--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like the graduates of some notorious boot…" description: "\"Like the graduates of some notorious boot camp, my brothers and sisters and I look back with a sort of perverse glee at the rigors of our Catholicism. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/stephen-j-dubner-13900_boot-camp_like-the-graduates-of-some-notorious-boo_258504.jpg" --- # Like the graduates of some notorious boot camp, my… ![“Like the graduates of some notorious boot camp, my brothers and sisters and I look back with a sort of perverse glee at the rigors of our Catholicism. My oldest sister, Mary, was so convinced of the church's omnipotence that when she walked into a Protestant church with some high-school friends…” quote by Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/stephen-j-dubner-13900_boot-camp_like-the-graduates-of-some-notorious-boo_258504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/stephen-j-dubner-13900_boot-camp_like-the-graduates-of-some-notorious-boo_258504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/stephen-j-dubner-13900_boot-camp_like-the-graduates-of-some-notorious-boo_258504.jpg) > “Like the graduates of some notorious boot camp, my brothers and sisters and I look back with a sort of perverse glee at the rigors of our Catholicism. My oldest sister, Mary, was so convinced of the church's omnipotence that when she walked into a Protestant church with some high-school friends, she was sure its walls would crash down on her head.” [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflecting on how strict religious upbringing can become a source of nostalgic pride. **In simple terms:** Strict faith can feel oddly rewarding later. Key Takeaway Recognize complex feelings about past beliefs. Themes nostalgia religion identity Mood reflective bittersweet Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal reflection - counseling - cultural studies Key Concepts psychology of belief cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cherish painful past experiences? - How does this affect current faith views? A Different Perspective May romanticize harmful doctrines. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boot camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boot-camp/) [Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers/) [Brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-and-sisters/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Mary Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mary-convinced-2553363/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister/) [Sister Mary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister-mary-1715147/) [Sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sisters/) [Walked Protestant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walked-protestant-2553364/) ## Related quotes > [“Mary was convinced that because of some sin she had unwittingly committed in her life, she was mated with the devil himself. She really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/mary-was-convinced-that-because-of-some-sin-she-had-unwittingly/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“At St. Bernardine’s the nuns never liked me. Especially Sister Mary Bitch-and-a-Half. I think that was her biblical name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/at-st-bernardine-s-the-nuns-never-liked-me-especially-sister-mary/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I didn't have a teacher like Sister Mary Ignatius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/i-didn-t-have-a-teacher-like-sister-mary-ignatius/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [Sister Mary chose that moment to come in with the tea. Satanist or not, she'd also found a plate and arranged some iced biscuits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/sister-mary-chose-that-moment-to-come-in-with-the-tea-satanist-or-not/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“There is something else lacking,” echoed Sister Mary Grace, her chin lifted. Beside her, Sister Benedicta nodded vehemently. “And that is the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-galgano/there-is-something-else-lacking-echoed-sister-mary-grace-her-chin/) [Katharine Galgano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-galgano/) > [“This year I have Sister Mary Joseph for Religion. Right away I could tell she was going to become my archenemy. She has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-standiford/this-year-i-have-sister-mary-joseph-for-religion-right-away-i-could/) [Natalie Standiford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-standiford/) > [My loving sister Mary has always shared the pain and pleasure of my heartbeat in a unique and special way. We have sung our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/my-loving-sister-mary-has-always-shared-the-pain-and-pleasure-of-my/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [I grew up in a family with three brothers and sisters who joined my family through the foster care program, and I also have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-kennedy/i-grew-up-in-a-family-with-three-brothers-and-sisters-who-joined-my/) [Cary Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-kennedy/) > [It is truly not fun to be the family that sticks out in an all-white community. On the other side, I have five brothers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/it-is-truly-not-fun-to-be-the-family-that-sticks-out-in-an-all-white/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [My brothers and sisters and I spoke in a language called Egg Latin. In the early '50s in Canada, this became a fad way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hartman/my-brothers-and-sisters-and-i-spoke-in-a-language-called-egg-latin-in/) [Phil Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hartman/) > [The important thing is to not walk alone, but to rely on each other as brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-important-thing-is-to-not-walk-alone-but-to-rely-on-each-other-as/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [We have forgotten to be our brothers and sisters keepers. And we have forgotten that the Number 1 goal is to love one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/we-have-forgotten-to-be-our-brothers-and-sisters-keepers-and-we-have/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) > [I have 10 brothers and sisters. My mother raised us because my father died when I was 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-have-10-brothers-and-sisters-my-mother-raised-us-because-my-father/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Mr. Peabody is this genetic anomaly. He does have brothers and sisters, all of them non-speaking, not super-smart dogs. He's an outcast, but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/mr-peabody-is-this-genetic-anomaly-he-does-have-brothers-and-sisters/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) ## More by Stephen J. Dubner > [These are the two sides of Steven Spielberg: the reverent grown-up who knows when to say the right thing and the exuberant kid who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/these-are-the-two-sides-of-steven-spielberg-the-reverent-grown-up-who/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [The world is complicated. But does every problem require a complicated solution?