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda/i-was-overwhelmed-and-frankly-scared-as-hell-because-i-really-fell/) [Amanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda/) ## More by Nelson DeMille > [“survived one trip into”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/survived-one-trip-into/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [The meaning of life has not much to do with good and evil, right and wrong, duty, honor, country, or any of that. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/the-meaning-of-life-has-not-much-to-do-with-good-and-evil-right-and/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“Nostalgia is basically the ability to forget the things that sucked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/nostalgia-is-basically-the-ability-to-forget-the-things-that-sucked/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“Credo quia impossibile.’ I believe it because it is impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/credo-quia-impossibile-i-believe-it-because-it-is-impossible/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [I had a very strong desire to be successful at something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/i-had-a-very-strong-desire-to-be-successful-at-something/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“The window on the right featured contemporary bestselling authors like Brad Meltzer, James Patterson, David Baldacci, Nelson DeMille, and others who make more money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/the-window-on-the-right-featured-contemporary-bestselling-authors/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [...the most common cause of death among alpha males was ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/the-most-common-cause-of-death-among-alpha-males-was-ego/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [Lawrence Kelter is an exciting new novelist, who reminds me of an early Robert Ludlum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/lawrence-kelter-is-an-exciting-new-novelist-who-reminds-me-of-an/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“I was starting to get to know the city, and when that happens in a screwed-up place, it’s time to leave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/i-was-starting-to-get-to-know-the-city-and-when-that-happens-in-a/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“Before you go on any mission, you need to understand what you know, identify what you don’t know, and try to guess what could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/before-you-go-on-any-mission-you-need-to-understand-what-you-know/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“An Englishman once said that he found it easier to be a member of a club than of the human race because the bylaws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/an-englishman-once-said-that-he-found-it-easier-to-be-a-member-of-a/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [I like the process of pencil and paper as opposed to a machine. I think the writing is better when it's done in handwriting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/i-like-the-process-of-pencil-and-paper-as-opposed-to-a-machine-i/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [There are a lot of books about the passing of the English aristocracy, but the vast majority of Long Islanders don't understand their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/there-are-a-lot-of-books-about-the-passing-of-the-english-aristocracy/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“and some other shit, and the wife—can’t remember her name—would cry a lot. The kids were young. Three of them. They were okay, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/and-some-other-shit-and-the-wife-can-t-remember-her-name-would-cry-a/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“Well, no one ever said the truth would make you happy—only free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/well-no-one-ever-said-the-truth-would-make-you-happy-only-free/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) [Explore all 139 Nelson DeMille quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) ## More Habits quotes > [“Malchut is also the Alma D’Itgalya, “the Revealed World.” Here our latent potential is actualized through behavior and expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laibl-wolf/malchut-is-also-the-alma-d-itgalya-the-revealed-world-here-our-latent/) [Laibl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laibl-wolf/) > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-a-habit-unfortunately-so-is-losing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [“the mind-numbing routine. It was the castration of thought,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/the-mind-numbing-routine-it-was-the-castration-of-thought/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. What they lack, however, are some of the brain-based skills that we all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-guare/when-it-comes-to-smarts-adolescents-like-jesse-have-plenty-what-they/) [Richard Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-guare/) > [“I settled into a contented routine of working, spending my free time with Veronica and, back in my student room, wanking explosively to fantasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-settled-into-a-contented-routine-of-working-spending-my-free-time/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/chaos-often-breeds-life-when-order-breeds-habit/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're in a meeting and a man talks loudly over you, rather than copying that behaviour and normalising it, what you could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-foster/if-you-re-in-a-meeting-and-a-man-talks-loudly-over-you-rather-than/) [Dawn Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-foster/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) [Browse all 12,567 Habits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most guys arrived here normal, and they were shocked and sickened by the behavior of the guys who'd been here a while. Then within a few weeks, they'd stop being shocked, and within a few months a lot of them joined the club of the crazies. And most of them, I think, went home and became normal again, though some didn't. But I never once saw anyone here who had gone around the bend ever return to normal while they were still here. It only got worse because in this environment they'd lost any sense of. . . humanity. Or you could be nice and say they'd become desensitized. It was actually more frightening than sickening. A guy who'd sliced off the ear of a VC he'd killed that morning would be joking with the village kids and the old Mama-sans that afternoon and handing out candy. 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