---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People love seeing violence and horrible…"
description: "\"“People love seeing violence and horrible things. The human being is bad and can't stand more than five minutes of happiness. Put him in a dark theater..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/paul-verhoeven-46791_film-director_people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible_2693194.jpg"
---

#  People love seeing violence and horrible things. The human…

![“People love seeing violence and horrible things. The human being is bad and can't stand more than five minutes of happiness. Put him in a dark theater and ask him to look at two hours of happiness, and he'd walk out or fall asleep.” quote by Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/paul-verhoeven-46791_film-director_people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible_2693194.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/paul-verhoeven-46791_film-director_people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible_2693194.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/paul-verhoeven-46791_film-director_people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible_2693194.jpg)

> ““People love seeing violence and horrible things. The human being is bad and can't stand more than five minutes of happiness. Put him in a dark theater and ask him to look at two hours of happiness, and he'd walk out or fall asleep.””

[Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People are drawn to darkness; prolonged happiness feels uncomfortable, leading to disengagement.

**In simple terms:** People prefer darkness; long happiness is unsettling.

Key Takeaway

Balance dark and light experiences.

Themes

human nature entertainment psychology

Mood

analytical critical

Type

thoughtful philosophical

When to use this quote

- theatre
- cinema
- psychological research

Key Concepts

media studies philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- Why is sustained happiness rare?
- How can media balance tone?

A Different Perspective

May overgeneralize human behavior.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Film-director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-director/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/)

## Related quotes

> [It's strange the way people hear and see things. Like going to films - —violent films. To me, seeing violence in a film makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-capaldi/it-s-strange-the-way-people-hear-and-see-things-like-going-to-films/)

[Jim Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-capaldi/)

> [We think of violence as being conflict and fighting and wars and so forth, but the most ongoing horrific measure of violence is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/we-think-of-violence-as-being-conflict-and-fighting-and-wars-and-so-2/)

[Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/)

> [I didn't meddle. If I did meddle there wouldn't be all this violence. All this horrible sexism in games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-chafee/i-didn-t-meddle-if-i-did-meddle-there-wouldn-t-be-all-this-violence/)

[Lincoln Chafee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-chafee/)

> [We are all doomed to seek our own happiness; we can't help ourselves. We are all, the cruel and the gentle alike, condemned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-browner/we-are-all-doomed-to-seek-our-own-happiness-we-can-t-help-ourselves/)

[Jesse Browner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-browner/)

> [“...during the clear, calm days and years...we ought to be, laying by, as it were; storing up light and strength and happiness for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-e-richards/during-the-clear-calm-days-and-years-we-ought-to-be-laying-by-as-it/)

[Laura E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-e-richards/)

> [I cannot believe that violence depicted onscreen actually causes people to act out violently. That's oversimplifying the issue. If somebody commits a violent act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-chan-wook/i-cannot-believe-that-violence-depicted-onscreen-actually-causes/)

[Park Chan-wook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-chan-wook/)

> [“I am human though, and even I have my bad days. People often forget that I'm just human. We're all just human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabatha-beshears/i-am-human-though-and-even-i-have-my-bad-days-people-often-forget/)

[Tabatha Beshears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabatha-beshears/)

> [To will is human, to will the bad is of fallen nature, but to will the good is of Grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/to-will-is-human-to-will-the-bad-is-of-fallen-nature-but-to-will-the/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [I'm human. I have bad games, I have bad moments, but that's me. I cannot stay on the floor, knocked out. I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davinson-sanchez/i-m-human-i-have-bad-games-i-have-bad-moments-but-that-s-me-i-cannot/)

[Davinson Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davinson-sanchez/)

> [No human being is so bad as to be beyond redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-human-being-is-so-bad-as-to-be-beyond-redemption/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [We are all human, and we do bad things sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/we-are-all-human-and-we-do-bad-things-sometimes/)

[Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/)

> [“Everything you have heard about the shower scene is true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/everything-you-have-heard-about-the-shower-scene-is-true/)

[Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

> [“If you can film an idea in your mind, follow that film idea shot for shot, scene for scene and enjoy it, that idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mapp/if-you-can-film-an-idea-in-your-mind-follow-that-film-idea-shot-for/)

Craig Mapp

> [“Use filmmaking to eliminate racism – use to it terminate misogyny – use it to destroy homophobia and all other primitiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/use-filmmaking-to-eliminate-racism-use-to-it-terminate-misogyny-use/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Filmmaking has the power to fortify the feeble, unify the divided, raise the abandoned and inspire the ignorant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/filmmaking-has-the-power-to-fortify-the-feeble-unify-the-divided/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

