--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thief!- how did you crawl into, crawl…" description: "\"Thief!- how did you crawl into, crawl down alone into the death I wanted so badly and for so long ...\" — Anne Sexton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/anne-sexton-645_crawl_thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down_1409793.png" --- # Thief!- how did you crawl into, crawl down alone into the… ![“Thief!- how did you crawl into, crawl down alone into the death I wanted so badly and for so long ...” quote by Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/anne-sexton-645_crawl_thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down_1409793.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/anne-sexton-645_crawl_thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down_1409793.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/anne-sexton-645_crawl_thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down_1409793.png) > “Thief!- how did you crawl into, crawl down alone into the death I wanted so badly and for so long ...” [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker confronts a deep, personal longing for a death that feels both desired and terrifying. **In simple terms:** A yearning for death mixes desire and fear. Key Takeaway Explore the complexity of longing. Themes death longing inner conflict Mood melancholic introspective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - creative writing - mental health support - spiritual exploration Key Concepts existentialism psychology poetry Questions to Reflect On - What does this longing reveal about your inner world? - How can you transform this desire into life‑affirming actions? A Different Perspective Romanticizing death can ignore its real consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crawl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crawl/) [Crawl Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crawl-death-4964753/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Did Crawl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-crawl-4497339/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Suicidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicidal/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) [Thief Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief-did-2768407/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [What dark corner of the soul did you crawl out of?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-o-connell/what-dark-corner-of-the-soul-did-you-crawl-out-of/) [Jerry O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-o-connell/) > [“Mystery Ad Thief, Why? Did you not like my picture? Was it such an eyesore, it just had to go?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyta-sunday/mystery-ad-thief-why-did-you-not-like-my-picture-was-it-such-an/) [Anyta Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyta-sunday/) > [“A young woman entered a cafeteria in New York City, placed her suitcase by a table where another person was eating, and went off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/a-young-woman-entered-a-cafeteria-in-new-york-city-placed-her/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Did God make man in a breath of holy fire, or did he crawl on up out of the muck and mire?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/did-god-make-man-in-a-breath-of-holy-fire-or-did-he-crawl-on-up-out/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/yea-slimy-things-did-crawl-with-legs-upon-the-slimy-sea/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [I who was a house full of bowel movement, I who was a defaced altar, I who wanted to crawl toward God could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-who-was-a-house-full-of-bowel-movement-i-who-was-a-defaced-altar-i/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [The body is a damn hard thing to kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/the-body-is-a-damn-hard-thing-to-kill/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [People think I'm strong, but actually I wanted to crawl away. I thought, I'm going to live in the country with my horse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/people-think-i-m-strong-but-actually-i-wanted-to-crawl-away-i-thought/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [Those who don't increase you will definitely decrease you. Those who don't want to climb will definitely want you to crawl. Be careful who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-don-t-increase-you-will-definitely-decrease-you-those-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Bible says before you run, gotta learn to crawl but I don't wanna waste time if we ain't involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/the-bible-says-before-you-run-gotta-learn-to-crawl-but-i-don-t-wanna/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [It's important for people to realize I don't want to be the It guy. I want to crawl before I walk. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-daly/it-s-important-for-people-to-realize-i-don-t-want-to-be-the-it-guy-i/) [Carson Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-daly/) > [“We still go where we want, even if we got to crawl for the right.' - Tom Joad (Jr.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/we-still-go-where-we-want-even-if-we-got-to-crawl-for-the-right-tom/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > ['Tryin' to Get the Feeling' has been a revelation. I'd forgotten how powerful that was. I'd forgotten how deep I can crawl into that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-manilow/tryin-to-get-the-feeling-has-been-a-revelation-i-d-forgotten-how/) [Barry Manilow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-manilow/) > [When I was so fatigued that I couldn't move, the excitement of going to the barn and getting my foot in the stirrup would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/when-i-was-so-fatigued-that-i-couldn-t-move-the-excitement-of-going/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) > [And I, will stumble and fall. I'm still learning to love. Just starting to crawl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/say-something/and-i-will-stumble-and-fall-i-m-still-learning-to-love-just-starting/) [Say Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/say-something/) ## More by Anne Sexton > [Blind with love, my daughter has cried nightly for horses, those long-necked marchers and churners that she has mastered, any and all, reigning them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/blind-with-love-my-daughter-has-cried-nightly-for-horses-those-long/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [I am crazy as hell, but I know it. And knowing it is a kind of sanity that makes the sickness worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-am-crazy-as-hell-but-i-know-it-and-knowing-it-is-a-kind-of-sanity/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [And what of the dead? They lie without shoes in the stone boats. They are more like stone than the sea would be if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/and-what-of-the-dead-they-lie-without-shoes-in-the-stone-boats-they/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [The Witch's Life" When I was a child there was an old woman in our neighborhood whom we called The Witch. All day she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/the-witch-s-life-when-i-was-a-child-there-was-an-old-woman-in-our/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [I have forgiven all the old actors for dying. A new one comes on with the same lines, like large white growths, in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-have-forgiven-all-the-old-actors-for-dying-a-new-one-comes-on-with/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [“From the Garden” Come, my beloved, consider the lilies. We are of little faith. We talk too much. Put your mouthful of words away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/from-the-garden-come-my-beloved-consider-the-lilies-we-are-of-little/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Oh thumb, I want a drink it is dark, where are the big people, when will I get there...?