"When I'm forced by circumstances to be in a crowd of prisoners, it's all I can do to refrain from attack"

This quote by Jack Henry Abbott speaks with the problem of being in a crowd of prisoners. It recommends that Abbott has a strong desire to attack when he remains in a crowd of prisoners, but he has the ability to restrain himself. This could be interpreted as an indication of Abbott's self-control, as he is able to withstand the desire to act out in a potentially unsafe circumstance. It could likewise be translated as a sign of Abbott's worry of the consequences of assaulting somebody in a crowd of prisoners. Abbott is aware of the potential consequences of his actions and is able to limit himself, even when he remains in a situation that might be possibly hazardous. This quote talks to the problem of remaining in a circumstance that could be possibly harmful, and the significance of self-control in such a scenario.