--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: but I felt that Tom would drift on…" description: "\"but I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game\" — F. Scott Fit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_ball-game_but-i-felt-that-tom-would-drift-on-forev_1819791.jpg" --- # but I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a… ![“but I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game” quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_ball-game_but-i-felt-that-tom-would-drift-on-forev_1819791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_ball-game_but-i-felt-that-tom-would-drift-on-forev_1819791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_ball-game_but-i-felt-that-tom-would-drift-on-forev_1819791.jpg) > “but I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game” [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character endlessly pursues an unattainable, nostalgic ideal. **In simple terms:** Chasing a lost dream forever. Key Takeaway Accept the limits of idealized pursuits. Themes nostalgia obsession dreams Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal ambition - sports fandom - creative writing - life planning Key Concepts American literature psychology Questions to Reflect On - What dreams are you chasing? - When should you let go? A Different Perspective Risk of stagnation in endless longing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-game/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Turbulence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turbulence/) ## Related quotes > [I will love you for ever, whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-will-love-you-for-ever-whatever-happens-till-i-die-and-after-i-die/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“One thing about space: it might be a big radiation-filled vacuum that’d kill you in a heartbeat if you weren’t paying attention, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/one-thing-about-space-it-might-be-a-big-radiation-filled-vacuum-that/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [I don't like to fly. What's it called when the plane shakes? Turbulence, takeoffs... I grab my chair, close my eyes, count to 30,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanel-iman/i-don-t-like-to-fly-what-s-it-called-when-the-plane-shakes-turbulence/) [Chanel Iman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanel-iman/) > [“I wondered how I could appear so whole and serene on the outside when inside I was thrashing with turbulence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-maniscalco/i-wondered-how-i-could-appear-so-whole-and-serene-on-the-outside-when/) [Kerri Maniscalco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-maniscalco/) > [I don't like to fly. I've never been a good flyer. I have a lot of friends that have permanent nail marks in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-don-t-like-to-fly-i-ve-never-been-a-good-flyer-i-have-a-lot-of/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/hence-it-is-that-such-democracies-have-ever-been-spectacles-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Real knowledge never promoted either turbulence or unbelief; but its progress is the forerunner of liberality and enlightened toleration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/real-knowledge-never-promoted-either-turbulence-or-unbelief-but-its/) [Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/) > [Submission does not mean being weak or passive. It leads to neither fatalism nor capitulation. Just the opposite. True power resides in submission. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/submission-does-not-mean-being-weak-or-passive-it-leads-to-neither/) [Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/) > [Business is all about risk taking and managing uncertainties and turbulence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-adani/business-is-all-about-risk-taking-and-managing-uncertainties-and/) [Gautam Adani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-adani/) > [There's bound to be turbulence in any situation if you're with someone for long enough. Especially if you're with someone like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/there-s-bound-to-be-turbulence-in-any-situation-if-you-re-with/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [I headed towards the mountain, which was an almost irresistible beacon to my storm self. It glowed with heat, pressure, and turbulence—everything a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-headed-towards-the-mountain-which-was-an-almost-irresistible-beacon/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Turbulence, like many forms of trouble, cannot always be seen. We bounce so hard my arms sail helplessly above my head. In evolution, wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretel-ehrlich/turbulence-like-many-forms-of-trouble-cannot-always-be-seen-we-bounce/) [Gretel Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretel-ehrlich/) > [Turbulence is life force. It is opportunity. Let's love turbulence and use it for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/turbulence-is-life-force-it-is-opportunity-let-s-love-turbulence-and/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [“There is bound to be turbulence in the clouds of confusion before one can view the friendly skies, and an illuminated landing strip.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/there-is-bound-to-be-turbulence-in-the-clouds-of-confusion-before-one/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [“Turbulence that blows you to greatness is better than calmness that stalls you in mediocrity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/turbulence-that-blows-you-to-greatness-is-better-than-calmness-that/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More by F. Scott Fitzgerald > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“There was a ripe mystery about it, a hint of bedrooms upstairs more beautiful and cool than other bedrooms, of gay and radiant activities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/there-was-a-ripe-mystery-about-it-a-hint-of-bedrooms-upstairs-more/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I want you to take a red-hot bath as hot as you can bear it, and just relax your nerves. You can read in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-want-you-to-take-a-red-hot-bath-as-hot-as-you-can-bear-it-and-just/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I found something! Courage--just that; courage as a rule of life and something to cling to always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-found-something-courage-just-that-courage-as-a-rule-of-life-and/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Life is a series of successful gestures...