--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm on a roller coaster that only goes…" description: "\"I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up,\" he said. \"And it is my privilege and my responsibility to ride all the way up with you,\" I said.\" — John Green" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/john-green-12_augustus_i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-u_788850.jpg" --- # I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up," he said. "And… ![“I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up," he said. "And it is my privilege and my responsibility to ride all the way up with you," I said.” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/john-green-12_augustus_i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-u_788850.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/john-green-12_augustus_i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-u_788850.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/john-green-12_augustus_i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-u_788850.jpg) > “I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up," he said. "And it is my privilege and my responsibility to ride all the way up with you," I said.” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A metaphor of continual ascent, emphasizing shared responsibility to pursue collective progress. **In simple terms:** Rise together, support each other. Key Takeaway Commit to uplifting others. Themes collaboration growth responsibility Mood inspirational hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - team projects - community building - leadership - social movements Key Concepts shared destiny collective uplift Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal well‑being while supporting others? - What structures help sustain collective ascent? A Different Perspective May overlook individual limits and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Augustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus/) [Augustus waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus-waters/) [Coaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaster/) [Coaster Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaster-goes-830991/) [Coasters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coasters/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Hazel grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hazel-grace/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-ride-1366777/) [Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ride/) [Roller coaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roller-coaster/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [And how are you feeling?" asked Patrick."Oh, I'm grand." Augustus Waters smiled with a corner of his mouth. "I'm on a roller coaster that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/and-how-are-you-feeling-asked-patrick-oh-i-m-grand-augustus-waters/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Augustus: I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up. Hazel: And it is my privilege and my responsibility to ride all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-up-hazel-and-it-is-my/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Do you have a Wish?' he asked, referring to this organization, The Genie Foundation, which is in the business of granting sick kids one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/do-you-have-a-wish-he-asked-referring-to-this-organization-the-genie/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I liked Augustus Waters. I really, really really liked him. I liked the way his story ended with someone else. I liked his voice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-liked-augustus-waters-i-really-really-really-liked-him-i-liked-the-3/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [He flipped himself onto his side and kissed me. "You're so hot," I said, my hand still on his leg. "I'm starting to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-flipped-himself-onto-his-side-and-kissed-me-you-re-so-hot-i-said/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Tell me my copy is missing the last twenty pages or something. Hazel Grace, tell me I have not reached the end of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/tell-me-my-copy-is-missing-the-last-twenty-pages-or-something-hazel/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Abraham Maslow, I present to you Augustus Waters, whose existential curiosity dwarfed that of his well-fed, well-loved, healthy brethren.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/abraham-maslow-i-present-to-you-augustus-waters-whose-existential/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He shook his head, just looking at me. "What?" I asked. "Nothing," he said. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Augustus half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-shook-his-head-just-looking-at-me-what-i-asked-nothing-he-said-why/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Thank you for explaining that my eye cancer isn't going to make me deaf. I feel so fortunate that an intellectual giant like yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/thank-you-for-explaining-that-my-eye-cancer-isn-t-going-to-make-me/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Sure, anyone can name fourteen dead people. But we're disorganized mourners, so a lot of people end up remembering Shakespeare, and no one ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/sure-anyone-can-name-fourteen-dead-people-but-we-re-disorganized/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simpler pleasures of existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-enjoy-looking-at-beautiful-people-and-i-decided-a-while-ago-not-to/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/oh-i-wouldn-t-mind-hazel-grace-it-would-be-a-privilege-to-have-my/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I want more numbers than I’m likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-want-more-numbers-than-i-m-likely-to-get-and-god-i-want-more/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I'll fight it. I'll fight it for you. Don't you worry about me, Hazel Grace. I'm okay. I'll find a way to hang around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-ll-fight-it-i-ll-fight-it-for-you-don-t-you-worry-about-me-hazel/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Augustus, perhaps you’d like to share your fears with the group.” “My fears?” “Yes.” “I fear oblivion,” he said without a moment’s pause. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-perhaps-you-d-like-to-share-your-fears-with-the-group-my/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Traffic's not too bad on Sheridan, and I'm cornering the car like it's the Indy 500, and we're listening to my favorite NMH song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/traffic-s-not-too-bad-on-sheridan-and-i-m-cornering-the-car-like-it-s/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Praise God for good nurses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/praise-god-for-good-nurses/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [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/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“said to him quietly, as if I couldn’t hear or something. Dad was about to respond but I interrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/said-to-him-quietly-as-if-i-couldn-t-hear-or-something-dad-was-about/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/imagining-the-future-is-a-kind-of-nostalgia-you-spend-your-whole-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More Augustus quotes > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [That pipe, just so happens to lead to the room where I make the most delicious flavored chocolate covered fudge." Then he will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/that-pipe-just-so-happens-to-lead-to-the-room-where-i-make-the-most/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Christianity has carried civilization along with it, whithersoever it has gone; and, as if to show that the latter does not depend on physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/christianity-has-carried-civilization-along-with-it-whithersoever-it/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/) > [I am in the midst of a soliloquy! I wrote this out and memorized it and if you interrupt me I will completely screw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-am-in-the-midst-of-a-soliloquy-i-wrote-this-out-and-memorized-it/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Ma'am," Augustus said, nodding toward her, "Your daughter's car has just been deservingly egged by a blind man. Please close the door and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/ma-am-augustus-said-nodding-toward-her-your-daughter-s-car-has-just/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough. --Augustus "Gus" McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/a-man-who-wouldn-t-cheat-for-a-poke-don-t-want-one-bad-enough/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“As quick as boiled asparagus!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/as-quick-as-boiled-asparagus/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [WHEN AUGUSTUS CAME OUT on the porch the blue pigs were eating a rattlesnake—not a very big one. It had probably just been crawling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/when-augustus-came-out-on-the-porch-the-blue-pigs-were-eating-a/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“Six times during my life has this tomb of my soul led me to the brink of that eternal darkness into which all men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/six-times-during-my-life-has-this-tomb-of-my-soul-led-me-to-the-brink/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [According to the conventions of the genre, Augustus Waters kept his sense of humor till the end, did not for a moment waiver in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/according-to-the-conventions-of-the-genre-augustus-waters-kept-his/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“His excitement was adorable. I couldn't resist. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. -Hazel Grace Lancaster, The Fault In Our Stars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/his-excitement-was-adorable-i-couldn-t-resist-i-leaned-over-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Out of nowhere, Augustus asked, "do you believe in an after life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/out-of-nowhere-augustus-asked-do-you-believe-in-an-after-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [ He \[Caesar Augustus\] found a city built of brick; he left it built of marble. \[Lat., Urbem lateritiam accepit, mamoream relinquit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suetonius/he-caesar-augustus-found-a-city-built-of-brick-he-left-it-built-of/) [Suetonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suetonius/) > [“Augustus was amazing, but he’d overdone everything at the picnic, right down to the sandwiches that were metaphorically resonant but tasted terrible and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-was-amazing-but-he-d-overdone-everything-at-the-picnic-right/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Browse all 137 Augustus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up,\" he said. \"And it is my privilege and my responsibility to ride all the way up with you,\" I said.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Green" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-up-he-said-and-it-is-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Augustus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-up-he-said-and-it-is-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/john-green-12_augustus_i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-u_788850.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/john-green-12_augustus_i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-u_788850.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/john-green-12_augustus_i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-u_788850.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up,\" he said. \"And it is my privilege and my responsibility to ride…” — John Green", "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": "John Green", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm on a roller coaster that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-up-he-said-and-it-is-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-up-he-said-and-it-is-my/#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 } } ] } ```