--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was completely swept along with my own…" description: "\"I was completely swept along with my own compulsion. I don't know how else to put it. It didn't satisfy me completely, so maybe I was thinking, 'Maybe ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/jeffrey-dahmer-21123_compulsion_i-was-completely-swept-along-with-my-own_1633078.jpg" --- # I was completely swept along with my own compulsion. I… ![“I was completely swept along with my own compulsion. I don't know how else to put it. It didn't satisfy me completely, so maybe I was thinking, 'Maybe another one will. Maybe this one will.' And the numbers started growing and growing and just got out of control, as you can see.” quote by Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/jeffrey-dahmer-21123_compulsion_i-was-completely-swept-along-with-my-own_1633078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/jeffrey-dahmer-21123_compulsion_i-was-completely-swept-along-with-my-own_1633078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/jeffrey-dahmer-21123_compulsion_i-was-completely-swept-along-with-my-own_1633078.jpg) > “I was completely swept along with my own compulsion. I don't know how else to put it. It didn't satisfy me completely, so maybe I was thinking, 'Maybe another one will. Maybe this one will.' And the numbers started growing and growing and just got out of control, as you can see.” [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He felt trapped by his own urges, chasing endless satisfaction that never arrived, leading to loss of control. **In simple terms:** Compulsive behavior spirals without fulfillment. Key Takeaway Recognize and curb compulsive cycles. Themes addiction selfcontrol desire Mood anxious reflective Type cautionary psychological When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy - self‑monitoring Key Concepts psychology behavioral loops Questions to Reflect On - What drives your repeated attempts for more? - How can you break the cycle? A Different Perspective Compulsion can mask deeper emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Writing for me is a kind of compulsion, so I don't think anyone could have made me do it, or prevented me from doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/writing-for-me-is-a-kind-of-compulsion-so-i-don-t-think-anyone-could/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I still have guilt. I will probably never get rid of that, but yes, I'm free of the compulsion and the driving need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-still-have-guilt-i-will-probably-never-get-rid-of-that-but-yes-i-m/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [Ever since I've met you, I've swept you off my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-ryskind/ever-since-i-ve-met-you-i-ve-swept-you-off-my-feet/) [Morrie Ryskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-ryskind/) > [“We couldn't go on indefinitely being swept off our feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/we-couldn-t-go-on-indefinitely-being-swept-off-our-feet/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [He made her play and she had almost forgotten how. Life had been so serious and so bitter. He knew how to play and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/he-made-her-play-and-she-had-almost-forgotten-how-life-had-been-so/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [Fame often rests at first upon something accidental, and often, too, is swept away, or for a time removed; but neither genius nor glory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/fame-often-rests-at-first-upon-something-accidental-and-often-too-is/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [“COVID-19 has swept through 75% of nursing homes in Stockholm, Sweden.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/covid-19-has-swept-through-75-of-nursing-homes-in-stockholm-sweden/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Then I swept my hand across the length of the kitchen windows, sending salt spraying all over the kitchen floor. "It's time to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/then-i-swept-my-hand-across-the-length-of-the-kitchen-windows-sending/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my greatest passion, and it naturally just pulled me down the path. Same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-i-d-be-a-decorator-design-is-my-greatest/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [“It hadn't changed. To grasp that constancy was the point of roaming, room by room, through the cottage. And once we'd been assured of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-poliner/it-hadn-t-changed-to-grasp-that-constancy-was-the-point-of-roaming/) Elizabeth Poliner > [“Step onto the road and there’s no telling where you might be swept off to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/step-onto-the-road-and-there-s-no-telling-where-you-might-be-swept/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Every day it got swept. All of the dirt each piece of dust and even the tiniest bread crumb of secret midnight snacks. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donal-o-callaghan/every-day-it-got-swept-all-of-the-dirt-each-piece-of-dust-and-even/) [Donal O'Callaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donal-o-callaghan/) > [If you are swept off your feet, it's time to get on your knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-beck/if-you-are-swept-off-your-feet-it-s-time-to-get-on-your-knees/) Fred Beck > [In the 1950s and early 1960s, psychoanalysis swept through the intellectual community, and it was the dominant mode of thinking about the mind. