--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm wondering if there's a spell to make…" description: "\"I'm wondering if there's a spell to make lightning flash in the background whenever I make an ominous resolution.\" — Eliezer Yudkowsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_backgrounds_i-m-wondering-if-there-s-a-spell-to-make_71165.png" --- # I'm wondering if there's a spell to make lightning flash… ![“I'm wondering if there's a spell to make lightning flash in the background whenever I make an ominous resolution.” quote by Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_backgrounds_i-m-wondering-if-there-s-a-spell-to-make_71165.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_backgrounds_i-m-wondering-if-there-s-a-spell-to-make_71165.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_backgrounds_i-m-wondering-if-there-s-a-spell-to-make_71165.png) > “I'm wondering if there's a spell to make lightning flash in the background whenever I make an ominous resolution.” [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A whimsical wish for a dramatic visual cue that mirrors the seriousness of a personal commitment, highlighting the desire for external validation of internal resolve. **In simple terms:** Seeking a striking sign to accompany a solemn pledge. Key Takeaway External symbols can amplify personal resolve. Themes self‑expression dramatic symbolism psychology of commitment technology fantasy Mood playful determined Type humorous philosophical When to use this quote - making a New Year's resolution - declaring a personal mission - publicly announcing a goal - starting a challenging project Key Concepts visual metaphor ritualistic behavior Practical Applications - using visual effects in presentations - designing personal ritual cues Questions to Reflect On - How does visual drama affect my motivation? - Do I need external symbols to stay accountable? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [Television news is like a lightning flash. It makes a loud noise, lights up everything around it, leaves everything else in darkness and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter/television-news-is-like-a-lightning-flash-it-makes-a-loud-noise/) [Hodding Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter/) > [My Beloved One gleams like the lightning flash in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/my-beloved-one-gleams-like-the-lightning-flash-in-the-sky/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [“Have I ever really loved anyone at all, or was it a lightning flash which made me the shadow of my former self?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-i-ever-really-loved-anyone-at-all-or-was-it-a-lightning-flash/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [His kiss was like white lightning, a flash that spread, and spread again, and stayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/his-kiss-was-like-white-lightning-a-flash-that-spread-and-spread/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“Every so often, a lightning flash would reveal us to each other, and the expression on his face - so rapt, so helpless, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-lindner/every-so-often-a-lightning-flash-would-reveal-us-to-each-other-and/) [April Lindner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-lindner/) > [The rattling thunderbolt hath but his clap, the lightning but his flash, and as they both come in a moment, so do they both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lyly/the-rattling-thunderbolt-hath-but-his-clap-the-lightning-but-his/) [John Lyly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lyly/) > [I was watching him crawl, Back over the wall-! Then bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And- well, that's another story, Never mind- Anyway...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-was-watching-him-crawl-back-over-the-wall-then-bang-crash-and-the/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [...and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/and-see-ominous-clouds-of-inferiority-beginning-to-form-in-her-little/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Sunday morning may be cheery enough, with its extra cup of coffee and litter of Sunday newspapers, but there is always hanging over it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/sunday-morning-may-be-cheery-enough-with-its-extra-cup-of-coffee-and/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [“It was what should have been a bright summer day, but the smoke from the burning world filled the sky, through which the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/it-was-what-should-have-been-a-bright-summer-day-but-the-smoke-from/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [I like to think that I'm not as ominous in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dae-kim/i-like-to-think-that-i-m-not-as-ominous-in-real-life/) [Daniel Dae Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dae-kim/) > [The younger and healthier a woman is and the more her new and glossy body seems destined for eternal freshness, the less useful is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-younger-and-healthier-a-woman-is-and-the-more-her-new-and-glossy/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [When 1:45 came, half the class left, and Danny Hupfer whispered, "If she gives you a cream puff after we leave, I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/when-1-45-came-half-the-class-left-and-danny-hupfer-whispered-if-she/) [Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/) > [“He liked murder. Murder and long walks had been two of his favorite things when he was younger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-liked-murder-murder-and-long-walks-had-been-two-of-his-favorite/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [What is ominous is the ease with which some people go from saying that they don't like something to saying that the government should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/what-is-ominous-is-the-ease-with-which-some-people-go-from-saying/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More by Eliezer Yudkowsky > [“But I really am Ravenclaw, you know, not Slytherin. I don't want to rule the universe. 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