---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How is it that you can go from decent…"
description: "\"“How is it that you can go from decent human being to complete jackass in zero-point-two seconds? Did they teach you that in The Eye?\" He stopped, and ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-hu_939391.jpg"
---

#  How is it that you can go from decent human being to…

![“How is it that you can go from decent human being to complete jackass in zero-point-two seconds? Did they teach you that in The Eye?&quot; He stopped, and his eyes glided over my lips. &quot;Actually, I'm just trying to see if I can make you mad enough to kiss me again.” quote by Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-hu_939391.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-hu_939391.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-hu_939391.jpg)

> ““How is it that you can go from decent human being to complete jackass in zero-point-two seconds? Did they teach you that in The Eye?" He stopped, and his eyes glided over my lips. "Actually, I'm just trying to see if I can make you mad enough to kiss me again.””

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

## About This Quote

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

A character questions rapid moral decline and tests another's patience.

**In simple terms:** Sudden shift from decent to rude.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address sudden negative behavior.

Themes

psychology relationships conflict

Mood

tense curious

Type

analytical inspirational

When to use this quote

- relationship counseling
- conflict resolution
- behavioral analysis

Key Concepts

moral flexibility emotional triggers interpersonal dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- Why might someone act harshly in a moment?
- How can you respond constructively to sudden aggression?

A Different Perspective

Assuming intent can misinterpret actions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Complete Jackass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complete-jackass-1454575/) [Eye Stopped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye-stopped-1593912/) [Jackass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jackass/) [Lips Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips-actually-1593914/) [Mad Kiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-kiss-1593913/)

## Related quotes

> [“So why were you with her?" "She was my assignment." "From The Eye?" "No,from the Boy Scouts. That Witch Dating badge just kept eluding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/so-why-were-you-with-her-she-was-my-assignment-from-the-eye-no-from-2/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“I always thought of you as the girl I would eventually become serious with. The only explanation I can really give you is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/i-always-thought-of-you-as-the-girl-i-would-eventually-become-serious/)

[Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/)

> [“Doc awakened very slowly and clumsily like a fat man getting out of a swimming pool. His mind broke the surface and fell back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/doc-awakened-very-slowly-and-clumsily-like-a-fat-man-getting-out-of-a/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I'm super weird about my lips. I actually don't let makeup artists do my lipstick. I know my own lip line. I feel, even,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madelaine-petsch/i-m-super-weird-about-my-lips-i-actually-don-t-let-makeup-artists-do/)

[Madelaine Petsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madelaine-petsch/)

> [Not only did I kiss his lips. and that I actually told him I loved him. but to know he could just get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-only-did-i-kiss-his-lips-and-that-i-actually-told-him-i-loved-him/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Problem?” a silky voice murmured. I ignored Torin and turned my attention to the stack of notebooks near the couch. “I am sorry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/problem-a-silky-voice-murmured-i-ignored-torin-and-turned-my/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Jackass, jackass on the wall, where's the info on Hex Hall?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/jackass-jackass-on-the-wall-where-s-the-info-on-hex-hall/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“I barely duck out of the way of an empty coffee mug flying dangerously close to my head. It crashes and breaks loudly near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-dominguez/i-barely-duck-out-of-the-way-of-an-empty-coffee-mug-flying/)

[Ella Dominguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-dominguez/)

> [“I’m going to find Grant. And then I’m going to play a game of pin the sword on the jackass.”“You’re not going down there.”“But…but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nova-carlyle/i-m-going-to-find-grant-and-then-i-m-going-to-play-a-game-of-pin-the/)

[Nova Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nova-carlyle/)

> [“And Nate? You kiss like a slobbering dog, you have bad breath, and you wouldn't know how to punch the right buttons on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-eulberg/and-nate-you-kiss-like-a-slobbering-dog-you-have-bad-breath-and-you/)

[Elizabeth Eulberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-eulberg/)

> [Jessica: “You great drunken jackass!” Dain: “I did not give you leave to use my Christian name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/jessica-you-great-drunken-jackass-dain-i-did-not-give-you-leave-to/)

[Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/)

