--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ah, God! what trances of torments does…" description: "\"Ah, God! what trances of torments does that man endure who is consumed with one unachieved revengeful desire. He sleeps with clenched hands; and wakes ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/ishmael-46758_bloody_ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-tha_677610.jpg" --- # Ah, God! what trances of torments does that man endure who… ![“Ah, God! what trances of torments does that man endure who is consumed with one unachieved revengeful desire. He sleeps with clenched hands; and wakes with his own bloody nails in his palms.” quote by Ishmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/ishmael-46758_bloody_ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-tha_677610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/ishmael-46758_bloody_ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-tha_677610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/ishmael-46758_bloody_ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-tha_677610.jpg) > “Ah, God! what trances of torments does that man endure who is consumed with one unachieved revengeful desire. He sleeps with clenched hands; and wakes with his own bloody nails in his palms.” [Ishmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man consumed by an unattainable desire for revenge suffers physical and mental torment, manifesting in clenched fists and bloody hands. **In simple terms:** Obsessive revenge harms the body and mind. Key Takeaway Recognize and release destructive obsessions. Themes revenge obsession torment self‑destruction psychological strain Mood tormented reflective dark Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal vendettas - stress - sleep disturbances - physical self‑injury Key Concepts addiction psychology self‑harm Questions to Reflect On - What would you let go of to heal? - How does holding anger affect your health? A Different Perspective Revenge may never bring peace and can cause self‑damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Revengeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revengeful/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/) [Trance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trance/) ## Related quotes > [“My neck size is about the size of both of my girlfriend’s clenched hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/my-neck-size-is-about-the-size-of-both-of-my-girlfriend-s-clenched/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“When I got outside, I came to a standstill and said loudly in the open street, as I clenched my hands: ”I will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/when-i-got-outside-i-came-to-a-standstill-and-said-loudly-in-the-open/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [I don't feel very revengeful in life at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-don-t-feel-very-revengeful-in-life-at-all/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [The orthodox faith painted God as a revengeful being, and yet people talk about loving such a being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/the-orthodox-faith-painted-god-as-a-revengeful-being-and-yet-people/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [She writhes under her life. A woman more angry, passionate, reckless, and revengeful never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/she-writhes-under-her-life-a-woman-more-angry-passionate-reckless-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Let me put it to you this way, I am not a revengeful person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/let-me-put-it-to-you-this-way-i-am-not-a-revengeful-person/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Do not mistake my kindness for weakness, I am kid to everyone, but if you are unkind to my it will not be weakness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-copone/do-not-mistake-my-kindness-for-weakness-i-am-kid-to-everyone-but-if/) Al Copone > [The intrusions of the white race and the non- compliance with treaty obligations have been followed by atrocities that could alone satisfy a savage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/the-intrusions-of-the-white-race-and-the-non-compliance-with-treaty/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offences at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-am-very-proud-revengeful-ambitious-with-more-offences-at-my-beck/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Revenge is as the tigers spring, Deadly, and quick, and crushing; yet, as real Torture is theirs, what they inflict they feel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron/revenge-is-as-the-tigers-spring-deadly-and-quick-and-crushing-yet-as/) Byron > [Blood, though it sleep a time, yet never dies. The gods on murtherers fix revengeful eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chapman/blood-though-it-sleep-a-time-yet-never-dies-the-gods-on-murtherers/) [George Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chapman/) > [Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, let them complain over what might have been, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/let-others-lead-small-lives-but-not-you-let-others-argue-over-small/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The soul of mercy is better than a soul that is revengeful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-elise/the-soul-of-mercy-is-better-than-a-soul-that-is-revengeful/) Angelina Elise > [“The master of this shop was sitting at the door in his shirt-sleeves, smoking; and as there were a great many coats and pairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-master-of-this-shop-was-sitting-at-the-door-in-his-shirt-sleeves/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“I might be damned today, but tomorrow I promise you'll be taking my place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaley-forster/i-might-be-damned-today-but-tomorrow-i-promise-you-ll-be-taking-my/) Kaley Forster ## More by Ishmael > [Doubts of all things earthly, and intuitions of some things heavenly; this combination makes neither believer nor infidel, but makes a man who regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/doubts-of-all-things-earthly-and-intuitions-of-some-things-heavenly/) [Ishmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/) > [“It