--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started writing I was a sick…" description: "\"“When I started writing I was a sick teenaged fuck inside who partly thought I was the new Marquis de Sade, a body doomed to communicate with Satan who..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/dennis-cooper-32504_home-away-from-home_when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teen_2998525.jpg" --- # When I started writing I was a sick teenaged fuck inside… ![“When I started writing I was a sick teenaged fuck inside who partly thought I was the new Marquis de Sade, a body doomed to communicate with Satan who was us- ing my sickness as his home away from home, and there’s your proof.” quote by Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/dennis-cooper-32504_home-away-from-home_when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teen_2998525.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/dennis-cooper-32504_home-away-from-home_when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teen_2998525.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/dennis-cooper-32504_home-away-from-home_when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teen_2998525.jpg) > ““When I started writing I was a sick teenaged fuck inside who partly thought I was the new Marquis de Sade, a body doomed to communicate with Satan who was us- ing my sickness as his home away from home, and there’s your proof.”” [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator sees himself as a tormented youth, likening his inner turmoil to a satanic pact and a twisted literary lineage. **In simple terms:** A troubled teen feels cursed and identifies with dark, rebellious figures. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability, seek help, and channel pain creatively. Themes identity rebellion mental health literature Mood dark confessional introspective Type literary personal narrative When to use this quote - adolescent crisis - creative writing - therapy sessions - support groups Key Concepts existential angst self‑destruction artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How does identifying with dark icons affect self‑image? - What healthier outlets can replace self‑destructive fantasies? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize self‑harm and obscure healthier coping strategies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communicate Satan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicate-satan-4749378/) [Home away from home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-away-from-home/) [Marquis De Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marquis-de-sade/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Satan Ing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satan-ing-4749377/) [Sick Teenaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick-teenaged-4749376/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) [Started Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-sick-4749375/) ## Related quotes > [It's always a fun time coming back to New York. I love playing here. It's like a little home away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aryna-sabalenka/it-s-always-a-fun-time-coming-back-to-new-york-i-love-playing-here-it/) [Aryna Sabalenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aryna-sabalenka/) > [Initially, I was scared of living alone in a big city like Mumbai, which is nothing like Bangalore. I'm more comfortable now; it feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-kharbanda/initially-i-was-scared-of-living-alone-in-a-big-city-like-mumbai/) [Kriti Kharbanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-kharbanda/) > [Theater dressing rooms are my home away from home - my second home, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-jackson/theater-dressing-rooms-are-my-home-away-from-home-my-second-home/) [Cheyenne Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-jackson/) > [Prada Infusion d'Iris perfume - my mother wears it, so it feels like home away from home. It's lovely to smell her scent at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-wickstead/prada-infusion-d-iris-perfume-my-mother-wears-it-so-it-feels-like/) [Emilia Wickstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-wickstead/) > [“Eventually, I spent so much time in the friend zone that I grew to think of it as some kind of magical home away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-garity/eventually-i-spent-so-much-time-in-the-friend-zone-that-i-grew-to/) [Dylan Garity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-garity/) > [Glasgow has truly become my home away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitriona-balfe/glasgow-has-truly-become-my-home-away-from-home/) [Caitriona Balfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitriona-balfe/) > [Detroit has always been a rock and roll audience for me and picked up on me and my performances long before a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/detroit-has-always-been-a-rock-and-roll-audience-for-me-and-picked-up/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [It's fun when you are on tour to go a place you are familiar with in any given city. It's like being home away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-king/it-s-fun-when-you-are-on-tour-to-go-a-place-you-are-familiar-with-in/) [Kerry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-king/) > [One of my fondest memories was when I was in London as a young, independent businesswoman and stayed at Claridge's. I knew I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/one-of-my-fondest-memories-was-when-i-was-in-london-as-a-young/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [The 'Roseanne' set was totally my home away from home. And I did pal around and roller-skate with Dakota Johnson. And now