> [More than one side? You're Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Jackass!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/more-than-one-side-you-re-dr-jekyll-and-mr-jackass/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“That girl was you. And I was such a jackass because I was mad at myself for giving you up. I sent you into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-dermott/that-girl-was-you-and-i-was-such-a-jackass-because-i-was-mad-at/)

[Shannon Dermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-dermott/)

> [Ma'am, when I got up this morning, I didn't want to be jackass. You just pushed my jackass button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/ma-am-when-i-got-up-this-morning-i-didn-t-want-to-be-jackass-you-just/)

[Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/)

> [“It’s funny how when it’s somebody else telling the story it’s easy to see that He can’t take a joke is just another way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-decarlo/it-s-funny-how-when-it-s-somebody-else-telling-the-story-it-s-easy-to/)

[Melissa DeCarlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-decarlo/)

## More by Rachel Hawkins

> [“Cal stepped forward, hopefully to come to my rescue. "I could toss her off the pier, Ms. Vanderlyden." Or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/cal-stepped-forward-hopefully-to-come-to-my-rescue-i-could-toss-her/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. The rain of Doritos, the bed thing,this...Maybe it's just that you create too big, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/or-maybe-your-magic-isn-t-that-destructive-after-all-the-rain-of/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“We headed down a narrow flight of stairs that ended at a low arch. Beyond the arch was yet another murky room. Did these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/we-headed-down-a-narrow-flight-of-stairs-that-ended-at-a-low-arch/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“I know it looks vaguely unsanitary and potentially scandalous, Nana, but I promise that Izzy and I are only pursuing noble...pursuits. We've even got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-know-it-looks-vaguely-unsanitary-and-potentially-scandalous-nana/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Looking back, none of this would have happened if I’d brought lip gloss the night of the Homecoming Dance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/looking-back-none-of-this-would-have-happened-if-i-d-brought-lip/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Izzy was sitting cross-legged on the couch, a paper-back book in her hands. She didn’t look up when we came in, and I wondered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/izzy-was-sitting-cross-legged-on-the-couch-a-paper-back-book-in-her/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“I knew." "What?" "I knew what you were then, Sophie. Your dad told me before the betrothal. And you told me about your grandmother,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-knew-what-i-knew-what-you-were-then-sophie-your-dad-told-me-before/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Welcome to The Twilight Zone!” The “Holy-crap-that’s-a-lot-of-pink” Zone would have been a more accurate description.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/welcome-to-the-twilight-zone-the-holy-crap-that-s-a-lot-of-pink-zone/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“There was an intruder on a forbidden part of the island, and the security system was compromised." Another image of Archer's sword slicing through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/there-was-an-intruder-on-a-forbidden-part-of-the-island-and-the/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Do you remember the section on controlling demons in Demonologies ? I believe it's in chapter five." "Um...no." Irritation flashed over his face. "Honestly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/do-you-remember-the-section-on-controlling-demons-in-demonologies-i/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Both of us widened our eyes and said, "Woah." Then I immediately blushed. Oh my God, had I just looked at Archer and said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/both-of-us-widened-our-eyes-and-said-woah-then-i-immediately-blushed/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Ah, Grace and Aislinn arguing. It’s like old times again,” a male voice said, sounding vaguely muffled. “Could someone take this blasted thing off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/ah-grace-and-aislinn-arguing-it-s-like-old-times-again-a-male-voice/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Why do you think Lara is Lara Casnoff, and Mrs. Casnoff is Mrs. Casnoff?” Elodie whispered as she worked her magic on the enchanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/why-do-you-think-lara-is-lara-casnoff-and-mrs-casnoff-is-mrs-casnoff/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Put simply,she freaked me the hell out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/put-simply-she-freaked-me-the-hell-out/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“When someone tells you somebody's been murdered, laughing is probably not the best response. You know, for future reference. But laughing is exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/when-someone-tells-you-somebody-s-been-murdered-laughing-is-probably/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

[Explore all 614 Rachel Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

## More Jackass quotes

> [“It’s funny how when it’s somebody else telling the story it’s easy to see that He can’t take a joke is just another way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-decarlo/it-s-funny-how-when-it-s-somebody-else-telling-the-story-it-s-easy-to/)