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/life-is-a-series-of-successful-gestures/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Another dawn flung itself across the river; a belated taxi hurried along the street, its lamps still shining like burning eyes in a face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/another-dawn-flung-itself-across-the-river-a-belated-taxi-hurried/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“She plucked a twig and broke it, but she found no spring in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-plucked-a-twig-and-broke-it-but-she-found-no-spring-in-it/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“I'm one of those people who go through the world giving other people thrills but getting few myself except those I read into men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-go-through-the-world-giving-other-people/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The Montana sunset lay between the mountains like a giant bruise from which darkened arteries spread across a poisoned sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-montana-sunset-lay-between-the-mountains-like-a-giant-bruise-from/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“You loved me too?" he repeated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/you-loved-me-too-he-repeated/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“He was good looking, "sort of distinguished when he wants to be", had a line, and was properly inconstant. In fact, he summed up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/he-was-good-looking-sort-of-distinguished-when-he-wants-to-be-had-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [What are you going to do? "Can't say - run for president, write -" "Greenwich Village?" "Good heavens, no - I said write -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/what-are-you-going-to-do-can-t-say-run-for-president-write-greenwich/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“The latter was considered a good fellow and a fine leader, until a year later, when he disappeared with a mess fund of eleven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-latter-was-considered-a-good-fellow-and-a-fine-leader-until-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-eluded-us-then-but-that-s-no-matter-tomorrow-we-will-run-faster/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Explore all 1,568 F. Scott Fitzgerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More Ball game quotes > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [Sometimes a minute is really the difference between success and failure. There are times when you finish with ten seconds left, and one extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-symon/sometimes-a-minute-is-really-the-difference-between-success-and/) [Michael Symon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-symon/) > [Consider developing your whole self with the same raw focus and intensity that you develop a particular skill set. Get focused. Go out, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/consider-developing-your-whole-self-with-the-same-raw-focus-and/) [Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [I'm about winning football games and playing hard. That's all I care about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/i-m-about-winning-football-games-and-playing-hard-that-s-all-i-care/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) > [I don't like going to football games. I like watching them on television. When you go to a game, it's hard to focus. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-don-t-like-going-to-football-games-i-like-watching-them-on/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Kids are pretty resilient. You don't have to be at every volleyball game. We can't guilt ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/kids-are-pretty-resilient-you-don-t-have-to-be-at-every-volleyball/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [You might be a redneck if... your high school basketball game got rained out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-your-high-school-basketball-game-got-rained/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [My folks, I don't think my mom or my dad ever missed a little league game or a football game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/my-folks-i-don-t-think-my-mom-or-my-dad-ever-missed-a-little-league/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [“That's all I need," I say. "Well...I need the lamp. And the astray. And the remote control. And the paddleball game. And you, Dean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/that-s-all-i-need-i-say-well-i-need-the-lamp-and-the-astray-and-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [You know this baseball game of ours comes up from the youth - that means the boys. And after you've been a boy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-this-baseball-game-of-ours-comes-up-from-the-youth-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Trying to manage a project without project management is like trying to play a football game without a game plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-manage-a-project-without-project-management-is-like-trying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We'll do anything it takes to win a basketball game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-lowry/we-ll-do-anything-it-takes-to-win-a-basketball-game/) [Kyle Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-lowry/) > [When I am working it is up early and coffee and 15 hours of being on the set. 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