--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: \"Reeling and Writhing, of course, to…" description: "\"\"Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,\" the Mock Turtle replied, \"and then the different branches of Arithmetic Ambition, Distraction, Uglifi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/lewis-carroll-324_ambition_reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin_1185321.jpg" --- # "Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with," the Mock… ![“"Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with," the Mock Turtle replied, "and then the different branches of Arithmetic Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision” quote by Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/lewis-carroll-324_ambition_reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin_1185321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/lewis-carroll-324_ambition_reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin_1185321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/lewis-carroll-324_ambition_reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin_1185321.jpg) > “"Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with," the Mock Turtle replied, "and then the different branches of Arithmetic Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision” [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Mock Turtle describes a chaotic, self‑defeating process of over‑analysis and distraction that leads nowhere. **In simple terms:** Overthinking leads to confusion and stagnation. Key Takeaway Avoid endless analysis; act. Themes confusion overanalysis distraction self‑sabotage Mood frustrated reflective Type literary humorous When to use this quote - academic work - creative projects - decision making - personal planning Key Concepts cognitive overload paralysis by analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when analysis becomes harmful? - What simple action can break the cycle? A Different Perspective Too much introspection can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Arithmetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arithmetic/) [Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Distraction Uglification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction-uglification-3493696/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Mock Turtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mock-turtle-2604267/) [Reeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reeling-280746/) [Reeling Writhing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reeling-writhing-2650352/) [Turtle Replied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turtle-replied-3493697/) [Turtles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turtles/) ## Related quotes > [Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with, and then the different branches of arithmetic...Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision. -The Mock Turtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-in-wonderland/reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin-with-and-then-the-different/) [Alice In Wonderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-in-wonderland/) > [“is mathematically compounded of ambition, distraction, uglification and derision,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/is-mathematically-compounded-of-ambition-distraction-uglification-and/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [The master was an old Turtle--we used to call him Tortoise--' Why did you call him Tortoise, if he wasn't one?' Alice asked. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-master-was-an-old-turtle-we-used-to-call-him-tortoise-why-did-you/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“yet?' 'No,' said Alice. 'I don't even know what a Mock Turtle is.' 'It's the thing Mock Turtle Soup is made from,' said the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/yet-no-said-alice-i-don-t-even-know-what-a-mock-turtle-is-it-s-the/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Well, I never heard it before," said the Mock Turtle; "but it sounds uncommon nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/well-i-never-heard-it-before-said-the-mock-turtle-but-it-sounds/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Reform Judaism is like mock turtle soup-turtle soup without the turtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/reform-judaism-is-like-mock-turtle-soup-turtle-soup-without-the-turtle/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [We called him Tortoise because he taught us. -The Mock Turtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-in-wonderland/we-called-him-tortoise-because-he-taught-us-the-mock-turtle/) [Alice In Wonderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-in-wonderland/) > [“Writing makes me hard, like a fisherman, and brown from the heat. Tossing out and reeling in is a job for visionaries and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chila-woychik/writing-makes-me-hard-like-a-fisherman-and-brown-from-the-heat/) [Chila Woychik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chila-woychik/) > [“To his left the blue of sky and water. The view took his breath away. The sea. How it sparkled. “Hello, sea,” whispered Jean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-george/to-his-left-the-blue-of-sky-and-water-the-view-took-his-breath-away/) [Nina George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-george/) > [I wish I weren’t reeling at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-o-hara/i-wish-i-weren-t-reeling-at-all/) [Frank O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-o-hara/) > [If there's a local reeling party, I might go to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/if-there-s-a-local-reeling-party-i-might-go-to-that/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [Almost no one can take on an entire future in one step, much less while reeling emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-hax/almost-no-one-can-take-on-an-entire-future-in-one-step-much-less/) [Carolyn Hax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-hax/) > [“Any fool could see that you're at the reeling end of a long, strong rope - soon enough, It'll be tugging you back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-verge-higgins/any-fool-could-see-that-you-re-at-the-reeling-end-of-a-long-strong/) [lisa verge higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-verge-higgins/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) ## More by Lewis Carroll > [You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you forget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-re-thinking-about-something-my-dear-and-that-makes-you-forget-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I'm afraid I can't explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-m-afraid-i-can-t-explain-myself-sir-because-i-am-not-myself-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [My beloved friend - one of the most unique and charming personalities of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/my-beloved-friend-one-of-the-most-unique-and-charming-personalities/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Either it brings tears to their eyes, or else -" "Or else what?" said Alice, for the Knight had made a sudden pause. "Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/either-it-brings-tears-to-their-eyes-or-else-or-else-what-said-alice/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-may-give-our-human-loves-the-unconditional-allegiance-which-we-owe/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [In the midst of the word he was trying to say In the midst of his laughter and glee, He had softly and suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/in-the-midst-of-the-word-he-was-trying-to-say-in-the-midst-of-his/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“But it must be borne in mind that, if there is a Scylla before me, there is also a Charybdis - and that, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-there-is-a-scylla-before-me/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might: He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-sun-was-shining-on-the-sea-shining-with-all-his-might-he-did-his/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“In vain we roared;in vain we tried To rouse her into laughter: Her pensive glances wandered wide From orchestra to rafter - "TIER UPON…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/in-vain-we-roared-in-vain-we-tried-to-rouse-her-into-laughter-her/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [For the snark was a boojum, you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/for-the-snark-was-a-boojum-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Thanks for your nice little note, though I am sorry to hear you find Through the Looking Glass so uninteresting. You see I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/thanks-for-your-nice-little-note-though-i-am-sorry-to-hear-you-find/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [You shouldn't make jokes if it makes you so unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-shouldn-t-make-jokes-if-it-makes-you-so-unhappy/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [We haven't any and you're too young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-haven-t-any-and-you-re-too-young/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Everything is funny, if you can laugh at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/everything-is-funny-if-you-can-laugh-at-it/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I wish I hadn't cried so much!” said Alice, as she swam about, trying to find her way out. I shall be punished for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-wish-i-hadn-t-cried-so-much-said-alice-as-she-swam-about-trying-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) [Explore all 644 Lewis Carroll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "\"Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,\" the Mock Turtle replied, \"and then the different branches of Arithmetic Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lewis Carroll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin-with-the-mock-turtle-replied/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin-with-the-mock-turtle-replied/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/lewis-carroll-324_ambition_reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin_1185321.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/lewis-carroll-324_ambition_reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin_1185321.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/lewis-carroll-324_ambition_reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin_1185321.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“\"Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,\" the Mock Turtle replied, \"and then the different branches…” — Lewis Carroll", "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": "Lewis Carroll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "\"Reeling and Writhing, of course, to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin-with-the-mock-turtle-replied/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/reeling-and-writhing-of-course-to-begin-with-the-mock-turtle-replied/#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 } } ] } ```