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/the-world-is-complicated-but-does-every-problem-require-a-complicated/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [People are being incentivized for the wrong things. We've heard about a lot - doctors for procedures rather than creating wellness or maintaining wellness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/people-are-being-incentivized-for-the-wrong-things-we-ve-heard-about/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [While in the middle of writing a book, I have a hard time reading other books for pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/while-in-the-middle-of-writing-a-book-i-have-a-hard-time-reading/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [That's what's good about the digital revolution is it makes information asymmetry much harder to maintain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/that-s-what-s-good-about-the-digital-revolution-is-it-makes/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [Most laws that we make to protect people from guns are usually ignored by the criminals and obeyed by the law-abiding people. And so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/most-laws-that-we-make-to-protect-people-from-guns-are-usually/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [If the day's writing has been particularly good or particularly bad, a glass of scotch will be involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/if-the-day-s-writing-has-been-particularly-good-or-particularly-bad-a/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [As everyone knows, tips constitute the bulk of a waiter's or waitress's income. But they are also optional, at least in theory. Does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/as-everyone-knows-tips-constitute-the-bulk-of-a-waiter-s-or-waitress/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [What I think of as 'freakonomics' is mostly storytelling around an idea - not a theme but an idea. I like ideas much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/what-i-think-of-as-freakonomics-is-mostly-storytelling-around-an-idea/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [The Immaculate Reception became the Zapruder Film of sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/the-immaculate-reception-became-the-zapruder-film-of-sports/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [We're all biased, right, in many different ways - politically, religiously, ideologically, the way our family raised us - and that's fine. Nobody wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/we-re-all-biased-right-in-many-different-ways-politically-religiously/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [Think small. Don't pretend you know the answers. Experiment; get feedback. These are all the premises of 'Think Like a Freak,' really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/think-small-don-t-pretend-you-know-the-answers-experiment-get/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [I think the most fundamental error we make is mistaking a noisy, anomalous event for the norm. This happens all the time - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/i-think-the-most-fundamental-error-we-make-is-mistaking-a-noisy/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [What's really the driver of talent is not raw ability. It's not even just experience. It's what's called 'deliberate practice,' which is to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/what-s-really-the-driver-of-talent-is-not-raw-ability-it-s-not-even/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) > [In at least one way we are atypical bloggers. That’s because we just keep on posting. The typical blogger, like most people who go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-dubner/in-at-least-one-way-we-are-atypical-bloggers-that-s-because-we-just/) [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) [Explore all 48 Stephen J. Dubner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) ## More Boot camp quotes > [“Corbin wanted, quite simply, to die. He had wished for death many times over his long lifespan, but never as fervently as he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/corbin-wanted-quite-simply-to-die-he-had-wished-for-death-many-times/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“Outside, milling under the ubiquitous gaze of security cameras, are bright splashes of colorful souls wearing crystals, beads, and Native American Indian paraphernalia; middle-aged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rak-razam/outside-milling-under-the-ubiquitous-gaze-of-security-cameras-are/) [Rak Razam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rak-razam/) > [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [When you first start out, people think this is super easy and you find your crew super quick. But you've really got to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-michaels/when-you-first-start-out-people-think-this-is-super-easy-and-you-find/) [Julia Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-michaels/) > [“Instead of trying to get to the bottom of why her daughter was floundering through life, she sent me off to ranch boot camp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/instead-of-trying-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-why-her-daughter-was/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [The great thing about a sitcom is that you're in front of a live audience, so you really get in touch with what audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/topher-grace/the-great-thing-about-a-sitcom-is-that-you-re-in-front-of-a-live/) [Topher Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/topher-grace/) > [Football is so barbaric. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking by playing it. I feel almost like I escaped from boot camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/football-is-so-barbaric-sometimes-i-wonder-what-i-was-thinking-by/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [The act of exercising at 6 A.M. really helped me. It made me not dread the workout part of my day all day long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-jaret-winokur/the-act-of-exercising-at-6-a-m-really-helped-me-it-made-me-not-dread/) [Marissa Jaret Winokur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-jaret-winokur/) > [“You admit nothing. Deny everything. Demand proof. Did you learn nothing in Boot Camp?" (Mace to Smitty)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/you-admit-nothing-deny-everything-demand-proof-did-you-learn-nothing/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [WWE is like showbiz boot camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ambrose/wwe-is-like-showbiz-boot-camp/) [Dean Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ambrose/) > [I was in better shape when I went into boot camp than when I came out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-ryssdal/i-was-in-better-shape-when-i-went-into-boot-camp-than-when-i-came-out/) [Kai Ryssdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-ryssdal/) > [I still run into people in the business who skip over any other credits I have and say, 'I loved 'Hey, Dude!'' This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-yost/i-still-run-into-people-in-the-business-who-skip-over-any-other/) [Graham Yost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-yost/) > [Under the leadership of President Obama and a whole host of partners, including nonprofits, foundations, and advocates, the Department of Labor has made historic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perez/under-the-leadership-of-president-obama-and-a-whole-host-of-partners/) [Tom Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perez/) > [People love misery, they love to feel sorry for themselves, and they definitely don't want to be enlightened. That's the first thing they tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/people-love-misery-they-love-to-feel-sorry-for-themselves-and-they/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Soap operas are like TV boot camp. You have to be able to self-direct, learn a ton of dialogue in a short amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-navedo/soap-operas-are-like-tv-boot-camp-you-have-to-be-able-to-self-direct/) [Andrea Navedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-navedo/) [Browse all 102 Boot camp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boot-camp/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like the graduates of some notorious boot camp, my brothers and sisters and I look back with a sort of perverse glee at the rigors of our Catholicism. My oldest sister, Mary, was so convinced of the church's omnipotence that when she walked into a Protestant church with some high-school friends, she was sure its walls would crash down on her head.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen J. 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