[Melissa DeCarlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-decarlo/)

> [Ma'am, when I got up this morning, I didn't want to be jackass. You just pushed my jackass button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/ma-am-when-i-got-up-this-morning-i-didn-t-want-to-be-jackass-you-just/)

[Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/)

> [“That girl was you. And I was such a jackass because I was mad at myself for giving you up. I sent you into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-dermott/that-girl-was-you-and-i-was-such-a-jackass-because-i-was-mad-at/)

[Shannon Dermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-dermott/)

> [“Problem?” a silky voice murmured. I ignored Torin and turned my attention to the stack of notebooks near the couch. “I am sorry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/problem-a-silky-voice-murmured-i-ignored-torin-and-turned-my/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“Jackass, jackass on the wall, where's the info on Hex Hall?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/jackass-jackass-on-the-wall-where-s-the-info-on-hex-hall/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [More than one side? You're Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Jackass!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/more-than-one-side-you-re-dr-jekyll-and-mr-jackass/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [Jessica: “You great drunken jackass!” Dain: “I did not give you leave to use my Christian name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/jessica-you-great-drunken-jackass-dain-i-did-not-give-you-leave-to/)

[Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/)

> [“And Nate? You kiss like a slobbering dog, you have bad breath, and you wouldn't know how to punch the right buttons on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-eulberg/and-nate-you-kiss-like-a-slobbering-dog-you-have-bad-breath-and-you/)

[Elizabeth Eulberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-eulberg/)

> [“I’m going to find Grant. And then I’m going to play a game of pin the sword on the jackass.”“You’re not going down there.”“But…but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nova-carlyle/i-m-going-to-find-grant-and-then-i-m-going-to-play-a-game-of-pin-the/)

[Nova Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nova-carlyle/)

> [“I barely duck out of the way of an empty coffee mug flying dangerously close to my head. It crashes and breaks loudly near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-dominguez/i-barely-duck-out-of-the-way-of-an-empty-coffee-mug-flying/)

[Ella Dominguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-dominguez/)

> [“You look more of less the same." She strode right past him. "And you still look like a jackass," she said sweetly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-look-more-of-less-the-same-she-strode-right-past-him-and-you/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“- He's arrogant, and he sleeps with everything he can get his filthy hands on. Most of time, I just want to claw his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kody-keplinger/he-s-arrogant-and-he-sleeps-with-everything-he-can-get-his-filthy/)

[Kody Keplinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kody-keplinger/)

> [“Oh, sweetie, you are a jackass. I love you, but you are dumber than a one legged duck in an ass kicking contest when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-sivec/oh-sweetie-you-are-a-jackass-i-love-you-but-you-are-dumber-than-a-one/)

[Tara Sivec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-sivec/)

> [All work and no play may make Jim a dull boy, but no work and all play makes Jim all kinds of a jackass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-randolph-hearst/all-work-and-no-play-may-make-jim-a-dull-boy-but-no-work-and-all-play/)

[William Randolph Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-randolph-hearst/)

> [“Why had she imagined he was attractive? He was absolutely the biggest, most complete and utter jackass she'd ever had the bad fortune to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/why-had-she-imagined-he-was-attractive-he-was-absolutely-the-biggest/)

[Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/)

[Browse all 72 Jackass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jackass/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“How is it that you can go from decent human being to complete jackass in zero-point-two seconds? Did they teach you that in The Eye?\" He stopped, and his eyes glided over my lips. \"Actually, I'm just trying to see if I can make you mad enough to kiss me again.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rachel Hawkins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-human-being-to-complete-jackass/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Jackass"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-human-being-to-complete-jackass/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-hu_939391.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-hu_939391.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-hu_939391.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How is it that you can go from decent human being to complete jackass in zero-point-two seconds? Did they…” — Rachel Hawkins",
                "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": "Rachel Hawkins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“How is it that you can...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-human-being-to-complete-jackass/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/how-is-it-that-you-can-go-from-decent-human-being-to-complete-jackass/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
