---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A suicide attempt can be very much like…"
description: "\"“A suicide attempt can be very much like falling in love. You're not really sure, as you proceed, what is real and what you're making up as you go. You..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/clancy-martin-40558_attempt_a-suicide-attempt-can-be-very-much-like_646359.jpg"
---

#  A suicide attempt can be very much like falling in love…

![“A suicide attempt can be very much like falling in love. You're not really sure, as you proceed, what is real and what you're making up as you go. You're genuinely uncertain how the whole thing's going to turn out. You want it, but you don't. It seems both inevitable and impossible.” quote by Clancy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/clancy-martin-40558_attempt_a-suicide-attempt-can-be-very-much-like_646359.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/clancy-martin-40558_attempt_a-suicide-attempt-can-be-very-much-like_646359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/clancy-martin-40558_attempt_a-suicide-attempt-can-be-very-much-like_646359.jpg)

> ““A suicide attempt can be very much like falling in love. You're not really sure, as you proceed, what is real and what you're making up as you go. You're genuinely uncertain how the whole thing's going to turn out. You want it, but you don't. It seems both inevitable and impossible.””

[Clancy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clancy-martin/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote likens suicidal urges to the intense, confusing emotions of falling in love, highlighting uncertainty and contradictory desires.

**In simple terms:** Suicide feels like love, confusing and contradictory.

Key Takeaway

Recognize mixed feelings, seek help.

Themes

mental health relationships conflict desire uncertainty

Mood

conflicted somber

Type

reflective cautionary

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- crisis hotlines
- support groups
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

psychology emotional ambivalence existential crisis

Questions to Reflect On

- How does this comparison affect your view of self‑harm?
- What healthier ways can we address such intense emotions?

A Different Perspective

The metaphor may romanticize self‑harm, risking misunderstanding.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempt/) [Attempt Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempt-like-2424471/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Genuinely Uncertain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuinely-uncertain-5179667/) [Like Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-falling/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [Suicide Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide-attempt-2567072/)

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> [“I open up a paper clip and scratch it across the inside of my left wrist. Pitiful. If a suicide attempt is a cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-open-up-a-paper-clip-and-scratch-it-across-the-inside-of-my-left/)

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> [“Another sign of suicide attempt which is mentioned in the leaflet is being silent. You stop talking about your problems, showing emotions or reacting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lunga-no-lia-izata/another-sign-of-suicide-attempt-which-is-mentioned-in-the-leaflet-is/)

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> [Upgrade to the better health insurance plan in case your suicide attempt doesn't go so well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/upgrade-to-the-better-health-insurance-plan-in-case-your-suicide/)

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

> [“The suicide attempt, like the rest of Dessah’s life, hadn’t worked out. She had awakened the next morning groggy as hell and merely rested.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/the-suicide-attempt-like-the-rest-of-dessah-s-life-hadn-t-worked-out/)

[Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/)

> [“now ready for the trash. Your lack of self-esteem might even culminate in a suicide attempt, the ultimate payment for measuring your worth exclusively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/now-ready-for-the-trash-your-lack-of-self-esteem-might-even-culminate/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Just being thi far away from you is killing me I cry evryday but I dont let anyone see me cry my first suicide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklovesmeeka/just-being-thi-far-away-from-you-is-killing-me-i-cry-evryday-but-i/)

[NIKLOVESMEEKA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklovesmeeka/)

> [The weird thing is that I hate to fly, and the quote that I give people is that every time I get off a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-sonnenfeld/the-weird-thing-is-that-i-hate-to-fly-and-the-quote-that-i-give/)

[Barry Sonnenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-sonnenfeld/)

> [I imagined a psychic pain growing inside him (myself) that demanded some physical outlet. Suicide must have been his attempt to give Pain a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-lopate/i-imagined-a-psychic-pain-growing-inside-him-myself-that-demanded/)

[Phillip Lopate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-lopate/)

> [“they may pontificate that the suicide attempt was merely a ploy to gain attention or to manipulate others. No matter what may have motivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-porr-m-a/they-may-pontificate-that-the-suicide-attempt-was-merely-a-ploy-to/)

[Valerie Porr M.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-porr-m-a/)

