--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to keep smashing myself until I am…" description: "\"I want to keep smashing myself until I am whole.\" — Elias Canetti" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/elias-canetti-3574_smashing_i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-a_1456780.jpg" --- # I want to keep smashing myself until I am whole. ![“I want to keep smashing myself until I am whole.” quote by Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/elias-canetti-3574_smashing_i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-a_1456780.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/elias-canetti-3574_smashing_i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-a_1456780.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/elias-canetti-3574_smashing_i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-a_1456780.jpg) > “I want to keep smashing myself until I am whole.” [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A relentless drive to self‑improve, even through self‑destruction, in pursuit of wholeness. **In simple terms:** Keep pushing until you feel complete. Key Takeaway Embrace struggle as a path to wholeness. Themes self‑improvement identity psychology Mood introspective serious Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - therapy - creative work - spiritual practice Key Concepts self‑destruction integration personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What healthier methods can replace self‑destruction? - How do you define “whole”? A Different Perspective Self‑harm can be counterproductive and unsafe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Smashing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smashing/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Smashing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-smashing-5252291/) ## Related quotes > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [In orthodox film-making, you never shoot sequentially - but with improv, obviously every move you make has a knock-on effect; it is a cumulative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saffron-burrows/in-orthodox-film-making-you-never-shoot-sequentially-but-with-improv/) [Saffron Burrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saffron-burrows/) > [It was smashing working with Jerry Desmonde, he was a very nice chap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-wisdom/it-was-smashing-working-with-jerry-desmonde-he-was-a-very-nice-chap/) [Norman Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-wisdom/) > [And he felt himself oppressed by this creation of factitious purity, so cunningly manufactured by a conspiracy of mothers and aunts and grandmothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/and-he-felt-himself-oppressed-by-this-creation-of-factitious-purity/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [I learned how to play guitar by playing along to Jane's Addiction records and Smashing Pumpkins records, things you can totally hear if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chino-moreno/i-learned-how-to-play-guitar-by-playing-along-to-jane-s-addiction/) [Chino Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chino-moreno/) > [Never angrily rant into your web cam. While smashing a keyboard in half over a game of 'World of Warcraft' may seem totally justified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-william-johnson/never-angrily-rant-into-your-web-cam-while-smashing-a-keyboard-in/) [Ray William Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-william-johnson/) > [When I lived in New York, there wasn't as much TV or film around. I got asked to do a couple of indie films,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-iha/when-i-lived-in-new-york-there-wasn-t-as-much-tv-or-film-around-i-got/) [James Iha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-iha/) > [ With almost no time to decide, \[your loved ones\] gave the entire country an incalculable gift. They saved the Capitol from attack. They saved… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/with-almost-no-time-to-decide-your-loved-ones-gave-the-entire-country/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [In some ways, Trump is just going to continue the trend: by continuing the norm-smashing behaviour that Republicans used in opposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-some-ways-trump-is-just-going-to-continue-the-trend-by-continuing/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) > [I loved Japan. I used to read a lot about it when I was a child. And I always wanted to go. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-loved-japan-i-used-to-read-a-lot-about-it-when-i-was-a-child-and-i/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I was flying right toward him (the pig) at the speed of demigod-smashing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-was-flying-right-toward-him-the-pig-at-the-speed-of-demigod-smashing/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I remember my parents yelling at each other and at me from an early age, and I remember a lot of things smashing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-diamond/i-remember-my-parents-yelling-at-each-other-and-at-me-from-an-early/) [Jason Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-diamond/) > [I never wanted to leave the Smashing Pumpkins. That was never the plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-never-wanted-to-leave-the-smashing-pumpkins-that-was-never-the-plan/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [There were so many Pittsburgh poets in my hallway that if, at that instant, a meteorite had come smashing through my roof, there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/there-were-so-many-pittsburgh-poets-in-my-hallway-that-if-at-that/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [With great difficulty advancing by millimeters each year, I carve a road out of the rock. For millenniums my teeth have wasted and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/with-great-difficulty-advancing-by-millimeters-each-year-i-carve-a/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) ## More by Elias Canetti > [A 'modern' man has nothing to add to modernism, if only because he has nothing to oppose it with. The well-adapted drop off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/a-modern-man-has-nothing-to-add-to-modernism-if-only-because-he-has/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [The planet's survival has become so uncertain that any effort, any thought that presupposes an assured future amounts to a mad gamble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-planet-s-survival-has-become-so-uncertain-that-any-effort-any/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [ “The hand which scoops up the water is the first vessel. The fingers of both hands intertwined are the first basket. \[p. 217\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-hand-which-scoops-up-the-water-is-the-first-vessel-the-fingers-of/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [The planets survival has become so uncertain that any effort, any thought that presupposes an assured future amounts to a mad gamble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-planets-survival-has-become-so-uncertain-that-any-effort-any/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [“Najbolјa definicija zavičaja jeste biblioteka.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/najbol-a-definicija-zavi-aja-jeste-biblioteka/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [“Das Nicht-Wissen darf am Wissen nicht verarmen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/das-nicht-wissen-darf-am-wissen-nicht-verarmen/) [elias canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [In five minutes the earth would be a desert, and you cling to books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/in-five-minutes-the-earth-would-be-a-desert-and-you-cling-to-books/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [The first effect of adjusting to other people is that one becomes boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-first-effect-of-adjusting-to-other-people-is-that-one-becomes/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [“Ionako ne postoji oskudica u osrednjim glavama.