--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I abandoned the smoking habit of…" description: "\"When I abandoned the smoking habit of more than three decades I was given a supposedly helpful pill called Wellbutrin. But as soon as I discovered that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/christopher-hitchens-117_abandoned_when-i-abandoned-the-smoking-habit-of-mo_2732139.jpg" --- # When I abandoned the smoking habit of more than three… ![“When I abandoned the smoking habit of more than three decades I was given a supposedly helpful pill called Wellbutrin. But as soon as I discovered that this was the brand name for an antidepressant, I tossed the bottle away. There may be successful methods for overcoming the blues but for me they…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/christopher-hitchens-117_abandoned_when-i-abandoned-the-smoking-habit-of-mo_2732139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/christopher-hitchens-117_abandoned_when-i-abandoned-the-smoking-habit-of-mo_2732139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/christopher-hitchens-117_abandoned_when-i-abandoned-the-smoking-habit-of-mo_2732139.jpg) > “When I abandoned the smoking habit of more than three decades I was given a supposedly helpful pill called Wellbutrin. But as soon as I discovered that this was the brand name for an antidepressant, I tossed the bottle away. There may be successful methods for overcoming the blues but for me they cannot include a capsule that says: 'Fool yourself into happiness, while pretending not to do so.' I should actually want my mind to be strong enough to circumvent such a trick.” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author rejects a medication that feels like a deceptive shortcut to happiness, insisting on genuine mental resilience instead of a quick fix. **In simple terms:** Avoid quick‑fix pills; seek real mental strength. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner resilience. Themes self‑reliance mental health authenticity Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - quitting smoking - dealing with depression - building coping skills Key Concepts psychology addiction placebo effect Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on shortcuts for emotional well‑being? - How can you build lasting mental strength? A Different Perspective Medication may mask symptoms without addressing root causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) [Brand names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brand-names/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [“Even if it were possible to cast my horoscope in this one life, and to make an accurate prediction about my future, it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/even-if-it-were-possible-to-cast-my-horoscope-in-this-one-life-and-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [What college boils down to is a brand name stamped on the graduate for the benefit of corporate consumers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-beale/what-college-boils-down-to-is-a-brand-name-stamped-on-the-graduate/) [Theodore Beale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-beale/) > [Like any big company, they've got a brand name, and they've got to keep extending it. Because the reality is, there's not a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tinker/like-any-big-company-they-ve-got-a-brand-name-and-they-ve-got-to-keep/) John Tinker > [I'm not denying that in the world there's been some tremendous musical happenings, like DJ Shadow or whatever, that kind of thing. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-morley/i-m-not-denying-that-in-the-world-there-s-been-some-tremendous/) [Paul Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-morley/) > [That said, a lot of people buy products with "green" in the brand name, but make no attempt to understand what it would really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/that-said-a-lot-of-people-buy-products-with-green-in-the-brand-name/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [I would not wear any clothes that had a brand name on them, and I only read books that were canonical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-would-not-wear-any-clothes-that-had-a-brand-name-on-them-and-i-only/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [Too many commercials. Too many lies. Too many celebrities. I don't recognize. Too many brand names. Too many magazines. I got so much sensation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-small/too-many-commercials-too-many-lies-too-many-celebrities-i-don-t/) [Fred Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-small/) > [The one hit song that I have tremendous gratitude for is Boots, because it has a life of its own. It's like being identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-sinatra/the-one-hit-song-that-i-have-tremendous-gratitude-for-is-boots/) [Nancy Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-sinatra/) > [True Love. I’m starting to suspect the concept is pure illusion, an insipid brand name manufactured by Hallmark and Disney.” — Cupcake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/true-love-i-m-starting-to-suspect-the-concept-is-pure-illusion-an/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [Brand names aren't important to me at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/brand-names-aren-t-important-to-me-at-all/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [When people use your brand name as a verb, that is remarkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/when-people-use-your-brand-name-as-a-verb-that-is-remarkable/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [Your brand name is only as good as your reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/your-brand-name-is-only-as-good-as-your-reputation/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I'm gonna do clothes, but stuff that kids can afford. I want to get into the high fashion world very soon, but the stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/i-m-gonna-do-clothes-but-stuff-that-kids-can-afford-i-want-to-get/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [“I do not believe in the power of brand names or in emulating any of the brand name investors out there. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/i-do-not-believe-in-the-power-of-brand-names-or-in-emulating-any-of/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Abandoned quotes > [“I'm surprised when I walk right into yet another abandoned hunters' camp. 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But in doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-russia-there-is-an-emigration-of-intelligence-migr-s-cross-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Early on in my life, I had a broken soul. I was abused by my father, abandoned by my mother and ended up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/early-on-in-my-life-i-had-a-broken-soul-i-was-abused-by-my-father/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We should be recklessly abandoned to Jesus, and just turn it over to Him. Through the support I think the sacrifices will be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacie-orrico/we-should-be-recklessly-abandoned-to-jesus-and-just-turn-it-over-to/) [Stacie Orrico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacie-orrico/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [The whole force of the respectable circles to which I belonged, that respectable circle which knew as I did notthe value of security won,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/the-whole-force-of-the-respectable-circles-to-which-i-belonged-that/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [Barack Obama became president, and he abandoned Iraq. He left, and when he left Al Qaida was done for. 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