--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not the side effects of the cocaine…" description: "\"It's not the side effects of the cocaine. . . . I'm thinking that it must be love.\" — David Bowie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/david-bowie-508_cocaine_it-s-not-the-side-effects-of-the-cocaine_1949052.jpg" --- # It's not the side effects of the cocaine. . . . I'm… ![“It's not the side effects of the cocaine. . . . I'm thinking that it must be love.” quote by David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/david-bowie-508_cocaine_it-s-not-the-side-effects-of-the-cocaine_1949052.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/david-bowie-508_cocaine_it-s-not-the-side-effects-of-the-cocaine_1949052.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/david-bowie-508_cocaine_it-s-not-the-side-effects-of-the-cocaine_1949052.jpg) > “It's not the side effects of the cocaine. . . . I'm thinking that it must be love.” [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) ## 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 confuses intense emotional turmoil with love, mistaking harmful cravings for affection. **In simple terms:** Confusing love with harmful desire. Key Takeaway Question true feelings, not harmful impulses. Themes love addiction misinterpretation Mood conflicted introspective Type ly emotional When to use this quote - relationship counseling - self‑reflection - addiction recovery Key Concepts psychology emotional health dependency Questions to Reflect On - What are you truly seeking? - How does this confusion affect your relationships? A Different Perspective Love cannot be a substitute for healthy coping. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cocaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cocaine/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Side effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-effects/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [It's not the side-effects of the cocaine - I'm thinking that it must be love. It's too late to be grateful, It's too late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/it-s-not-the-side-effects-of-the-cocaine-i-m-thinking-that-it-must-be-3/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“It's not the side-effects of the cocaine - I'm thinking that it must be love. It's too late to be grateful, It's too late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/it-s-not-the-side-effects-of-the-cocaine-i-m-thinking-that-it-must-be/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [ One of the effects it \[cocaine\] had on my personality - my moods, my behaviors - was that it inhibited me a lot. It… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/one-of-the-effects-it-cocaine-had-on-my-personality-my-moods-my/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [When I was a practicing alcoholic, I was unbelievable. One side effect was immense suspicion: I'd come off tour like Inspector Clouseau on acid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/when-i-was-a-practicing-alcoholic-i-was-unbelievable-one-side-effect/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Throughout the book, she refers to herself as "the side effect," which is just totally correct. Cancer kids are essentially side effects of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/throughout-the-book-she-refers-to-herself-as-the-side-effect-which-is/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [One of the side effects of losing intimacy with God is that at some point we stop doing ministry out of imagination and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/one-of-the-side-effects-of-losing-intimacy-with-god-is-that-at-some/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [If you rush to take a drug, do so with the full knowledge that you are being a Guinea Pig. The longer a drug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mendelsohn/if-you-rush-to-take-a-drug-do-so-with-the-full-knowledge-that-you-are/) [Robert S. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/) > [Apparently, an undocumented side effect of dope is a gross overestimation of one's own intelligence. Dopers become convinced they've hidden their stash so well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/apparently-an-undocumented-side-effect-of-dope-is-a-gross/) [Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/) > [Expertise is great, but it has a bad side effect: It tends to create the inability to accept new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-williams/expertise-is-great-but-it-has-a-bad-side-effect-it-tends-to-create/) Dean Williams > [But that's a side effect of alcohol, isn't it? Stopping to think about other people is not on the bar menu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/but-that-s-a-side-effect-of-alcohol-isn-t-it-stopping-to-think-about/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“I think falling in love should come with a warning label: CAUTION - side effects may include breaking up, accompanied by heartache, severe mood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/i-think-falling-in-love-should-come-with-a-warning-label-caution-side/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [While receiving radiation treatment for a thyroid illness, I had refused to take beta-blockers - a medication that would have eased its side effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/while-receiving-radiation-treatment-for-a-thyroid-illness-i-had/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [Maca boosts sex drive like crazy. And if there's any side effect, some people just have to stop taking it because they get so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kilham/maca-boosts-sex-drive-like-crazy-and-if-there-s-any-side-effect-some/) [Chris Kilham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kilham/) > [There are always potential side effects for every vaccine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/there-are-always-potential-side-effects-for-every-vaccine/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [Antidepressants are the biggest fraud in the world. Number one, Prozac gives you a royal soft-on like you wouldn't believe, and number two you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-evans/antidepressants-are-the-biggest-fraud-in-the-world-number-one-prozac/) [Robert Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-evans/) ## More by David Bowie > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [No more free steps to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/no-more-free-steps-to-heaven/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I'm not sure whether it is me changing my mind, or whether I lie a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-not-sure-whether-it-is-me-changing-my-mind-or-whether-i-lie-a-lot/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I do some kind of work, whether writing or painting or recording, on a daily basis. And it's so essential that when I'm involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-do-some-kind-of-work-whether-writing-or-painting-or-recording-on-a/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [To not be modest