---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What else? I also believe that if someone…"
description: "\"“What else? I also believe that if someone comes up behind you on the freeway and flashes their lights to get you to move into the slow lane, they dese..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/douglas-coupland-305_speed-racer_what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone_1220911.jpg"
---

#  What else? I also believe that if someone comes up behind…

![“What else? I also believe that if someone comes up behind you on the freeway and flashes their lights to get you to move into the slow lane, they deserve whatever punishment you dole out to them. I promptly slow down and drive at the same speed as the car beside me so that I can punish Speed Racer…” quote by Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/douglas-coupland-305_speed-racer_what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone_1220911.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/douglas-coupland-305_speed-racer_what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone_1220911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/douglas-coupland-305_speed-racer_what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone_1220911.jpg)

> ““What else? I also believe that if someone comes up behind you on the freeway and flashes their lights to get you to move into the slow lane, they deserve whatever punishment you dole out to them. I promptly slow down and drive at the same speed as the car beside me so that I can punish Speed Racer for his impertinence. Actually, it’s not the impertinence I’m punishing him for, it’s that he let other people know what he wanted. Speed Racer, my friend, never ever let people know what you want. Because if you do, you might as well send them engraved invitations saying, “Hi, this is what I want you to prevent me from ever having.””

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

## 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 warns against overtly signaling personal desires, as it invites others to block or undermine them, advocating for subtlety in ambition.

**In simple terms:** Don’t broadcast your goals; others may thwart them.

Key Takeaway

Keep ambitions discreet.

Themes

privacy ambition social dynamics

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal relationships
- negotiations
- social media presence

Key Concepts

strategic restraint self‑presentation psychology of desire

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance openness with protecting your goals?
- What risks arise from being too secretive?

A Different Perspective

If you hide too much, you may lose opportunities or support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Speed racer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed-racer/)

## Related quotes

> [It was incredible to play in the Premier League, somewhere I always wanted to go because of the speed and the pace of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-navas/it-was-incredible-to-play-in-the-premier-league-somewhere-i-always/)

[Jesus Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-navas/)

> [This isn't a picture filled with wonder and a sense of fun; it's so jaded and crass that I almost wonder if it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/this-isn-t-a-picture-filled-with-wonder-and-a-sense-of-fun-it-s-so/)

[Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/)

> [Well, when I was a kid and I watched 'Speed Racer,' I used to always watch it in the morning with my cereal. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/well-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-watched-speed-racer-i-used-to-always/)

[Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/)

> [Speed Racer is good to cut your teeth on, but if anyone has not seen Akira, go get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsters/speed-racer-is-good-to-cut-your-teeth-on-but-if-anyone-has-not-seen/)

[James Marsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsters/)

> [I was so grateful to have made 'Into the Wild' before I made 'Speed Racer' because on 'Speed Racer' I was indoors every single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/i-was-so-grateful-to-have-made-into-the-wild-before-i-made-speed/)

[Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/)

> [A lot of the stuff in 'Speed Racer' has never been done before, from it having a multi-tone, to it having a retro-cool family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/a-lot-of-the-stuff-in-speed-racer-has-never-been-done-before-from-it/)

[Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/)

> [There have been several movies that I've done over the years that have got a bad shake - 'Speed Racer' was one of them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/there-have-been-several-movies-that-i-ve-done-over-the-years-that/)

[Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/)

> [Speed racer on the track call me Hot Wheels. Them bullets long like fries, get a Happy Meal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-millz/speed-racer-on-the-track-call-me-hot-wheels-them-bullets-long-like/)

[Jae Millz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jae-millz/)

> [“Max is an idiot,” Ivy said, struggling to her feet and almost toppling over before Jack caught her. “Slow down, Speed Racer,” he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-harper-hart/max-is-an-idiot-ivy-said-struggling-to-her-feet-and-almost-toppling/)

[Lily Harper Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-harper-hart/)

> [On 'Into The Wild' I spent months risking my life and on 'Speed Racer' I spent 60 days acting in front of a green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/on-into-the-wild-i-spent-months-risking-my-life-and-on-speed-racer-i/)

[Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/)

