---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With shaking fingers, I turn the key and…"
description: "\"“With shaking fingers, I turn the key and crank the ignition. When I rev the engine, I figure there’s no way it’s running with more RPMs than my libido..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/m-leighton-786_quote_with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and_1677220.jpg"
---

#  With shaking fingers, I turn the key and crank the…

![“With shaking fingers, I turn the key and crank the ignition. When I rev the engine, I figure there’s no way it’s running with more RPMs than my libido is at this very moment. If Cash doesn’t cool it, I’ll be sitting in a puddle within the hour.” quote by M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/m-leighton-786_quote_with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and_1677220.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/m-leighton-786_quote_with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and_1677220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/m-leighton-786_quote_with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and_1677220.jpg)

> ““With shaking fingers, I turn the key and crank the ignition. When I rev the engine, I figure there’s no way it’s running with more RPMs than my libido is at this very moment. If Cash doesn’t cool it, I’ll be sitting in a puddle within the hour.””

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

## About This Quote

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

The narrator describes a high‑energy, reckless drive, equating engine revs with sexual arousal, and warns that without cooling down, consequences will follow.

**In simple terms:** A wild, reckless drive leads to trouble without restraint.

Key Takeaway

Control impulses before they cause trouble.

Themes

recklessness sexuality danger self‑control

Mood

tense anxious urgent

Type

narrative cautionary.

When to use this quote

- driving under influence
- high‑stress situations
- impulsive decisions
- sexual frustration

Key Concepts

metaphor adrenaline risk

Questions to Reflect On

- Can you identify moments when excitement clouds judgment?
- How do you safely channel intense energy?

A Different Perspective

If the narrator cannot temper the urge, the outcome may be harmful.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [My heart, my life, my soul…she has the key to them all. She has but to turn the key and allow me to surround…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-heart-my-life-my-soul-she-has-the-key-to-them-all-she-has-but-to/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [“I turn the key and I turn the key and I turn the key and she doesn't do a damn thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/i-turn-the-key-and-i-turn-the-key-and-i-turn-the-key-and-she-doesn-t/)

[Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/)

> [Because, we assume, these days, you just get in a car, you turn the key, and woosh, you're up the road. Or even now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/because-we-assume-these-days-you-just-get-in-a-car-you-turn-the-key/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [“First, you must light a middling fire under the cauldron.” “What’s a middling fire?” “Medium.” I searched the pot. “Where’s the ignition switch?” Bridget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowvee-cole/first-you-must-light-a-middling-fire-under-the-cauldron-what-s-a/)

Lowvee Cole

> [The countdown reached ten seconds and I could almost hear an invisible crescendo of stirring background music. 'Anchors aweigh!' Five, four, three, two, one...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-countdown-reached-ten-seconds-and-i-could-almost-hear-an/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I don't need nobody's permission. No keys, push start to ignition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly/i-don-t-need-nobody-s-permission-no-keys-push-start-to-ignition/)

[Nelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly/)

> [“Each of us has the power to take action, to light a fire and be the ignition for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ziolkowski/each-of-us-has-the-power-to-take-action-to-light-a-fire-and-be-the/)

Jim Ziolkowski

> [“I pressed the ignition button and the engine came to life. Our cars have special mufflers to deaden the exhaust sound but there’s nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-pressed-the-ignition-button-and-the-engine-came-to-life-our-cars/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [All this hatin' drive me crazy, take the key out the ignition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/all-this-hatin-drive-me-crazy-take-the-key-out-the-ignition/)

[Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/)

> [“Declan turns the ignition and the engine rumbles to life. I’m immediately jealous that a car twenty years older than my already ancient Honda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-r-martin/declan-turns-the-ignition-and-the-engine-rumbles-to-life-i-m/)

[Kelley R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-r-martin/)

