--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to be that which overcomes itself…" description: "\"“I want to be that which overcomes itself Listening to them makes me weak and small I watch them go out and fuck each other They tell me that I’m crazy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henry-rollins-170_crushing_i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself_326612.png" --- # I want to be that which overcomes itself Listening to them… ![“I want to be that which overcomes itself Listening to them makes me weak and small I watch them go out and fuck each other They tell me that I’m crazy The years scar me I don’t want a smooth ride I want the crushing wheel” quote by Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henry-rollins-170_crushing_i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself_326612.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henry-rollins-170_crushing_i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself_326612.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henry-rollins-170_crushing_i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself_326612.png) > ““I want to be that which overcomes itself Listening to them makes me weak and small I watch them go out and fuck each other They tell me that I’m crazy The years scar me I don’t want a smooth ride I want the crushing wheel”” [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses a desire to confront inner demons, reject complacency, and embrace struggle as a path to authenticity. **In simple terms:** Seek pain to grow, not comfort. Key Takeaway Embrace struggle, reject ease. Themes self‑growth pain rebellion authenticity inner conflict Mood intense defiant raw Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - creative expression - mental health work - activism Key Concepts existentialism raw honesty counter‑culture Questions to Reflect On - What does “crushing wheel” symbolize for you? - How can you balance hardship with self‑care? A Different Perspective Such intensity can alienate those seeking gentler guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [When my voice isn't doing what I want it to do, it's crushing in the most heavy way possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-hayes/when-my-voice-isn-t-doing-what-i-want-it-to-do-it-s-crushing-in-the/) [Walker Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-hayes/) > [What men don't want, in fact what anyone who's any sort of thrill-seeking, intelligent adult doesn't want, is some crushing bore describing their emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/what-men-don-t-want-in-fact-what-anyone-who-s-any-sort-of-thrill/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Ugh,I think I still like my old crush,Anthony.. He used too point out if I was blushing.. And his friend said ''hahahaha,your hair looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazzy/ugh-i-think-i-still-like-my-old-crush-anthony-he-used-too-point-out/) [Jazzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazzy/) > [I am like a sugarcane so, people crush me with their word's… but, I am sweet even after there crushing...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destrol/i-am-like-a-sugarcane-so-people-crush-me-with-their-word-s-but-i-am/) Destrol > [Some days you show up and just get crushed, and other days you do the crushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stephens/some-days-you-show-up-and-just-get-crushed-and-other-days-you-do-the/) [Jeremy Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stephens/) > [Often you see big companies, big banks who are eager to embrace crushing regulatory burdens because they drive up everyone's costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/often-you-see-big-companies-big-banks-who-are-eager-to-embrace/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [“It’s a soul-crushing moment when you have to come to terms with the fact that your decisions have completely destroyed someone else’s life, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-figley/it-s-a-soul-crushing-moment-when-you-have-to-come-to-terms-with-the/) Michelle Figley > [No personal calamity is so crushing that something true and great can't be made of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/no-personal-calamity-is-so-crushing-that-something-true-and-great-can/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [Me:I like him. Her:Why him? Me: like you wouldn't? Her: I like him too. Me: Oh,Well..You can have him. Her: You're just giving up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/me-i-like-him-her-why-him-me-like-you-wouldn-t-her-i-like-him-too-me/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [“What a place for him who intends to pass an examination, to write a book, or who wants the crumples got by crushing together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/what-a-place-for-him-who-intends-to-pass-an-examination-to-write-a/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“I'm just messaging you to say that I haven't been thinking about you at all today. Not a bit. And i don't even miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-christine/i-m-just-messaging-you-to-say-that-i-haven-t-been-thinking-about-you/) [Nellie Christine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-christine/) > [You're crushing my dreams...darling please stop before my heart breaks completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-goldberg/you-re-crushing-my-dreams-darling-please-stop-before-my-heart-breaks/) Jenna Goldberg > [What shall we do, all of us? All of us oassionate girls who fear crushing the boys we love with our mouths like caverns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/what-shall-we-do-all-of-us-all-of-us-oassionate-girls-who-fear/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“CRUSHING THE SPIRIT OF CHILDHOOD SINCE 1898.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-myklusch/crushing-the-spirit-of-childhood-since-1898/) [Matt Myklusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-myklusch/) > [I never believed that they was such thing as love at first sight but I think I'm having that feeliing @sarahlovemoody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mishack/i-never-believed-that-they-was-such-thing-as-love-at-first-sight-but/) Mishack ## More by Henry Rollins > [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In the summer of '84, you just couldn't escape the Born in the USA record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/in-the-summer-of-84-you-just-couldn-t-escape-the-born-in-the-usa/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [We spend millions of dollars to remove pain from our lives. It's why so many people get hooked on painkillers. The body becomes addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/we-spend-millions-of-dollars-to-remove-pain-from-our-lives-it-s-why/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Sleep is for squares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/sleep-is-for-squares/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's a lot of mountain climbers trapped inside of bodies of people behind the counter at Kinko's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-a-lot-of-mountain-climbers-trapped-inside-of-bodies-of-people/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-i-lose-the-light-of-the-sun-i-will-write-by-candlelight-moonlight/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was raised in Washington, DC, very violent place. I grew up with violence. My introduction to music was violent. The years I've spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-raised-in-washington-dc-very-violent-place-i-grew-up-with/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel pain everyday of my life. When you see me perform, it's that pain you're seeing coming out. I put all my emotions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-pain-everyday-of-my-life-when-you-see-me-perform-it-s-that/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel close to people like Jimi Hendrix because I connect with his music. Not the man but what he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-close-to-people-like-jimi-hendrix-because-i-connect-with-his/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe in various degrees of hatred, paranoia, and abandonment. However much of that gets heaped upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-or-destiny-i-believe-in-various-degrees-of/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Young, gay and stuck in Arkansas? Sounds like a horror flick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/young-gay-and-stuck-in-arkansas-sounds-like-a-horror-flick/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was never told to "Get up, get out there, get a job." It was never a thing either parent ever said I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-never-told-to-get-up-get-out-there-get-a-job-it-was-never-a/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's no retirement, there's just a few years of non-work by the fire with someone bringing you some tea and relative peace and playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-no-retirement-there-s-just-a-few-years-of-non-work-by-the/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I love being a storyteller. I love telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-love-being-a-storyteller-i-love-telling-stories/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) [Explore all 1,006 Henry Rollins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## More Crushing quotes > [I never believed that they was such thing as love at first sight but I think I'm having that feeliing @sarahlovemoody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mishack/i-never-believed-that-they-was-such-thing-as-love-at-first-sight-but/) Mishack > [“CRUSHING THE SPIRIT OF CHILDHOOD SINCE 1898.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-myklusch/crushing-the-spirit-of-childhood-since-1898/) [Matt Myklusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-myklusch/) > [When my voice isn't doing what I want it to do, it's crushing in the most heavy way possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-hayes/when-my-voice-isn-t-doing-what-i-want-it-to-do-it-s-crushing-in-the/) [Walker Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-hayes/) > [What shall we do, all of us? All of us oassionate girls who fear crushing the boys we love with our mouths like caverns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/what-shall-we-do-all-of-us-all-of-us-oassionate-girls-who-fear/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [You're crushing my dreams...darling please stop before my heart breaks completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-goldberg/you-re-crushing-my-dreams-darling-please-stop-before-my-heart-breaks/) Jenna Goldberg > [“I'm just messaging you to say that I haven't been thinking about you at all today. Not a bit. And i don't even miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-christine/i-m-just-messaging-you-to-say-that-i-haven-t-been-thinking-about-you/) [Nellie Christine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-christine/) > [“What a place for him who intends to pass an examination, to write a book, or who wants the crumples got by crushing together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/what-a-place-for-him-who-intends-to-pass-an-examination-to-write-a/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [Me:I like him. Her:Why him? Me: like you wouldn't? Her: I like him too. Me: Oh,Well..You can have him. Her: You're just giving up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/me-i-like-him-her-why-him-me-like-you-wouldn-t-her-i-like-him-too-me/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [No personal calamity is so crushing that something true and great can't be made of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/no-personal-calamity-is-so-crushing-that-something-true-and-great-can/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [“It’s a soul-crushing moment when you have to come to terms with the fact that your decisions have completely destroyed someone else’s life, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-figley/it-s-a-soul-crushing-moment-when-you-have-to-come-to-terms-with-the/) Michelle Figley > [Often you see big companies, big banks who are eager to embrace crushing regulatory burdens because they drive up everyone's costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/often-you-see-big-companies-big-banks-who-are-eager-to-embrace/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Some days you show up and just get crushed, and other days you do the crushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stephens/some-days-you-show-up-and-just-get-crushed-and-other-days-you-do-the/) [Jeremy Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stephens/) > [I am like a sugarcane so, people crush me with their word's… but, I am sweet even after there crushing...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destrol/i-am-like-a-sugarcane-so-people-crush-me-with-their-word-s-but-i-am/) Destrol > [Ugh,I think I still like my old crush,Anthony.. He used too point out if I was blushing.. And his friend said ''hahahaha,your hair looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazzy/ugh-i-think-i-still-like-my-old-crush-anthony-he-used-too-point-out/) [Jazzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazzy/) > [Crushing on someone..but you can't date them :(](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/crushing-on-someone-but-you-can-t-date-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 82 Crushing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I want to be that which overcomes itself Listening to them makes me weak and small I watch them go out and fuck each other They tell me that I’m crazy The years scar me I don’t want a smooth ride I want the crushing wheel”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Rollins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself-listening-to-them-makes-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crushing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself-listening-to-them-makes-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henry-rollins-170_crushing_i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself_326612.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henry-rollins-170_crushing_i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself_326612.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henry-rollins-170_crushing_i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself_326612.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want to be that which overcomes itself Listening to them makes me weak and small I watch them go out and…” — Henry Rollins", "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": "Henry Rollins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I want to be that which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself-listening-to-them-makes-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-want-to-be-that-which-overcomes-itself-listening-to-them-makes-me/#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 } } ] } ```