--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man is troubled by what might be called…" description: "\"Man is troubled by what might be called the Dog Wish, a strange and involved compulsion to be as happy and carefree as a dog\" — James Thurber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/james-thurber-1534_carefree_man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called_2527656.png" --- # Man is troubled by what might be called the Dog Wish, a… ![“Man is troubled by what might be called the Dog Wish, a strange and involved compulsion to be as happy and carefree as a dog” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/james-thurber-1534_carefree_man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called_2527656.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/james-thurber-1534_carefree_man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called_2527656.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/james-thurber-1534_carefree_man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called_2527656.png) > “Man is troubled by what might be called the Dog Wish, a strange and involved compulsion to be as happy and carefree as a dog” [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans envy dogs' simple, carefree happiness, creating a compulsive desire for that state. **In simple terms:** People want the effortless joy of dogs. Key Takeaway Seek simple pleasures, not endless striving. Themes envy happiness simplicity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily stress - mental health - work-life balance Key Concepts compulsion comparative desire Questions to Reflect On - What simple joy can you embrace today? - How does comparison hinder contentment? A Different Perspective Desire for dog-like joy may ignore human complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carefree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carefree/) [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Dog lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog-lover/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“Man is troubled not by events, but by the meaning he gives to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/man-is-troubled-not-by-events-but-by-the-meaning-he-gives-to-them/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [I never knew a man troubled with melancholy, who had plenty to do, and did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/i-never-knew-a-man-troubled-with-melancholy-who-had-plenty-to-do-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [I try to take the high road. 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Why was he so surprised?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/i-pissed-on-the-man-who-called-me-a-dog-why-was-he-so-surprised/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [“Faith!" Tracy called. "Your dog's got serious identity issues."... "Hey!" she said, picking Humperdinck up in her arms. "How'd you do at Tracy's" "He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-miller/faith-tracy-called-your-dog-s-got-serious-identity-issues-hey-she/) [Kristin Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-miller/) > [“This short watch that is about to come, or rather these two short watches--why are they called dog watches? Where, heu, heu, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/this-short-watch-that-is-about-to-come-or-rather-these-two-short/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [I would have to go back to being a dog. I've called myself a dog for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-would-have-to-go-back-to-being-a-dog-i-ve-called-myself-a-dog-for/) [Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/) > [Any time you think you have influence, try ordering around someone else's dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-cockle-bur/any-time-you-think-you-have-influence-try-ordering-around-someone/) The Cockle Bur > [He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/he-is-your-friend-your-partner-your-defender-your-dog-you-are-his/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/you-enter-into-a-certain-amount-of-madness-when-you-marry-a-person/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) ## More by James Thurber > [ Salvador \[Dali\] was brought up in Spain, a country colored by the legends of Hannibal, El Greco, and Cervantes. 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When these things are raised to a high point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/humor-does-not-include-sarcasm-invalid-irony-sardonicism-innuendo-or/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Where most of us end up there is no knowing, but the hellbent get where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/where-most-of-us-end-up-there-is-no-knowing-but-the-hellbent-get/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) [Explore all 229 James Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## More Carefree quotes > [I didn't fit into the Christian college my parents sent me to. 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The fear that something may happen to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/in-spite-of-being-happier-than-i-ever-dreamed-i-could-be-i-m-also/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [The happiest moment was when I just played with a ball as a boy, carefree, without worrying about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-ji-sung/the-happiest-moment-was-when-i-just-played-with-a-ball-as-a-boy/) [Park Ji-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-ji-sung/) > [“But life is glorious when it is happy; days are carefree when they are happy; the interplay of thought and imagination is far superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/but-life-is-glorious-when-it-is-happy-days-are-carefree-when-they-are/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Life is glorious when it is happy; days are carefree when they are happy; the interplay of thought and imagination is far superior to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/life-is-glorious-when-it-is-happy-days-are-carefree-when-they-are/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Yoga teaches us both to let go and to have exquisite awareness in every moment. We remember our essential spiritual nature and life becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/yoga-teaches-us-both-to-let-go-and-to-have-exquisite-awareness-in/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [When you're in your 20s, you're a little more carefree; you're single. You have a very different way of looking at the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-de-sousa/when-you-re-in-your-20s-you-re-a-little-more-carefree-you-re-single/) [Melissa De Sousa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-de-sousa/) > [I have discovered the secret formula for a carefree old age: iycri = fi (if you can't recall it, forget it).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goodman-ace/i-have-discovered-the-secret-formula-for-a-carefree-old-age-iycri-fi/) [Goodman Ace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goodman-ace/) > [... 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But I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-ve-always-thrown-myself-into-love-in-a-rather-carefree-way-and-the/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) [Browse all 140 Carefree quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carefree/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man is troubled by what might be called the Dog Wish, a strange and involved compulsion to be as happy and carefree as a dog", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Thurber" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called-the-dog-wish-a-strange-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Carefree" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called-the-dog-wish-a-strange-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/james-thurber-1534_carefree_man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called_2527656.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/james-thurber-1534_carefree_man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called_2527656.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/james-thurber-1534_carefree_man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called_2527656.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man is troubled by what might be called the Dog Wish, a strange and involved compulsion to be as happy and…” — James Thurber", "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": "James Thurber", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man is troubled by what might...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called-the-dog-wish-a-strange-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/man-is-troubled-by-what-might-be-called-the-dog-wish-a-strange-and/#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 } } ] } ```