---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether it's overeating or it's…"
description: "\"Whether it's overeating or it's overworking or over-sex or whatever it is, alcoholism, drug addition, we push ourselves to the brink and then pull back..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/anthony-hopkins-1334_addiction_whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overwork_1646003.png"
---

#  Whether it's overeating or it's overworking or over-sex or…

![“Whether it's overeating or it's overworking or over-sex or whatever it is, alcoholism, drug addition, we push ourselves to the brink and then pull back because it's kind of exciting.” quote by Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/anthony-hopkins-1334_addiction_whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overwork_1646003.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/anthony-hopkins-1334_addiction_whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overwork_1646003.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/anthony-hopkins-1334_addiction_whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overwork_1646003.png)

> “Whether it's overeating or it's overworking or over-sex or whatever it is, alcoholism, drug addition, we push ourselves to the brink and then pull back because it's kind of exciting.”

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often chase extremes—overindulgence, overwork, or compulsive habits—because the thrill of risk feels exciting, yet they retreat when it becomes too dangerous.

**In simple terms:** People chase risky extremes for excitement, then back off when too much.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the pattern and seek healthier thrills.

Themes

addiction risk selfcontrol excitement

Mood

anxious reflective

Type

advice psychological

When to use this quote

- career burnout
- relationship issues
- substance abuse
- stress management

Key Concepts

psychology behavioral cycles dopamine selfsabotage

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives your need for extreme experiences?
- How can you find excitement without self‑destruction?

A Different Perspective

The excitement can mask underlying pain, making change harder.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Alcoholism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholism/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Overeating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overeating/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/)

## Related quotes

> [It is facile to imply that smoking, alcoholism, overeating, or other ingrained patters can be upended without real effort. Genuine change requires work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/it-is-facile-to-imply-that-smoking-alcoholism-overeating-or-other/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [It was kind of exciting being on the radio. Not everybody was on the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-donaldson/it-was-kind-of-exciting-being-on-the-radio-not-everybody-was-on-the/)

[Sam Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-donaldson/)

> [To me, I go out there, and I do what I trained. We prepare so long for that moment, so it's just kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-biles/to-me-i-go-out-there-and-i-do-what-i-trained-we-prepare-so-long-for/)

[Simone Biles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-biles/)

> [Sometimes when it comes to the iconic kind of moments, when I read the script for the first time, you get little goose bumps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ashmore/sometimes-when-it-comes-to-the-iconic-kind-of-moments-when-i-read-the/)

[Aaron Ashmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ashmore/)

> [Anytime I am around a male body part it is kind of exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/anytime-i-am-around-a-male-body-part-it-is-kind-of-exciting/)

[Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/)

> [It's kind of exciting again. I'm doing everything right, right now. I'm driving the ball well and I'm hitting some pretty good irons and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fuzzy-zoeller/it-s-kind-of-exciting-again-i-m-doing-everything-right-right-now-i-m/)

[Fuzzy Zoeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fuzzy-zoeller/)

> [Eating is a natural way to feel happy. Overeating isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/eating-is-a-natural-way-to-feel-happy-overeating-isn-t/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [What's the ultimate price I'll pay if I don't stop this indulgence now? By asking questions like this, they'll associate pain to overeating, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/what-s-the-ultimate-price-i-ll-pay-if-i-don-t-stop-this-indulgence/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [“Wesley remembered his mother as a horrible cook who would load up his plate with food he loathed and insist he eat it all—or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellyn-satter/wesley-remembered-his-mother-as-a-horrible-cook-who-would-load-up-his/)

[Ellyn Satter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellyn-satter/)

> [When your awareness is contracted, the flow of energy and information throughout your bodymind is hampered. You tend to stay stuck in toxic emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/when-your-awareness-is-contracted-the-flow-of-energy-and-information/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [These Indians are fierce, they wear feathers and grunt. Most of us dont fit this idealized figure since we grunt only when overeating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/these-indians-are-fierce-they-wear-feathers-and-grunt-most-of-us-dont/)

[Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/)

> [“If you just stop expecting perfection from everyone and everything, you might see the good stuff outweighs the bad. And then someday you'll look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-jade-lange/if-you-just-stop-expecting-perfection-from-everyone-and-everything/)

[Erin Jade Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-jade-lange/)

> [ “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite, by former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler,\[34\] shows that foods high… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-singleton/the-end-of-overeating-taking-control-of-the-insatiable-american/)

[Paige Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-singleton/)

> [Overspending is as certain a part of the holiday season as overeating. But pushing away from both the table and the cash register at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/overspending-is-as-certain-a-part-of-the-holiday-season-as-overeating/)

[Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/)

> [“You lose the known package of your nice organized self almost instantly here. Overeating is one way back, the way it is at funerals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/you-lose-the-known-package-of-your-nice-organized-self-almost/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

