--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bullets sound like hornets when they pass…" description: "\"“Bullets sound like hornets when they pass too close to your head. After a while, the world closes down. You can't hear much, you can't see much, just ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/sarah-zettel-12795_bullets_bullets-sound-like-hornets-when-they-pas_1171489.png" --- # Bullets sound like hornets when they pass too close to… ![“Bullets sound like hornets when they pass too close to your head. After a while, the world closes down. You can't hear much, you can't see much, just the way ahead, the next slat, the next open gate. All you know is running; the only place that's real is away.” quote by Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/sarah-zettel-12795_bullets_bullets-sound-like-hornets-when-they-pas_1171489.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/sarah-zettel-12795_bullets_bullets-sound-like-hornets-when-they-pas_1171489.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/sarah-zettel-12795_bullets_bullets-sound-like-hornets-when-they-pas_1171489.png) > ““Bullets sound like hornets when they pass too close to your head. After a while, the world closes down. You can't hear much, you can't see much, just the way ahead, the next slat, the next open gate. All you know is running; the only place that's real is away.”” [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense stress narrows perception to immediate survival, making the present the only reality. **In simple terms:** Stress limits perception to survival mode. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage stress. Themes psychology stress survival perception Mood tense urgent Type motivational cautionary When to use this quote - combat zones - high‑pressure jobs - trauma recovery Key Concepts Fight or flight cognitive narrowing mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What coping tools broaden awareness under stress? - How does focusing on the present help? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex trauma responses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bullets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullets/) [Bullets Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullets-sound-3398240/) [Close Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-head-3083905/) [Closes Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closes-hear-3398242/) [Dust-girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dust-girl/) [Like Hornets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-hornets-3398241/) [Sarah-zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarah-zettel/) ## Related quotes > [“What's it like where they live?" "It's everything you want it to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/what-s-it-like-where-they-live-it-s-everything-you-want-it-to-be/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“Now that you know the wishing ways, you'll feel the wishes around you. 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He had the kind of face that could make you believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-d-been-right-about-jack-holland-he-had-the-kind-of-face-that-could/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“I wish I knew who I am," I whispered to the stars in Baya's eyes. Slowly, Baya shook his head. "Oh, Dust Girl, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-wish-i-knew-who-i-am-i-whispered-to-the-stars-in-baya-s-eyes-slowly/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“We're not in Fairyland! We're in Kansas!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/we-re-not-in-fairyland-we-re-in-kansas/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“A gun is a terrible thing. 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So beautiful, I wanted to tear out my heart and hand it over, because after seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/they-were-beautiful-beyond-words-beautiful-beyond-understanding-so/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [A jealous wife is like a hornets' nest in your mattress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/a-jealous-wife-is-like-a-hornets-nest-in-your-mattress/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I learned not to blink in a close-up or move your head at all, because if you did, they wouldn't use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-avalon/i-learned-not-to-blink-in-a-close-up-or-move-your-head-at-all-because/) [Frankie Avalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-avalon/) > [In Banff, the mountains are really close to your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-peacock/in-banff-the-mountains-are-really-close-to-your-head/) [Jan Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-peacock/) > [When I'm up there, and I know the show's coming to a close, in my head I'm saying to myself, Oh man, you gotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/when-i-m-up-there-and-i-know-the-show-s-coming-to-a-close-in-my-head/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) ## More by Sarah Zettel > [Then, I realized that there is an indigenous presence in the Solar System. It's us. So, then, I got to wondering what would happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/then-i-realized-that-there-is-an-indigenous-presence-in-the-solar/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [When I'm not at the keyboard, I'm generally reading, practicing tai chi or middle eastern dance, or cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/when-i-m-not-at-the-keyboard-i-m-generally-reading-practicing-tai-chi/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“What's it like where they live?" "It's everything you want it to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/what-s-it-like-where-they-live-it-s-everything-you-want-it-to-be/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [So, one of the things I was doing with the aliens in The Quiet Invasion was creating that advanced society which had ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/so-one-of-the-things-i-was-doing-with-the-aliens-in-the-quiet/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“Sometimes it's not good for people to find out who you really are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/sometimes-it-s-not-good-for-people-to-find-out-who-you-really-are/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [I have to do more close research and fact checking for the science fiction. This is not however to say that writing good fantasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-have-to-do-more-close-research-and-fact-checking-for-the-science/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [I