---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that obviously, there is a…"
description: "\"I think that obviously, there is a perverse attraction to a fundamentally changed world or the end of the world. There is a death wish, a perverse deat..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/john-hodgman-1811_attraction_i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perver_2687576.jpg"
---

#  I think that obviously, there is a perverse attraction to…

![“I think that obviously, there is a perverse attraction to a fundamentally changed world or the end of the world. There is a death wish, a perverse death wish. Not just for ourselves, not just for the movie 'Death Wish,' but for the end of all human life.” quote by John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/john-hodgman-1811_attraction_i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perver_2687576.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/john-hodgman-1811_attraction_i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perver_2687576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/john-hodgman-1811_attraction_i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perver_2687576.jpg)

> “I think that obviously, there is a perverse attraction to a fundamentally changed world or the end of the world. There is a death wish, a perverse death wish. Not just for ourselves, not just for the movie 'Death Wish,' but for the end of all human life.”

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote reflects a fascination with catastrophic change, suggesting a subconscious desire for humanity's end.

**In simple terms:** People sometimes are oddly drawn to apocalyptic ideas.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and question destructive fantasies.

Themes

apocalypse psychology human nature

Mood

dark ironic thoughtful

Type

philosophical critical satirical

When to use this quote

- political satire
- media analysis
- personal reflection
- creative writing

Key Concepts

nihilism existential dread cultural fascination

Questions to Reflect On

- Why are we drawn to end‑of‑world narratives?
- How does this affect our actions toward change?

A Different Perspective

Such attraction can ignore constructive solutions to real problems.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-wish/) [End of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-world/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Perverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perverse/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [I have a perverse attraction to risk. Not physical risk but emotional, financial risk - anything than can't kill you immediately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/i-have-a-perverse-attraction-to-risk-not-physical-risk-but-emotional/)

[Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/)

> [“‎"revolutionary suicide does not mean that i and my comrades have a death wish; it means just the opposite. we have such a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-newton/revolutionary-suicide-does-not-mean-that-i-and-my-comrades-have-a/)

[Huey Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-newton/)

> [Many people use the words 'death defying' or 'death wishing' when they talk about wire-walking. Many people have asked me: 'So do you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/many-people-use-the-words-death-defying-or-death-wishing-when-they/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [“Much time has passed since the evil of humans ceased to surprise you. Your years as a war photographer have removed any pretence you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margr-t-helgad-ttir/much-time-has-passed-since-the-evil-of-humans-ceased-to-surprise-you/)

[Margrét Helgadóttir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margr-t-helgad-ttir/)

> [What?" I ask. "I'm developing a theory." "And it is?" She picks up her hamburger, grins, and says, "That you have a death wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-i-ask-i-m-developing-a-theory-and-it-is-she-picks-up-her/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“In fact, had there been less discussion of the syntactical construction of Schoenberg’s music, and more of what it says, people might more readily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-macdonald/in-fact-had-there-been-less-discussion-of-the-syntactical/)

[Malcolm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-macdonald/)

> [I don't have a death wish. On the contrary, I'm hanging onto my life like never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ueli-steck/i-don-t-have-a-death-wish-on-the-contrary-i-m-hanging-onto-my-life/)

[Ueli Steck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ueli-steck/)

> [This life in us; however low it flickers or fiercely burns, is still a divine flame which no man dare presume to put out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/this-life-in-us-however-low-it-flickers-or-fiercely-burns-is-still-a/)

[Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/)

> [“That's just stupid, Tory! Quit being so damn stubborn!” “Not a chance! You've got some kind of death wish! We can't even trust our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-reichs/that-s-just-stupid-tory-quit-being-so-damn-stubborn-not-a-chance-you/)

[Kathy Reichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-reichs/)

> [“Er Lang examined his shoes in dismay. “You should have told me there was mud down here.” “Is that all you can say?” But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yangsze-choo/er-lang-examined-his-shoes-in-dismay-you-should-have-told-me-there/)

[Yangsze Choo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yangsze-choo/)

> [“I don't give a damn if you were the featured date du jour of the sultan of Brunei. Get it through your head: You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherry-adair/i-don-t-give-a-damn-if-you-were-the-featured-date-du-jour-of-the/)

[Cherry Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherry-adair/)

> [Destroy everything. That's all well and fine, but you got to offer something in it's place. Since I always have a point and purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/destroy-everything-that-s-all-well-and-fine-but-you-got-to-offer/)

[John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/)

> [In defence, I have cultivated a death wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-fury/in-defence-i-have-cultivated-a-death-wish/)

Billy Fury

> [“Knock it off,Finn!" I tried to pull my arm from him, but physically he was still stronger than me. "Loki is right. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/knock-it-off-finn-i-tried-to-pull-my-arm-from-him-but-physically-he/)

[Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/)