about it, you'll find that with only a couple of exceptions, most of the musicians that I've worked with have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/to-not-be-modest-about-it-you-ll-find-that-with-only-a-couple-of/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I went mainstream in a major way with the song "Let's Dance." And what I found I had done was put a box around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-went-mainstream-in-a-major-way-with-the-song-let-s-dance-and-what-i/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“Keep your 'lectric eye on me babe Put your ray gun to my head Press your space face close to mine, love Freak out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/keep-your-lectric-eye-on-me-babe-put-your-ray-gun-to-my-head-press/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I'm in awe of the universe, but I don't necessarily believe there's an intelligence or agent behind it. I do have a passion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-in-awe-of-the-universe-but-i-don-t-necessarily-believe-there-s-an/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [TV has eaten up everything else, and Warhol films are all that are left, which is fabulous. Pork could become the next I Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/tv-has-eaten-up-everything-else-and-warhol-films-are-all-that-are/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“My brain hurt like a warehouse It had no room to spare I had to cram so many things to store everything in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/my-brain-hurt-like-a-warehouse-it-had-no-room-to-spare-i-had-to-cram/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I suppose for me as an artist it wasn't always just about expressing my work; I really wanted, more than anything else, to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-suppose-for-me-as-an-artist-it-wasn-t-always-just-about-expressing/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [... And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/and-these-children-that-you-spit-on-as-they-try-to-change-their/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I think the first song I ever wrote ... was called "Can't Help Thinking About Me." That's an illuminating little piece, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-think-the-first-song-i-ever-wrote-was-called-can-t-help-thinking/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I've come to the realizations that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-ve-come-to-the-realizations-that-i-have-absolutely-no-idea-what-i-m/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I never really felt like a rock singer or a rock star or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-never-really-felt-like-a-rock-singer-or-a-rock-star-or-whatever/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) [Explore all 508 David Bowie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) ## More Cocaine quotes > [“Woe to you, my Princess, when I come. I will kiss you quite red and feed you till you are plump. And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/woe-to-you-my-princess-when-i-come-i-will-kiss-you-quite-red-and-feed/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [We were talking briefly about cocaine... yeah. Anything that makes you paranoid and impotent, give me more of that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/we-were-talking-briefly-about-cocaine-yeah-anything-that-makes-you/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [What we don't know is about Jeb Bush and cocaine. But we do know that he did once had his brother Florida on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/what-we-don-t-know-is-about-jeb-bush-and-cocaine-but-we-do-know-that/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“It is cocaine," he said, "a seven-per-cent solution. Would you care to try it?" "No, indeed," I answered brusquely. "My constitution has not got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-is-cocaine-he-said-a-seven-per-cent-solution-would-you-care-to-try/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Your kiss is bitter with cocaine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/your-kiss-is-bitter-with-cocaine/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [It is not heroin or cocaine that makes one an addict, it is the need to escape from a harsh reality. There are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-not-heroin-or-cocaine-that-makes-one-an-addict-it-is-the-need/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“I was standing by the car when two police officers showed up in the alley, very interested in me and the BMW in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-adam-nyapi/i-was-standing-by-the-car-when-two-police-officers-showed-up-in-the/) [Tomas Adam Nyapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-adam-nyapi/) > [Pecans are not cheap, my hons. In fact, in the South, the street value of shelled pecans just before holiday baking season is roughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-rivenbark/pecans-are-not-cheap-my-hons-in-fact-in-the-south-the-street-value-of/) [Celia Rivenbark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-rivenbark/) > [“The alcoholic retains the ability to condemn his addiction and advise those not subject to it to avoid succumbing to the liquid poison. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pitigrilli/the-alcoholic-retains-the-ability-to-condemn-his-addiction-and-advise/) [Pitigrilli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pitigrilli/) > [Why not go to war just for oil? We need oil. What do Hollywood celebrities imagine fuels their private jets? How do they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/why-not-go-to-war-just-for-oil-we-need-oil-what-do-hollywood/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“love: a chemical history. ...The second stage, attraction, is governed by dopamine and serotonin. When, for example, couples report feeling indescribably happy in each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/love-a-chemical-history-the-second-stage-attraction-is-governed-by/) [Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/) > [Inhale, exhale, cocaine, X pills. Import, export, Harlem catching wrecks still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asap-rocky/inhale-exhale-cocaine-x-pills-import-export-harlem-catching-wrecks/) [Asap Rocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asap-rocky/) > [“It was early, late, lockjaw hour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/it-was-early-late-lockjaw-hour/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [Cocaine was different. It kept saying, "You haven't had enough." I became an abuser almost instantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/cocaine-was-different-it-kept-saying-you-haven-t-had-enough-i-became/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) [Browse all 365 Cocaine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cocaine/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not the side effects of the cocaine. . . . 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