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/ionako-ne-postoji-oskudica-u-osrednjim-glavama/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Success is the space one occupies in the newspaper. Success is one day's insolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/success-is-the-space-one-occupies-in-the-newspaper-success-is-one-day/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [It is always the enemy who started it, even if he was not the first to speak out, he was certainly planning it; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/it-is-always-the-enemy-who-started-it-even-if-he-was-not-the-first-to/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [There emanates from superlatives a destructive force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/there-emanates-from-superlatives-a-destructive-force/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [The fear of burglars is not only the fear of being robbed, but also the fear of a sudden and unexpected clutch out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-fear-of-burglars-is-not-only-the-fear-of-being-robbed-but-also/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Justice begins with the recognition of the necessity of sharing. The oldest law is that which regulates it, and this is still themost important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/justice-begins-with-the-recognition-of-the-necessity-of-sharing-the/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [I would like to become tolerant without overlooking anything, persecute no one even when all people persecute me; become better without noticing it; become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/i-would-like-to-become-tolerant-without-overlooking-anything/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) [Explore all 100 Elias Canetti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) ## More Smashing quotes > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [There were so many Pittsburgh poets in my hallway that if, at that instant, a meteorite had come smashing through my roof, there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/there-were-so-many-pittsburgh-poets-in-my-hallway-that-if-at-that/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [I never wanted to leave the Smashing Pumpkins. That was never the plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-never-wanted-to-leave-the-smashing-pumpkins-that-was-never-the-plan/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [I remember my parents yelling at each other and at me from an early age, and I remember a lot of things smashing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-diamond/i-remember-my-parents-yelling-at-each-other-and-at-me-from-an-early/) [Jason Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-diamond/) > [I was flying right toward him (the pig) at the speed of demigod-smashing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-was-flying-right-toward-him-the-pig-at-the-speed-of-demigod-smashing/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I loved Japan. I used to read a lot about it when I was a child. And I always wanted to go. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-loved-japan-i-used-to-read-a-lot-about-it-when-i-was-a-child-and-i/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [In some ways, Trump is just going to continue the trend: by continuing the norm-smashing behaviour that Republicans used in opposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-some-ways-trump-is-just-going-to-continue-the-trend-by-continuing/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) > [ With almost no time to decide, \[your loved ones\] gave the entire country an incalculable gift. They saved the Capitol from attack. They saved… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/with-almost-no-time-to-decide-your-loved-ones-gave-the-entire-country/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [When I lived in New York, there wasn't as much TV or film around. I got asked to do a couple of indie films,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-iha/when-i-lived-in-new-york-there-wasn-t-as-much-tv-or-film-around-i-got/) [James Iha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-iha/) > [Never angrily rant into your web cam. While smashing a keyboard in half over a game of 'World of Warcraft' may seem totally justified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-william-johnson/never-angrily-rant-into-your-web-cam-while-smashing-a-keyboard-in/) [Ray William Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-william-johnson/) > [I learned how to play guitar by playing along to Jane's Addiction records and Smashing Pumpkins records, things you can totally hear if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chino-moreno/i-learned-how-to-play-guitar-by-playing-along-to-jane-s-addiction/) [Chino Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chino-moreno/) > [And he felt himself oppressed by this creation of factitious purity, so cunningly manufactured by a conspiracy of mothers and aunts and grandmothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/and-he-felt-himself-oppressed-by-this-creation-of-factitious-purity/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [It was smashing working with Jerry Desmonde, he was a very nice chap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-wisdom/it-was-smashing-working-with-jerry-desmonde-he-was-a-very-nice-chap/) [Norman Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-wisdom/) > [In orthodox film-making, you never shoot sequentially - but with improv, obviously every move you make has a knock-on effect; it is a cumulative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saffron-burrows/in-orthodox-film-making-you-never-shoot-sequentially-but-with-improv/) [Saffron Burrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saffron-burrows/) > [With great difficulty advancing by millimeters each year, I carve a road out of the rock. For millenniums my teeth have wasted and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/with-great-difficulty-advancing-by-millimeters-each-year-i-carve-a/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) [Browse all 119 Smashing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smashing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want to keep smashing myself until I am whole.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elias Canetti" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-am-whole/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Smashing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-am-whole/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/elias-canetti-3574_smashing_i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-a_1456780.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/elias-canetti-3574_smashing_i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-a_1456780.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/elias-canetti-3574_smashing_i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-a_1456780.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want to keep smashing myself until I am whole.” — Elias Canetti", "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": "Elias Canetti", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I want to keep smashing myself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-am-whole/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/i-want-to-keep-smashing-myself-until-i-am-whole/#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 } } ] } ```