## More by Douglas Coupland

> [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [A man in a bookstore buys a book on loneliness and every woman in the store hits on him. A woman buys a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/a-man-in-a-bookstore-buys-a-book-on-loneliness-and-every-woman-in-the/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [The future and eternity are two entirely different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/the-future-and-eternity-are-two-entirely-different-things/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [Do you remember how you felt at seventeen? I do and I don't (...) Imagine you came from outer space and someone showed you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/do-you-remember-how-you-felt-at-seventeen-i-do-and-i-don-t-imagine/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [You can't fake competence, creativity, or sexual arousal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-can-t-fake-competence-creativity-or-sexual-arousal/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [“But Dag, for all of his efforts, might as well have been talking to a cat. Our parents’ generation seems neither able nor interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/but-dag-for-all-of-his-efforts-might-as-well-have-been-talking-to-a/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [Negative? Moi? I think realistic might be a better word. You mean to tell me we can drive all the way here from L.A.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/negative-moi-i-think-realistic-might-be-a-better-word-you-mean-to/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [It was pivotal in making you but you don't remember it. Or do you? Do we understand the events that make us who we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/it-was-pivotal-in-making-you-but-you-don-t-remember-it-or-do-you-do/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [Your ability to rationalize your own bad deeds makes you believe that the whole world is as amoral as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/your-ability-to-rationalize-your-own-bad-deeds-makes-you-believe-that/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [“I like to go beach-combing, and I like to find interestingly shaped rocks. When I really get into the groove I start finding beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-like-to-go-beach-combing-and-i-like-to-find-interestingly-shaped/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [“You know, Dag and Claire smile a lot, as do many people I know. But I always wondered if there is something either mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-know-dag-and-claire-smile-a-lot-as-do-many-people-i-know-but-i/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [Brain research tells us that only twenty percent of human beings have a sense of irony, which means that eighty percent of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/brain-research-tells-us-that-only-twenty-percent-of-human-beings-have/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [I keep vampire hours, going to bed at 2 A.M. and waking up at about 10:30-11 A.M.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-keep-vampire-hours-going-to-bed-at-2-a-m-and-waking-up-at-about-10/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [“Anna-Louise leans over and whispers in my ear. "This is so surreal," she says, "I think I'm turning into a melting clock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/anna-louise-leans-over-and-whispers-in-my-ear-this-is-so-surreal-she/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [When you grow up these days, you're told you're going to have four or five different careers during your lifetime. But what they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/when-you-grow-up-these-days-you-re-told-you-re-going-to-have-four-or/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

[Explore all 704 Douglas Coupland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

## More Speed racer quotes

> [This isn't a picture filled with wonder and a sense of fun; it's so jaded and crass that I almost wonder if it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/this-isn-t-a-picture-filled-with-wonder-and-a-sense-of-fun-it-s-so/)

[Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/)

> [“Max is an idiot,” Ivy said, struggling to her feet and almost toppling over before Jack caught her. “Slow down, Speed Racer,” he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-harper-hart/max-is-an-idiot-ivy-said-struggling-to-her-feet-and-almost-toppling/)

[Lily Harper Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-harper-hart/)

> [Speed racer on the track call me Hot Wheels. Them bullets long like fries, get a Happy Meal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-millz/speed-racer-on-the-track-call-me-hot-wheels-them-bullets-long-like/)

[Jae Millz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jae-millz/)

> [There have been several movies that I've done over the years that have got a bad shake - 'Speed Racer' was one of them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/there-have-been-several-movies-that-i-ve-done-over-the-years-that/)

[Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/)

> [A lot of the stuff in 'Speed Racer' has never been done before, from it having a multi-tone, to it having a retro-cool family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/a-lot-of-the-stuff-in-speed-racer-has-never-been-done-before-from-it/)

[Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/)

> [I was so grateful to have made 'Into the Wild' before I made 'Speed Racer' because on 'Speed Racer' I was indoors every single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/i-was-so-grateful-to-have-made-into-the-wild-before-i-made-speed/)

[Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/)

> [Speed Racer is good to cut your teeth on, but if anyone has not seen Akira, go get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsters/speed-racer-is-good-to-cut-your-teeth-on-but-if-anyone-has-not-seen/)

[James Marsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsters/)

> [Well, when I was a kid and I watched 'Speed Racer,' I used to always watch it in the morning with my cereal. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/well-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-watched-speed-racer-i-used-to-always/)

[Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/)

> [On 'Into The Wild' I spent months risking my life and on 'Speed Racer' I spent 60 days acting in front of a green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/on-into-the-wild-i-spent-months-risking-my-life-and-on-speed-racer-i/)

[Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/)

[Browse all 10 Speed racer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed-racer/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“What else? I also believe that if someone comes up behind you on the freeway and flashes their lights to get you to move into the slow lane, they deserve whatever punishment you dole out to them. I promptly slow down and drive at the same speed as the car beside me so that I can punish Speed Racer for his impertinence. Actually, it’s not the impertinence I’m punishing him for, it’s that he let other people know what he wanted. Speed Racer, my friend, never ever let people know what you want. Because if you do, you might as well send them engraved invitations saying, “Hi, this is what I want you to prevent me from ever having.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Douglas Coupland"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone-comes-up-behind-you-on-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Speed racer"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone-comes-up-behind-you-on-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/douglas-coupland-305_speed-racer_what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone_1220911.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/douglas-coupland-305_speed-racer_what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone_1220911.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/douglas-coupland-305_speed-racer_what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone_1220911.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What else? I also believe that if someone comes up behind you on the freeway and flashes their lights to get…” — Douglas Coupland",
                "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": "Douglas Coupland",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“What else? I also believe that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone-comes-up-behind-you-on-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/what-else-i-also-believe-that-if-someone-comes-up-behind-you-on-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