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kandel/in-the-1950s-and-early-1960s-psychoanalysis-swept-through-the/) [Eric Kandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kandel/) > [I'd had episodes before, but I swept them under the carpet. This time, I couldn't do that because everyone knew. I got on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/i-d-had-episodes-before-but-i-swept-them-under-the-carpet-this-time-i/) [Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/) ## More by Jeffrey Dahmer > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [It is now over. This has never been a case of trying to get free. I didn't ever want freedom. Frankly, I wanted death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/it-is-now-over-this-has-never-been-a-case-of-trying-to-get-free-i/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [I still have guilt. I will probably never get rid of that, but yes, I'm free of the compulsion and the driving need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-still-have-guilt-i-will-probably-never-get-rid-of-that-but-yes-i-m/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [The only motive that there ever was was to completely control a person; a person I found physically attractive. And keep them with me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/the-only-motive-that-there-ever-was-was-to-completely-control-a/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [If I was killed in prison. That would be a blessing right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/if-i-was-killed-in-prison-that-would-be-a-blessing-right-now/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [I've got to start eating at home more..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-ve-got-to-start-eating-at-home-more/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [When I was a little kid, I was just like anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-was-just-like-anybody-else/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [I would cook it, and look at the pictures and masturbate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-would-cook-it-and-look-at-the-pictures-and-masturbate/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [Yes, I always had that sense it was wrong. I don’t think anybody can kill somebody and think that it’s right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/yes-i-always-had-that-sense-it-was-wrong-i-don-t-think-anybody-can/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [I carried it too far, thats for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-carried-it-too-far-thats-for-sure/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [I don't even know if I have the capacity for normal emotions or not because I haven't cried for a long time. You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-don-t-even-know-if-i-have-the-capacity-for-normal-emotions-or-not/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [A sandwich is a sandwich, but a Manwich is a meal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/a-sandwich-is-a-sandwich-but-a-manwich-is-a-meal/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [My consuming lust was to experience their bodies. I viewed them as objects, as strangers. It is hard for me to believe a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/my-consuming-lust-was-to-experience-their-bodies-i-viewed-them-as/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [It's just like a big chunk of me has been ripped out and I'm not quite whole. I don't think I'm over dramatizing it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/it-s-just-like-a-big-chunk-of-me-has-been-ripped-out-and-i-m-not/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [I couldn't find any meaning for my life when I was out there, I'm sure as hell not going to find it in here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-couldn-t-find-any-meaning-for-my-life-when-i-was-out-there-i-m-sure/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) [Explore all 29 Jeffrey Dahmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) ## More Compulsion quotes > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I think it's in our nature to try to get beyond that next horizon. I think that when we as a species are scratching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/i-think-it-s-in-our-nature-to-try-to-get-beyond-that-next-horizon-i/) [Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/you-develop-an-instant-global-consciousness-a-people-orientation-an/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Why am I always at war with myself? Why have I told, as if upon compulsion, what I knew all along I ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/why-am-i-always-at-war-with-myself-why-have-i-told-as-if-upon/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [It is true that the virtues which are less esteemed and practiced now--independence, self-reliance, and the willingness to bear risks, the readiness to back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/it-is-true-that-the-virtues-which-are-less-esteemed-and-practiced-now/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [Not merely by rules of conduct and religious observances, nor by much learning either, nor even by attainment of concentration, nor by sleeping alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-merely-by-rules-of-conduct-and-religious-observances-nor-by-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I started off like everyone else does, slogging but having a compulsion to put words on paper. I didn't write or read horror or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-started-off-like-everyone-else-does-slogging-but-having-a/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I have with me two gods, Persuasion and Compulsion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-have-with-me-two-gods-persuasion-and-compulsion/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [When you are dealing with a serious compulsion or addictive pattern, then by definition self-will, self-discipline, and any other machinations of the conscious mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-serious-compulsion-or-addictive-pattern/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Browse all 513 Compulsion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was completely swept along with my own compulsion. I don't know how else to put it. It didn't satisfy me completely, so maybe I was thinking, 'Maybe another one will. 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