> [“I didn't tell him that even after a crash, a key still fits the ignition. There just isn't anything left to drive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/i-didn-t-tell-him-that-even-after-a-crash-a-key-still-fits-the/)

[Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/)

> [“I turned the key in the ignition and pulled away from the curb. “What will you do if you see Mo?” “I’ll snatch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-turned-the-key-in-the-ignition-and-pulled-away-from-the-curb-what/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [All my life I've worked and I was so lucky to go from a radio station in Washington to the Dodgers and of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/all-my-life-i-ve-worked-and-i-was-so-lucky-to-go-from-a-radio-station/)

[Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/)

> [“Hunter leaned close. "Just to be clear: I'd know exactly what to do if you threw yourself at me." Then he was in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/hunter-leaned-close-just-to-be-clear-i-d-know-exactly-what-to-do-if/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [He left the key in the ignition. No one was likely to come up here and steal the truck- and if anyone did... well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-left-the-key-in-the-ignition-no-one-was-likely-to-come-up-here-and/)

[Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/)

## More by M. Leighton

> [“She smiled at and spoke to each person. It was as though she couldn't come into contact with anyone or anything without imparting some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/she-smiled-at-and-spoke-to-each-person-it-was-as-though-she-couldn-t/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“Dude, now you’re flirting? Even to my own ears, my comment sounds suggestive. The sad thing is, it was meant that way. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/dude-now-you-re-flirting-even-to-my-own-ears-my-comment-sounds/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“She chews the inside of her lip as she digests it all. I don’t think she has a clue how sexy and adorable she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/she-chews-the-inside-of-her-lip-as-she-digests-it-all-i-don-t-think/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“Really?” “Really.” “Really really?” “Really really. Just remember, tonight you’re mine.” It worries how much I like the sound of that, the thought of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/really-really-really-really-really-really-just-remember-tonight-you/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“It’s me,” he says softly. “Stop listening to everything else. Remember the way you feel when I’m kissing you and touching you. Don’t think with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/it-s-me-he-says-softly-stop-listening-to-everything-else-remember-the/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“Someday I'll marry you, Miracle. And maybe someday after that, I'll deserve you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/someday-i-ll-marry-you-miracle-and-maybe-someday-after-that-i-ll/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [Somehow, while I wasn't looking, I fell. And I fell hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/somehow-while-i-wasn-t-looking-i-fell-and-i-fell-hard/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“Don’t you think you should at least get dressed?” “Don’t you think you should at least give me my shirt then?” -Cash”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/don-t-you-think-you-should-at-least-get-dressed-don-t-you-think-you/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“Please. I love her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/please-i-love-her/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“I’ve never really had feelings for a girl like her. Hell, I’ve never really had feelings for any girl period. Not like this anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/i-ve-never-really-had-feelings-for-a-girl-like-her-hell-i-ve-never/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“Nash leans forward and cups my cheek with his hand. He cocks his head slightly as he considers me. “Don’t do that. Don’t ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/nash-leans-forward-and-cups-my-cheek-with-his-hand-he-cocks-his-head/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“He looks into my eyes for several intense seconds, watching me like I’m all he sees. And he’s all I see. For this moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/he-looks-into-my-eyes-for-several-intense-seconds-watching-me-like-i/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“Before I can respond, Nash continues. “Or was I there, too?” He brushes his lips over mine. “Did you think of my lips when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/before-i-can-respond-nash-continues-or-was-i-there-too-he-brushes-his/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“Yep, I’m making a fool of myself. Again. Right in front of Nash. Is there no end to my embarrassment with this guy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/yep-i-m-making-a-fool-of-myself-again-right-in-front-of-nash-is-there/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [“You haven't failed me. You've breathed so much life into my existence. Don't ever be sorry for that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/you-haven-t-failed-me-you-ve-breathed-so-much-life-into-my-existence/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

[Explore all 364 M. Leighton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