> [It wasn't a suicide attempt, it was an escape from everything awful. When we cut,we're in control - we make our own pain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-suicide-attempt-it-was-an-escape-from-everything-awful/)

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

> [“The day Cami nearly succeeded at her suicide attempt was the worst day of Kaci’s life. Cami was the only sister that she had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valenciya-lyons/the-day-cami-nearly-succeeded-at-her-suicide-attempt-was-the-worst/)

[Valenciya Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valenciya-lyons/)

> [“The funny thing about mental hospitals is that they strip away any remaining reason you have to live, but deny you the means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-autumn/the-funny-thing-about-mental-hospitals-is-that-they-strip-away-any/)

[Emilie Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-autumn/)

> [“No matter how flat or sad his or her affect appears, the suicidally depressed adolescent is desperately trying to contain feelings of anger, rage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-slaby/no-matter-how-flat-or-sad-his-or-her-affect-appears-the-suicidally/)

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## More by Clancy Martin

> [That is the person you want publishing your book. To be in it, you really have to believe in books and love whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clancy-martin/that-is-the-person-you-want-publishing-your-book-to-be-in-it-you/)

[Clancy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clancy-martin/)

> [Both of us, me and Friedrich Nietzsche being writers, if we weren't capable of some strategic self-deception, we would have moved on to more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clancy-martin/both-of-us-me-and-friedrich-nietzsche-being-writers-if-we-weren-t/)

[Clancy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clancy-martin/)

> [It's the same when you listen to any kind of successful athlete. My older brother has a useful name for them - he calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clancy-martin/it-s-the-same-when-you-listen-to-any-kind-of-successful-athlete-my/)

[Clancy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clancy-martin/)

> [That's the old AA maxim, "Always have a drink in your hand and you'll never want a drink." That's one of the most classic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clancy-martin/that-s-the-old-aa-maxim-always-have-a-drink-in-your-hand-and-you-ll/)

[Clancy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clancy-martin/)

> [I don't care about the politics, I don't care about the practicality, I don't care about any of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clancy-martin/i-don-t-care-about-the-politics-i-don-t-care-about-the-practicality-i/)

[Clancy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clancy-martin/)

> [When I was writing Love and Lies, I was going over a lot of my old notes to see if there were any insights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clancy-martin/when-i-was-writing-love-and-lies-i-was-going-over-a-lot-of-my-old/)

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> [What is the most fascinating kind of self-deception to me, and a kind that isn't necessarily unhealthy, is what Friedrich Nietzsche called "strategic self-deception."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clancy-martin/what-is-the-most-fascinating-kind-of-self-deception-to-me-and-a-kind/)

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> [I guess we romanticize the loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clancy-martin/i-guess-we-romanticize-the-loser/)

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[Explore all 10 Clancy Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clancy-martin/)

## More Attempt quotes

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> [It is sometimes a mistake to climb. It is always a mistake never even to make the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-sometimes-a-mistake-to-climb-it-is-always-a-mistake-never-even/)

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

> [I will never attempt to even begin to make excuses for what I did in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-storey/i-will-never-attempt-to-even-begin-to-make-excuses-for-what-i-did-in/)

[Peter Storey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-storey/)

> [“We all perish in our last attempt to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/we-all-perish-in-our-last-attempt-to-live/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [There was an attempt on my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovenel-moise/there-was-an-attempt-on-my-life/)

[Jovenel Moise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovenel-moise/)

> [The publishing of a book is a worldwide event. The attempt to suppress a book is a worldwide event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-publishing-of-a-book-is-a-worldwide-event-the-attempt-to-suppress/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [“Advocacy groups in the USA, as in other countries, may not be able to silence this hateful, cowardly and deceitful attack upon people’s humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/advocacy-groups-in-the-usa-as-in-other-countries-may-not-be-able-to/)

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[Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/)

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[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [It is sometimes a mistake to climb. It is always a mistake to never make the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/it-is-sometimes-a-mistake-to-climb-it-is-always-a-mistake-to-never/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [My explanation remains the same: It was an attempt to make the point that anyone who opposed the war can achieve their objective by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-moran/my-explanation-remains-the-same-it-was-an-attempt-to-make-the-point/)

[James P. Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-moran/)

[Browse all 516 Attempt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempt/)

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