## More by Anthony Hopkins

> [Life's too short to deal with other people's insecurities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/life-s-too-short-to-deal-with-other-people-s-insecurities/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I visualized a lot of things happening to me, because I was a lonely kid because I didn't understand anything about school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-visualized-a-lot-of-things-happening-to-me-because-i-was-a-lonely/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [My life is not my own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/my-life-is-not-my-own-business/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I watched a film with a very famous, great, great actor, I won't mention his name because everyone loves his memory, but I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-watched-a-film-with-a-very-famous-great-great-actor-i-won-t-mention/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [Danger is the spice of life and you’ve got to take a risk now and then…that’s what makes life worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/danger-is-the-spice-of-life-and-you-ve-got-to-take-a-risk-now-and/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [Actors I admire? Ed Harris, or course, I think he's terrific; because I know he always had to fight being what he looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/actors-i-admire-ed-harris-or-course-i-think-he-s-terrific-because-i/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I love to have a laugh. I like to tease people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-love-to-have-a-laugh-i-like-to-tease-people/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I think doubt is a very healthy way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-think-doubt-is-a-very-healthy-way-to-live/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [The knighthood was a tremendous honour, I don't dismiss it. But I feel embarrassed by the flowery, theatrical stuff that goes with being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/the-knighthood-was-a-tremendous-honour-i-don-t-dismiss-it-but-i-feel/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [My father was grounded, a very meat-and-potatoes man. He was a baker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/my-father-was-grounded-a-very-meat-and-potatoes-man-he-was-a-baker/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [Most of my last 30 years have been like that. Results and manifestations of things I'd dreamed of as a young kid and wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/most-of-my-last-30-years-have-been-like-that-results-and/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I used to be a bit obsessed by acting but not anymore. I do enjoy acting but I probably enjoy it more now because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-used-to-be-a-bit-obsessed-by-acting-but-not-anymore-i-do-enjoy/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I don't know what I believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-don-t-know-what-i-believe/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I always distrust the word art when it is applied to acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-always-distrust-the-word-art-when-it-is-applied-to-acting/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I just learn my lines, go on set. Do my preparation, whatever that is. Have a cup of coffee. Say hello to everyone. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-just-learn-my-lines-go-on-set-do-my-preparation-whatever-that-is/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

[Explore all 255 Anthony Hopkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

## More Addiction quotes

> [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/)

Robbin Crosby

> [“The idea that creative endeavor and mind-altering substances are entwined is one of the great pop-intellectual myths of our time... Creative people probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-idea-that-creative-endeavor-and-mind-altering-substances-are/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [I really think the disease aspect gets lost when you're talking about alcoholism and addiction; it's not like you're battling leukemia or a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-irsay/i-really-think-the-disease-aspect-gets-lost-when-you-re-talking-about/)

[Jim Irsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-irsay/)

> [I had an addiction to artificial points of success. Like being able to run for this or run for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/i-had-an-addiction-to-artificial-points-of-success-like-being-able-to/)

[Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/)

> [“Addictions are just symptoms of underlying issues, and in my view Nikki self-medicated the emotional pain of his childhood, and being away from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/addictions-are-just-symptoms-of-underlying-issues-and-in-my-view/)

[Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/)

> [“Oil. The great addiction of the civilized world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-warren/oil-the-great-addiction-of-the-civilized-world/)

[Andrew Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-warren/)

> [“They say when you fall in love in love with someone that person becomes like a drug,an addiction you don't want to live without.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-when-you-fall-in-love-in-love-with-someone-that-person/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Addictions - Run to Jesus instead of running to your addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/addictions-run-to-jesus-instead-of-running-to-your-addiction/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [Music is my personal addiction. So much of everything I've done has only been to open more doors for the music itself. It all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/music-is-my-personal-addiction-so-much-of-everything-i-ve-done-has/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [“I am made of a thousand ghosts. Only you can shoot me down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-james/i-am-made-of-a-thousand-ghosts-only-you-can-shoot-me-down/)

Bella James

> [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/)

[Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/)

> [Cold sweats, hallucinations I wanna speed to stop. The hell I'm going through The addiction's taking you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bullet-for-my-valentine/cold-sweats-hallucinations-i-wanna-speed-to-stop-the-hell-i-m-going/)

[Bullet For My Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bullet-for-my-valentine/)

> [As addictions go, reading is among the cleanest, easiest to feed, happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/as-addictions-go-reading-is-among-the-cleanest-easiest-to-feed/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/)

David Norman

> [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

[Browse all 2,134 Addiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Whether it's overeating or it's overworking or over-sex or whatever it is, alcoholism, drug addition, we push ourselves to the brink and then pull back because it's kind of exciting.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anthony Hopkins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overworking-or-over-sex-or-whatever/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Addiction"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overworking-or-over-sex-or-whatever/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/anthony-hopkins-1334_addiction_whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overwork_1646003.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/anthony-hopkins-1334_addiction_whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overwork_1646003.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/anthony-hopkins-1334_addiction_whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overwork_1646003.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Whether it's overeating or it's overworking or over-sex or whatever it is, alcoholism, drug addition, we…” — Anthony Hopkins",
                "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": "Anthony Hopkins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Whether it's overeating or it's overworking...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overworking-or-over-sex-or-whatever/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/whether-it-s-overeating-or-it-s-overworking-or-over-sex-or-whatever/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