> [Jesus, you've got a death wish." "Right now I have a bathroom-and-sleep-somewhere safe wish, kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilith-saintcrow/jesus-you-ve-got-a-death-wish-right-now-i-have-a-bathroom-and-sleep/)

[Lilith Saintcrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilith-saintcrow/)

## More by John Hodgman

> [Life may be miraculous in its unlikelihood in the universe, but it would be a fallacy to suggest that its rareness makes it inextinguishable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/life-may-be-miraculous-in-its-unlikelihood-in-the-universe-but-it/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [I navigated the world as a hedge maze of constant fear and worry in which I might take the wrong turn and jeopardize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-navigated-the-world-as-a-hedge-maze-of-constant-fear-and-worry-in/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [“There are transitions in life whether we want them or not. You get older. You lose jobs and loves and people. The story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/there-are-transitions-in-life-whether-we-want-them-or-not-you-get/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald meet in hell and team up to assassinate Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/john-wilkes-booth-and-lee-harvey-oswald-meet-in-hell-and-team-up-to/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [I think in American culture, we put value on economic success but tell people you don't have to be economically successful to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-think-in-american-culture-we-put-value-on-economic-success-but-tell/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [If you look in the dictionary under 'perfectionist,' you see Henry Selick correcting the definition of perfectionist in the dictionary. I mean, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/if-you-look-in-the-dictionary-under-perfectionist-you-see-henry/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [Lies are just another kind of storytelling, but with the very distinct and enlivening motive of desperation. Since writers are by nature desperate creatures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/lies-are-just-another-kind-of-storytelling-but-with-the-very-distinct/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [I've made my evolutionary purpose and had children. I don't care if anybody likes me, I'm going to do what I want to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-ve-made-my-evolutionary-purpose-and-had-children-i-don-t-care-if/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [“When you live in New York or any big city, it is easy to fail at growing up. The city is designed to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/when-you-live-in-new-york-or-any-big-city-it-is-easy-to-fail-at/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [I don't wish to brag, but I'm very intelligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-don-t-wish-to-brag-but-i-m-very-intelligent/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [You wouldn't want to live a life in which you are loved or approved by all people on Earth or even within your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-wouldn-t-want-to-live-a-life-in-which-you-are-loved-or-approved/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [Well, I always had this desire to celebrate and somehow be a part of things that I thought were really great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/well-i-always-had-this-desire-to-celebrate-and-somehow-be-a-part-of/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [I would be good for maybe not the center square but an upper square on 'Hollywood Squares.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-would-be-good-for-maybe-not-the-center-square-but-an-upper-square/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [One of the things about crowd work that's so exciting is when you discover a character in the audience who's interesting or funny, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/one-of-the-things-about-crowd-work-that-s-so-exciting-is-when-you/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

> [“Maine is not a death cult. I mean, it is, but it's a slow one. It creeps in like the tide, and without your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/maine-is-not-a-death-cult-i-mean-it-is-but-it-s-a-slow-one-it-creeps/)

[John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

[Explore all 207 John Hodgman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/)

## More Attraction quotes

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [You cannot perceive what you are not in the vibration of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-anka/you-cannot-perceive-what-you-are-not-in-the-vibration-of/)

[Darryl Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-anka/)

> [What the Laws of Attraction are really about; how to harness the power of creation within you to make life what you truly desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-the-laws-of-attraction-are-really-about-how-to-harness-the-power/)

[Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/)

> [You are the one who calls the law of attraction into action, and you do it through your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-are-the-one-who-calls-the-law-of-attraction-into-action-and-you/)

[Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/)

> [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/)

[Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/)

> [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/)

[Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/)

> [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/)

[Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/)

> [Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/)

[Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/)

> [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [All of my work is meant to evoke a whole bunch of different layers of discord between the attraction and repulsion that we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/all-of-my-work-is-meant-to-evoke-a-whole-bunch-of-different-layers-of/)

[Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/)

> [War is thus divine in itself, since it is a law of the world. War is divine through its consequences of a supernatural nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-de-maistre/war-is-thus-divine-in-itself-since-it-is-a-law-of-the-world-war-is/)

[Joseph de Maistre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-de-maistre/)

> [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/)

[Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/)

[Browse all 2,005 Attraction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think that obviously, there is a perverse attraction to a fundamentally changed world or the end of the world. There is a death wish, a perverse death wish. Not just for ourselves, not just for the movie 'Death Wish,' but for the end of all human life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Hodgman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perverse-attraction-to-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attraction"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perverse-attraction-to-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/john-hodgman-1811_attraction_i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perver_2687576.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/john-hodgman-1811_attraction_i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perver_2687576.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/john-hodgman-1811_attraction_i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perver_2687576.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think that obviously, there is a perverse attraction to a fundamentally changed world or the end of the…” — John Hodgman",
                "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 Hodgman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think that obviously, there is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perverse-attraction-to-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-think-that-obviously-there-is-a-perverse-attraction-to-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