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/oh-thumb-i-want-a-drink-it-is-dark-where-are-the-big-people-when-will/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [I want to kiss God on His nose and watch Him sneeze and so do you. Not out of disrespect. Out of pique. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-want-to-kiss-god-on-his-nose-and-watch-him-sneeze-and-so-do-you-not/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [I, in my brand new body, which was not a woman's yet, told the stars my questions and thought God could really see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-in-my-brand-new-body-which-was-not-a-woman-s-yet-told-the-stars-my/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Father, you died once, salted down at fifty-nine, packed down like a big snow angel, wasn't that enough?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/father-you-died-once-salted-down-at-fifty-nine-packed-down-like-a-big/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [When I'm writing, I know I'm doing the thing I was born to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/when-i-m-writing-i-know-i-m-doing-the-thing-i-was-born-to-do/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Cinderella and the prince lived, they say, happily ever after, like two dolls in a museum case never bothered by diapers or dust, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/cinderella-and-the-prince-lived-they-say-happily-ever-after-like-two/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [“Quite collected at cocktail parties, meanwhile in my head I'm undergoing open-heart surgery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/quite-collected-at-cocktail-parties-meanwhile-in-my-head-i-m/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [I cannot walk an inch / without trying to walk to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-cannot-walk-an-inch-without-trying-to-walk-to-god/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Now that I have written many words, and let out so many loves, for so many, and been altogether what I always was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/now-that-i-have-written-many-words-and-let-out-so-many-loves-for-so/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) [Explore all 428 Anne Sexton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) ## More Crawl quotes > [And I, will stumble and fall. I'm still learning to love. Just starting to crawl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/say-something/and-i-will-stumble-and-fall-i-m-still-learning-to-love-just-starting/) [Say Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/say-something/) > [When I was so fatigued that I couldn't move, the excitement of going to the barn and getting my foot in the stirrup would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/when-i-was-so-fatigued-that-i-couldn-t-move-the-excitement-of-going/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) > ['Tryin' to Get the Feeling' has been a revelation. I'd forgotten how powerful that was. I'd forgotten how deep I can crawl into that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-manilow/tryin-to-get-the-feeling-has-been-a-revelation-i-d-forgotten-how/) [Barry Manilow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-manilow/) > [“We still go where we want, even if we got to crawl for the right.' - Tom Joad (Jr.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/we-still-go-where-we-want-even-if-we-got-to-crawl-for-the-right-tom/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [It's important for people to realize I don't want to be the It guy. I want to crawl before I walk. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-daly/it-s-important-for-people-to-realize-i-don-t-want-to-be-the-it-guy-i/) [Carson Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-daly/) > [The Bible says before you run, gotta learn to crawl but I don't wanna waste time if we ain't involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/the-bible-says-before-you-run-gotta-learn-to-crawl-but-i-don-t-wanna/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [Those who don't increase you will definitely decrease you. Those who don't want to climb will definitely want you to crawl. Be careful who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-don-t-increase-you-will-definitely-decrease-you-those-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People think I'm strong, but actually I wanted to crawl away. I thought, I'm going to live in the country with my horse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/people-think-i-m-strong-but-actually-i-wanted-to-crawl-away-i-thought/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I hate canceling anything, I'm 'the show must go on' mentality. If you can crawl, you can take the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-hate-canceling-anything-i-m-the-show-must-go-on-mentality-if-you/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-were-born-with-wings-why-prefer-to-crawl-through-life/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Even as a baby I quickly learned to crawl out of my crib. ... They'd put up barriers but I learned how to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-martin/even-as-a-baby-i-quickly-learned-to-crawl-out-of-my-crib-they-d-put/) [Mary Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-martin/) > [“If you crawl to live, stand and die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-lynne/if-you-crawl-to-live-stand-and-die/) [Carol Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-lynne/) > [“When that moment comes- and it always comes- when your life teeters between giving up and getting up, when you can't give up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/when-that-moment-comes-and-it-always-comes-when-your-life-teeters/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [Women must understand that simply attacking or hating men is just another form of disempowerment. A woman has to realize that when she makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/women-must-understand-that-simply-attacking-or-hating-men-is-just/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I forged myself out of a vacuum. I crawl along the highway on hacked off stumps year after year. Some wonder how and why.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-forged-myself-out-of-a-vacuum-i-crawl-along-the-highway-on-hacked/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) [Browse all 164 Crawl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crawl/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thief!- how did you crawl into, crawl down alone into the death I wanted so badly and for so long ...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anne Sexton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down-alone-into-the-death-i-wanted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crawl" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down-alone-into-the-death-i-wanted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/anne-sexton-645_crawl_thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down_1409793.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/anne-sexton-645_crawl_thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down_1409793.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/anne-sexton-645_crawl_thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down_1409793.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thief!- how did you crawl into, crawl down alone into the death I wanted so badly and for so long ...” — Anne Sexton", "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": "Anne Sexton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Thief!- how did you crawl into,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down-alone-into-the-death-i-wanted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/thief-how-did-you-crawl-into-crawl-down-alone-into-the-death-i-wanted/#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 } } ] } ```