## More by Paul Verhoeven

> [Jesus may have had an immense sense of importance or destiny, but he never claimed to be the Son of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/jesus-may-have-had-an-immense-sense-of-importance-or-destiny-but-he/)

[Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

> [I had decided after 'Hollow Man' to stay away from science fiction. I felt I had done so much science fiction. Four of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/i-had-decided-after-hollow-man-to-stay-away-from-science-fiction-i/)

[Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

> [My first film was a comedy, but after that I went always into more heavier stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/my-first-film-was-a-comedy-but-after-that-i-went-always-into-more/)

[Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

> [I had become a film director because I thought I could express something in an artful way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/i-had-become-a-film-director-because-i-thought-i-could-express/)

[Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

> [Science fiction is about worlds you don't know and worlds you can create, like in 'Avatar'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/science-fiction-is-about-worlds-you-don-t-know-and-worlds-you-can/)

[Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

> [Jesus was a human being, bound by history and the natural world; an extraordinary man, to be sure, but still a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/jesus-was-a-human-being-bound-by-history-and-the-natural-world-an/)

[Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

> [“Everything you have heard about the shower scene is true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/everything-you-have-heard-about-the-shower-scene-is-true/)

[Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

[Explore all 8 Paul Verhoeven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/)

## More Film-director quotes

> [“Filmmaking has the power to fortify the feeble, unify the divided, raise the abandoned and inspire the ignorant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/filmmaking-has-the-power-to-fortify-the-feeble-unify-the-divided/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Use filmmaking to eliminate racism – use to it terminate misogyny – use it to destroy homophobia and all other primitiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/use-filmmaking-to-eliminate-racism-use-to-it-terminate-misogyny-use/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“If you can film an idea in your mind, follow that film idea shot for shot, scene for scene and enjoy it, that idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mapp/if-you-can-film-an-idea-in-your-mind-follow-that-film-idea-shot-for/)

Craig Mapp

> [“If you don't get it right, what's the point?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cimino/if-you-don-t-get-it-right-what-s-the-point/)

Michael Cimino

> [“Make films that purify the soul with the flow of rational, vigorous and compassionate thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/make-films-that-purify-the-soul-with-the-flow-of-rational-vigorous/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Take the clapper and become the alarm that the world so desperately needs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/take-the-clapper-and-become-the-alarm-that-the-world-so-desperately/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“The art of filmmaking is the most influential form of art that has ever existed throughout the history of human artistic endeavors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-art-of-filmmaking-is-the-most-influential-form-of-art-that-has/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Healthy entertainment does not evoke raw emotions in the mind of a viewer only to make them wreak havoc, rather it guides those emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/healthy-entertainment-does-not-evoke-raw-emotions-in-the-mind-of-a/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Whatever genre you deem suitable for your taste – romance, comedy, action, mystery, sci-fi or anything else, make sure it has the plain everyday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/whatever-genre-you-deem-suitable-for-your-taste-romance-comedy-action/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Healthy entertainment is a beautiful blend of stimuli that can connect with the viewer at a sentimental level, then sow the seeds of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/healthy-entertainment-is-a-beautiful-blend-of-stimuli-that-can/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“A Film has the potential to kindle such a spark of inspiration in an individual that it can alter the course of human progress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/a-film-has-the-potential-to-kindle-such-a-spark-of-inspiration-in-an/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Entertain, but also, give the viewer something to think about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/entertain-but-also-give-the-viewer-something-to-think-about/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Use filmmaking for a greater purpose, than to just entertain some drowsy minds. Wake the whole world up with your movies. It has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/use-filmmaking-for-a-greater-purpose-than-to-just-entertain-some/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Give people films, they will forget after a few weeks, but give people ideas, they will assimilate them into their consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/give-people-films-they-will-forget-after-a-few-weeks-but-give-people/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Make movies my friend – make nice, inspiring and bold movies that will penetrate the darkest corners of the human mind and illuminate the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/make-movies-my-friend-make-nice-inspiring-and-bold-movies-that-will/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

[Browse all 19 Film-director quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-director/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“People love seeing violence and horrible things. The human being is bad and can't stand more than five minutes of happiness. Put him in a dark theater and ask him to look at two hours of happiness, and he'd walk out or fall asleep.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Paul Verhoeven"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible-things-the-human-being-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Film-director"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible-things-the-human-being-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/paul-verhoeven-46791_film-director_people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible_2693194.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/paul-verhoeven-46791_film-director_people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible_2693194.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/paul-verhoeven-46791_film-director_people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible_2693194.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People love seeing violence and horrible things. The human being is bad and can't stand more than five…” — Paul Verhoeven",
                "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": "Paul Verhoeven",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“People love seeing violence and horrible...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible-things-the-human-being-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/people-love-seeing-violence-and-horrible-things-the-human-being-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```