Being cool Quote by Anthony Bourdain
“Norman Mailer described the desire to be cool as a "decision to encourage the psychopath in oneself, to explore that domain of experience where security is boredom and therefore sickness and one exists in the present, in that enormous present which is without past or future, memory or planned intention.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: No Reservations, Season 1, Episode 3, 2005
The quote suggests embracing risk and living fully by rejecting safety that leads to stagnation, encouraging a wild, present‑focused mindset.
In simple terms: Embrace risk, live in the present, avoid boring safety.
Key Takeaway
Choose bold experiences over comfort.
Themes
risk
presence
authenticity
rebellion
Mood
excited
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- adventure travel
- creative projects
- personal growth
- spontaneous decisions
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
hedonism
Questions to Reflect On
- What safety habits limit your present experience?
- How can you balance risk with responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Boldness can lead to reckless behavior and loss of long‑term stability.
![“[Norman Mailer] is against masturbation, he's against homosexuality. He believes that murder is essentially sexual. I think he's rather an anthology of all the darkest American traits.” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/260/gore-vidal-466_anthology_norman-mailer-is-against-masturbation-he_2379198.jpg)
![“[When I die], I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of a sad list of people hurt, people let down, assets wasted and advantages squandered.” quote by Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba3/anthony-bourdain-649_advantage_when-i-die-i-will-decidedly-not-be-regre_24502.jpg)