she's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-perry/the-roseanne-set-was-totally-my-home-away-from-home-and-i-did-pal/) [Zoe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-perry/) > [I grew up without a television, so when I went to L.A., it was sort of, you know, a lot to take in, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dove-cameron/i-grew-up-without-a-television-so-when-i-went-to-l-a-it-was-sort-of/) [Dove Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dove-cameron/) > [I visit London several times a year. It is my home away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/i-visit-london-several-times-a-year-it-is-my-home-away-from-home/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [“PAPER TOWERS The library was on the second floor of the House, not far from my room. It had two floors—the first held the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/paper-towers-the-library-was-on-the-second-floor-of-the-house-not-far/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [“Come over early tomorrow morning,” Marlboro Man asked over the phone one night. “We’re gathering cattle, and I want you to meet my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/come-over-early-tomorrow-morning-marlboro-man-asked-over-the-phone/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Glasgow is a home away from home in the U.K.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-savoretti/glasgow-is-a-home-away-from-home-in-the-u-k/) [Jack Savoretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-savoretti/) ## More by Dennis Cooper > [Why is it I feel a new nostalgia for the era of the guillotine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/why-is-it-i-feel-a-new-nostalgia-for-the-era-of-the-guillotine/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [A lot of writers do think of their characters as living beings. I know that's the way people think. That's why I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/a-lot-of-writers-do-think-of-their-characters-as-living-beings-i-know/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [“Emotional. Out of his mind grateful. Anything goes. I love you, I love you, I love you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/emotional-out-of-his-mind-grateful-anything-goes-i-love-you-i-love/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [Before I decided to concentrate on writing, I drew pictures and painted, and made Super 8 experimental movies. I was the singer in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/before-i-decided-to-concentrate-on-writing-i-drew-pictures-and/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [Cult writer. It's a weird term because it's complimentary but condescending at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/cult-writer-it-s-a-weird-term-because-it-s-complimentary-but/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [I think pornography is a very rich medium, and I've studied it closely and learned quite a lot as a writer from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/i-think-pornography-is-a-very-rich-medium-and-i-ve-studied-it-closely/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [My novels tend to take a long time to become exactly what they're going to be. They're fluid messes until I've done a ton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/my-novels-tend-to-take-a-long-time-to-become-exactly-what-they-re/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [I was thinking a lot about music, about how music is mixed and how everything is happening at the same time; it just amounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/i-was-thinking-a-lot-about-music-about-how-music-is-mixed-and-how/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [“When a child grows old enough to know J.R.R. Tolkien was just staring at a typewriter, the truth can be a wounding exposé.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/when-a-child-grows-old-enough-to-know-j-r-r-tolkien-was-just-staring/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [“I'm a talentless but popular young singer and I have the feeling someone is watching me. I use the term loosely because I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/i-m-a-talentless-but-popular-young-singer-and-i-have-the-feeling/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [“But here I am blocking the view of this simple scene, like a director who accidentally walks in front of his own projector, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/but-here-i-am-blocking-the-view-of-this-simple-scene-like-a-director/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [When I read Spencer Madsen’s poetry, I not only feel awe because he’s so good, one of the best, but I also think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/when-i-read-spencer-madsen-s-poetry-i-not-only-feel-awe-because-he-s/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [Dan thought of love as defined by books, cobwebbed and hidden from view by the past. Too bad a love like that didn't actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/dan-thought-of-love-as-defined-by-books-cobwebbed-and-hidden-from/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) > [I want to love someone so selflessly that he would never even think about going away. I suppose that's what most people want. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/i-want-to-love-someone-so-selflessly-that-he-would-never-even-think/) [Dennis Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) [Explore all 15 Dennis Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/) ## More Home away from home quotes > [It's always a fun time coming back to New York. I love playing here. It's like a little home away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aryna-sabalenka/it-s-always-a-fun-time-coming-back-to-new-york-i-love-playing-here-it/) [Aryna Sabalenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aryna-sabalenka/) > [“Come over early tomorrow morning,” Marlboro Man asked over the phone one night. “We’re gathering cattle, and I want you to meet my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/come-over-early-tomorrow-morning-marlboro-man-asked-over-the-phone/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“PAPER TOWERS The library was on the second floor of the House, not far from my room. It had two floors—the first held the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/paper-towers-the-library-was-on-the-second-floor-of-the-house-not-far/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [I visit London several times a year. It is my home away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/i-visit-london-several-times-a-year-it-is-my-home-away-from-home/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I grew up without a television, so when I went to L.A., it was sort of, you know, a lot to take in, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dove-cameron/i-grew-up-without-a-television-so-when-i-went-to-l-a-it-was-sort-of/) [Dove Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dove-cameron/) > [The 'Roseanne' set was totally my home away from home. And I did pal around and roller-skate with Dakota Johnson. And now she's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-perry/the-roseanne-set-was-totally-my-home-away-from-home-and-i-did-pal/) [Zoe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-perry/) > [One of my fondest memories was when I was in London as a young, independent businesswoman and stayed at Claridge's. I knew I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/one-of-my-fondest-memories-was-when-i-was-in-london-as-a-young/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [It's fun when you are on tour to go a place you are familiar with in any given city. It's like being home away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-king/it-s-fun-when-you-are-on-tour-to-go-a-place-you-are-familiar-with-in/) [Kerry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-king/) > [Detroit has always been a rock and roll audience for me and picked up on me and my performances long before a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/detroit-has-always-been-a-rock-and-roll-audience-for-me-and-picked-up/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [Glasgow has truly become my home away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitriona-balfe/glasgow-has-truly-become-my-home-away-from-home/) [Caitriona Balfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitriona-balfe/) > [“Eventually, I spent so much time in the friend zone that I grew to think of it as some kind of magical home away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-garity/eventually-i-spent-so-much-time-in-the-friend-zone-that-i-grew-to/) [Dylan Garity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-garity/) > [Prada Infusion d'Iris perfume - my mother wears it, so it feels like home away from home. It's lovely to smell her scent at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-wickstead/prada-infusion-d-iris-perfume-my-mother-wears-it-so-it-feels-like/) [Emilia Wickstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-wickstead/) > [Theater dressing rooms are my home away from home - my second home, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-jackson/theater-dressing-rooms-are-my-home-away-from-home-my-second-home/) [Cheyenne Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-jackson/) > [Initially, I was scared of living alone in a big city like Mumbai, which is nothing like Bangalore. I'm more comfortable now; it feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-kharbanda/initially-i-was-scared-of-living-alone-in-a-big-city-like-mumbai/) [Kriti Kharbanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-kharbanda/) > [Glasgow is a home away from home in the U.K.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-savoretti/glasgow-is-a-home-away-from-home-in-the-u-k/) [Jack Savoretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-savoretti/) [Browse all 22 Home away from home quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-away-from-home/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I started writing I was a sick teenaged fuck inside who partly thought I was the new Marquis de Sade, a body doomed to communicate with Satan who was us- ing my sickness as his home away from home, and there’s your proof.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dennis Cooper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teenaged-fuck-inside-who-partly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Home away from home" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teenaged-fuck-inside-who-partly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/dennis-cooper-32504_home-away-from-home_when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teen_2998525.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/dennis-cooper-32504_home-away-from-home_when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teen_2998525.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/dennis-cooper-32504_home-away-from-home_when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teen_2998525.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I started writing I was a sick teenaged fuck inside who partly thought I was the new Marquis de Sade, a…” — Dennis Cooper", "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": "Dennis Cooper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-cooper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When I started writing I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teenaged-fuck-inside-who-partly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-cooper/when-i-started-writing-i-was-a-sick-teenaged-fuck-inside-who-partly/#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 } } ] } ```