was a sight full of quick wonder and awe! The vast swells of the omnipotent sea; the surging, hollow roar they made, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/it-was-a-sight-full-of-quick-wonder-and-awe-the-vast-swells-of-the/) [Ishmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/) > [...we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/we-are-all-somehow-dreadfully-cracked-about-the-head-and-sadly-need/) [Ishmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/) > [We’re destroying the world because we are, in a very literal and deliberate way, at war with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/we-re-destroying-the-world-because-we-are-in-a-very-literal-and/) [Ishmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/) > [If you can't even manage to to force your own presumably democratic governments to allow you to do good things for yourselves, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/if-you-can-t-even-manage-to-to-force-your-own-presumably-democratic/) [Ishmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/) > [These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/these-days-i-live-in-three-worlds-my-dreams-and-the-experiences-of-my/) [Ishmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/) > [Living close to nature is wonderful for your mental health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/living-close-to-nature-is-wonderful-for-your-mental-health/) [Ishmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/) [Explore all 8 Ishmael quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/) ## More Bloody quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [AHHHHHH! Goyle has set the bloody place on fire! -Ron Weasley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ahhhhhh-goyle-has-set-the-bloody-place-on-fire-ron-weasley/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My style icon is anyone who makes a bloody effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-blow/my-style-icon-is-anyone-who-makes-a-bloody-effort/) [Isabella Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-blow/) > [If you're going to do something that looks evil, don't smear it with icing and pretend it's good; just bloody well do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-you-re-going-to-do-something-that-looks-evil-don-t-smear-it-with/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The problem was Le Corbusier was a genius and an enormous artist, but he tried to resolve problems to which there is no solution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-krier/the-problem-was-le-corbusier-was-a-genius-and-an-enormous-artist-but/) [Leon Krier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-krier/) > [Sound trumpets! Let our bloody colours wave! And either victory, or else a grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/sound-trumpets-let-our-bloody-colours-wave-and-either-victory-or-else/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I was at Mount Tamalpais near San Francisco hiking when a boulder came hurling down the mountainside and smashed my left hand. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/i-was-at-mount-tamalpais-near-san-francisco-hiking-when-a-boulder/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [Women are all the bloody sameyou can't love for five minutes without wanting it abolished in brats and house bloody wifery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/women-are-all-the-bloody-sameyou-can-t-love-for-five-minutes-without/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“The heart is a bloody thing. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-barlow/the-heart-is-a-bloody-thing/) [Toby Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-barlow/) > [I'd have opened a bloody library if I'd wanted to be quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/i-d-have-opened-a-bloody-library-if-i-d-wanted-to-be-quiet/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [The proud spirit of the original owners of these vast prairies inherited through centuries of fierce and bloody wars for their possession, lingered last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/the-proud-spirit-of-the-original-owners-of-these-vast-prairies/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [If man had his way, the plan of redemption would be an endless and bloody conflict. In reality, salvation was bought not by Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-man-had-his-way-the-plan-of-redemption-would-be-an-endless-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[9/11\] was bloody-minded destruction for no other reason than to do it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/9-11-was-bloody-minded-destruction-for-no-other-reason-than-to-do-it/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) Browse all 865 Bloody quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ah, God! what trances of torments does that man endure who is consumed with one unachieved revengeful desire. He sleeps with clenched hands; and wakes with his own bloody nails in his palms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ishmael" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-that-man-endure-who-is-consumed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bloody" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-that-man-endure-who-is-consumed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/ishmael-46758_bloody_ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-tha_677610.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/ishmael-46758_bloody_ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-tha_677610.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/ishmael-46758_bloody_ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-tha_677610.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ah, God! what trances of torments does that man endure who is consumed with one unachieved revengeful…” — Ishmael", "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": "Ishmael", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ah, God! what trances of torments...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-that-man-endure-who-is-consumed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael/ah-god-what-trances-of-torments-does-that-man-endure-who-is-consumed/#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 } } ] } ```