--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How long can we maintain? I wonder. How…" description: "\"How long can we maintain? I wonder. How long before one of us starts raving and jabbering at this boy? What will he think then? This same lonely desert..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/hunter-s-thompson-278_boys_how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-lo_348251.jpg" --- # How long can we maintain? I wonder. How long before one of… ![“How long can we maintain? I wonder. How long before one of us starts raving and jabbering at this boy? What will he think then? This same lonely desert was the last known home of the Manson family. Will he make that grim connection..” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/hunter-s-thompson-278_boys_how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-lo_348251.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/hunter-s-thompson-278_boys_how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-lo_348251.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/hunter-s-thompson-278_boys_how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-lo_348251.jpg) > “How long can we maintain? I wonder. How long before one of us starts raving and jabbering at this boy? What will he think then? This same lonely desert was the last known home of the Manson family. Will he make that grim connection..” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Isolation can lead to mental breakdowns, especially in harsh environments, prompting reflection on personal limits. **In simple terms:** Loneliness may cause mental collapse in tough settings. Key Takeaway Monitor mental health in isolation. Themes loneliness mental health survival psychology Mood reflective somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - expeditions - remote work - wartime confinement Key Concepts stress response existential dread group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate mental strain? - How can groups prevent isolation effects? A Different Perspective Not everyone reacts the same; support may be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Desert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Gonzo journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gonzo-journalism/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/las-vegas-a-savage-journey-to-the-heart-of-the-american-dream/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [The towers are gone now, reduced to bloody rubble, along with all hopes for Peace in Our Time, in the United States or any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-towers-are-gone-now-reduced-to-bloody-rubble-along-with-all-hopes/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Gonzo journalism is a style of reporting based on William Faulkner's idea that the best fiction is far more true than any kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/gonzo-journalism-is-a-style-of-reporting-based-on-william-faulkner-s/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [It's a strange world. Some people get rich and others eat sh\*\* and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/it-s-a-strange-world-some-people-get-rich-and-others-eat-sh-and-die/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/life-should-not-be-a-journey-to-the-grave-with-the-intention-of-3/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [ \[Ken\] Kesey practices what has come to be known as gonzo journalism. The reporter, often intoxicated, fails to get the story but delivers instead… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-z-sheppard/ken-kesey-practices-what-has-come-to-be-known-as-gonzo-journalism-the/) R Z Sheppard > [Anyone that is able to put a high school film and gonzo journalism together, it's like, "Yes, please!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/anyone-that-is-able-to-put-a-high-school-film-and-gonzo-journalism/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [“The Manson Family changed the whole world. But they won’t even accept that, you know. The whole thing is turning out crazy. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin-marynick/the-manson-family-changed-the-whole-world-but-they-won-t-even-accept/) [Marlin Marynick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlin-marynick/) > [Writing is the flip side of sex - it's good only when it's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/writing-is-the-flip-side-of-sex-it-s-good-only-when-it-s-over/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The truth is that The Wild One -- despite an admittedly fictional treatment -- was an inspired piece of film journalism. Instead of institutionalizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-truth-is-that-the-wild-one-despite-an-admittedly-fictional/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Because the writer must be a participant in the scene, while he's writing it — or at least taping it, or even sketching it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/because-the-writer-must-be-a-participant-in-the-scene-while-he-s/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Some people will say that words like scum and rotten are wrong for Objective Journalism -- which is true, but they miss the point.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/some-people-will-say-that-words-like-scum-and-rotten-are-wrong-for/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Where are the people?” resumed the little prince at last. “It’s a little lonely in the desert…” “It is lonely when you’re among people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/where-are-the-people-resumed-the-little-prince-at-last-it-s-a-little/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“The tavern haunter wanders lonely in a desert And sees the whole world as a mirage. The desert is limitless and endless -- No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmud-shabistari/the-tavern-haunter-wanders-lonely-in-a-desert-and-sees-the-whole/) [Mahmud Shabistari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmud-shabistari/) > [“Where are the men?” the little prince at last took up the conversation again. “It is a little lonely in the desert. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/where-are-the-men-the-little-prince-at-last-took-up-the-conversation/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More Boys quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) MrAwesome > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [She had been dragged in the most humiliating of all dusts, the dust reserved for older women who let themselves be approached, on amorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-had-been-dragged-in-the-most-humiliating-of-all-dusts-the-dust/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) [Browse all 7,168 Boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How long can we maintain? I wonder. How long before one of us starts raving and jabbering at this boy? What will he think then? This same lonely desert was the last known home of the Manson family. Will he make that grim connection..", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hunter S. Thompson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-long-before-one-of-us-starts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boys" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-long-before-one-of-us-starts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/hunter-s-thompson-278_boys_how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-lo_348251.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/hunter-s-thompson-278_boys_how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-lo_348251.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/hunter-s-thompson-278_boys_how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-lo_348251.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How long can we maintain? I wonder. How long before one of us starts raving and jabbering at this boy? What…” — Hunter S. Thompson", "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": "Hunter S. Thompson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How long can we maintain? I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-long-before-one-of-us-starts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/how-long-can-we-maintain-i-wonder-how-long-before-one-of-us-starts/#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 } } ] } ```