## More Ignition quotes

> [He left the key in the ignition. No one was likely to come up here and steal the truck- and if anyone did... well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-left-the-key-in-the-ignition-no-one-was-likely-to-come-up-here-and/)

[Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/)

> [“Hunter leaned close. "Just to be clear: I'd know exactly what to do if you threw yourself at me." Then he was in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/hunter-leaned-close-just-to-be-clear-i-d-know-exactly-what-to-do-if/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [All my life I've worked and I was so lucky to go from a radio station in Washington to the Dodgers and of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/all-my-life-i-ve-worked-and-i-was-so-lucky-to-go-from-a-radio-station/)

[Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/)

> [“I turned the key in the ignition and pulled away from the curb. “What will you do if you see Mo?” “I’ll snatch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-turned-the-key-in-the-ignition-and-pulled-away-from-the-curb-what/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“I didn't tell him that even after a crash, a key still fits the ignition. There just isn't anything left to drive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/i-didn-t-tell-him-that-even-after-a-crash-a-key-still-fits-the/)

[Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/)

> [“Declan turns the ignition and the engine rumbles to life. I’m immediately jealous that a car twenty years older than my already ancient Honda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-r-martin/declan-turns-the-ignition-and-the-engine-rumbles-to-life-i-m/)

[Kelley R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-r-martin/)

> [All this hatin' drive me crazy, take the key out the ignition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/all-this-hatin-drive-me-crazy-take-the-key-out-the-ignition/)

[Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/)

> [“I pressed the ignition button and the engine came to life. Our cars have special mufflers to deaden the exhaust sound but there’s nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-pressed-the-ignition-button-and-the-engine-came-to-life-our-cars/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“Each of us has the power to take action, to light a fire and be the ignition for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ziolkowski/each-of-us-has-the-power-to-take-action-to-light-a-fire-and-be-the/)

Jim Ziolkowski

> [I don't need nobody's permission. No keys, push start to ignition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly/i-don-t-need-nobody-s-permission-no-keys-push-start-to-ignition/)

[Nelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly/)

> [The countdown reached ten seconds and I could almost hear an invisible crescendo of stirring background music. 'Anchors aweigh!' Five, four, three, two, one...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-countdown-reached-ten-seconds-and-i-could-almost-hear-an/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“First, you must light a middling fire under the cauldron.” “What’s a middling fire?” “Medium.” I searched the pot. “Where’s the ignition switch?” Bridget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowvee-cole/first-you-must-light-a-middling-fire-under-the-cauldron-what-s-a/)

Lowvee Cole

> [“What happened?" I asked. "What did you say?" Roger put the key in the ignition and looked over at me. "I told her good-bye,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-matson/what-happened-i-asked-what-did-you-say-roger-put-the-key-in-the/)

[Morgan Matson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-matson/)

> [For every studen with a spark of brilliance, there are about ten with ignition trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/for-every-studen-with-a-spark-of-brilliance-there-are-about-ten-with/)

[Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/)

> [Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/belief-is-the-ignition-switch-that-gets-you-off-the-launching-pad/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

Browse all 16 Ignition quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“With shaking fingers, I turn the key and crank the ignition. When I rev the engine, I figure there’s no way it’s running with more RPMs than my libido is at this very moment. If Cash doesn’t cool it, I’ll be sitting in a puddle within the hour.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "M. Leighton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and-crank-the-ignition-when-i-rev/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ignition"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and-crank-the-ignition-when-i-rev/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/m-leighton-786_quote_with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and_1677220.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/m-leighton-786_quote_with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and_1677220.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/m-leighton-786_quote_with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and_1677220.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“With shaking fingers, I turn the key and crank the ignition. When I rev the engine, I figure there’s no way…” — M. Leighton",
                "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": "M. Leighton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“With shaking fingers, I turn the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and-crank-the-ignition-when-i-rev/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/with-shaking-fingers-i-turn-the-key-and-crank-the-ignition-when-i-rev/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