feel SF is going through an experimental phase right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-feel-sf-is-going-through-an-experimental-phase-right-now/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [When I was in college, I spent a summer working in London. I'd enjoyed tea before that, but then I got actual, really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/when-i-was-in-college-i-spent-a-summer-working-in-london-i-d-enjoyed/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“They were beautiful beyond words, beautiful beyond understanding. So beautiful, I wanted to tear out my heart and hand it over, because after seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/they-were-beautiful-beyond-words-beautiful-beyond-understanding-so/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [Now, Venus is an extremely hostile environment, and as such presents a lot of challenges for a science fiction author who wants to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/now-venus-is-an-extremely-hostile-environment-and-as-such-presents-a/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [First and foremost, The Quiet Invasion is a first contact story. What would we do if we actually found evidence of alien life out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/first-and-foremost-the-quiet-invasion-is-a-first-contact-story-what/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [Becoming a mother cannot help but change things. An author's life is reflected in their writing, whether they want it to be or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/becoming-a-mother-cannot-help-but-change-things-an-author-s-life-is/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“But art is supposed to enlighten, isn’t it? Not just reflect? It’s to show us the best of the present modeled in the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/but-art-is-supposed-to-enlighten-isn-t-it-not-just-reflect-it-s-to/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [I think the diversity of authors and readers is expanding, which is wonderful, because it means the type of story being told is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-think-the-diversity-of-authors-and-readers-is-expanding-which-is/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“I'd never have gotten this far without you," I said. Jack tipped his cap to me. My heart squirmed around to find a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-you-i-said-jack-tipped-his-cap/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) [Explore all 53 Sarah Zettel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) ## More Bullets quotes > [There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/there-is-no-silver-bullet-there-are-always-options-and-the-options/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“One javelin through five people is like a murder kabob. Saves bullets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/one-javelin-through-five-people-is-like-a-murder-kabob-saves-bullets/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [We're not going to cure terrorism and spread peace and goodwill in the Middle East by killing innocent people, or I'm not even saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/we-re-not-going-to-cure-terrorism-and-spread-peace-and-goodwill-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Discoveries from one community cannot be repackaged and provided to another as a silver bullet, That's a "best practice" rollout and it invariably evokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/discoveries-from-one-community-cannot-be-repackaged-and-provided-to/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [Thus is man made equal to every event. He can face danger for the right. A poor, tender, painful body, he can run into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/thus-is-man-made-equal-to-every-event-he-can-face-danger-for-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [My God! The English language is a form of communication! Conversation isn't just crossfire where you shoot and get shot at! Where you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/my-god-the-english-language-is-a-form-of-communication-conversation/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“If mankind's destined to bite the bullet, let's bite it and be damned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/if-mankind-s-destined-to-bite-the-bullet-let-s-bite-it-and-be-damned/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Guard yourself and your conscience no one else will and know that a bad decision at the right time can destroy you far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clavell/guard-yourself-and-your-conscience-no-one-else-will-and-know-that-a/) [James Clavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clavell/) > [“It takes thousands of bullets to kill an army but one to end a war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martinez/it-takes-thousands-of-bullets-to-kill-an-army-but-one-to-end-a-war/) [Michael Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martinez/) > [I hate it, it is tedious... when I write for my act, it is very improvisational, I write bullet points, I cannot sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-hate-it-it-is-tedious-when-i-write-for-my-act-it-is-very/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [Trump conducts meetings and actually tries to get something done rather than just have the meeting and rather than just announce a framework and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/trump-conducts-meetings-and-actually-tries-to-get-something-done/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [This is like playing Russian roulette with a Luger rather than a revolver. One bullet, one chamber - and we're pulling the trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/this-is-like-playing-russian-roulette-with-a-luger-rather-than-a/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [I've buried six Guardian Angels who have been shot and killed in the line of duty. I was stalked myself, had a gunman go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sliwa/i-ve-buried-six-guardian-angels-who-have-been-shot-and-killed-in-the/) [Curtis Sliwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sliwa/) [Browse all 796 Bullets quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullets/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Bullets sound like hornets when they pass too close to your head. After a while, the world closes down. You can't hear much, you can't see much, just the way ahead, the next slat, the next open gate. 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