--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I mean, it was hard on them. They were…" description: "\"“I mean, it was hard on them. They were turning their backs on everything they’d ever known, because they’d decided there was something that mattered m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/seanan-mcguire-972_quote_i-mean-it-was-hard-on-them-they-were-tur_1995196.jpg" --- # I mean, it was hard on them. They were turning their backs… ![“I mean, it was hard on them. They were turning their backs on everything they’d ever known, because they’d decided there was something that mattered more than doing what they’d been taught to do. Hell, what they’d been raised to do. This wasn’t a choice they made on a whim. This was everything to…” quote by Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/seanan-mcguire-972_quote_i-mean-it-was-hard-on-them-they-were-tur_1995196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/seanan-mcguire-972_quote_i-mean-it-was-hard-on-them-they-were-tur_1995196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/seanan-mcguire-972_quote_i-mean-it-was-hard-on-them-they-were-tur_1995196.jpg) > ““I mean, it was hard on them. They were turning their backs on everything they’d ever known, because they’d decided there was something that mattered more than doing what they’d been taught to do. Hell, what they’d been raised to do. This wasn’t a choice they made on a whim. This was everything to them.”” [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People may abandon familiar beliefs when a deeper purpose or truth compels them, even at great personal cost. **In simple terms:** Leaving comfort for a higher cause can be painful but necessary. Key Takeaway Recognize when a cause outweighs tradition. Themes identity purpose sacrifice change rebellion Mood conflicted determined hopeful Type narrative philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leaving oppressive societies - joining resistance movements - changing career paths - adopting new belief systems Key Concepts existentialism moral conviction personal transformation Questions to Reflect On - What cause would you choose over your upbringing? - How do you balance respect for tradition with personal conviction? A Different Perspective Such decisions can cause alienation and loss of community support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [How often we find ourselves turning our backs on our actual friends, that we may go and meet their ideal cousins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-often-we-find-ourselves-turning-our-backs-on-our-actual-friends-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How often we find ourselves turning our backs on our actual friends, that we might go and meet their ideal cousins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/how-often-we-find-ourselves-turning-our-backs-on-our-actual-friends/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [For how many generations now had his people been turning their backs on things? How long had they sat in their living rooms and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-b-dunkle/for-how-many-generations-now-had-his-people-been-turning-their-backs/) [Clare B. 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