---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: by letter in Morse code. Kittinger says…"
description: "\"“by letter in Morse code. Kittinger says it was a joke, but Simons didn’t take it that way. (Morse code has always been a tough medium for humor.) In h..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/546/mary-roach-635_morse-code_by-letter-in-morse-code-kittinger-says-i_2717254.jpg"
---

#  by letter in Morse code. Kittinger says it was a joke, but…

![“by letter in Morse code. Kittinger says it was a joke, but Simons didn’t take it that way. (Morse code has always been a tough medium for humor.) In his memoir Man High, Simons recalls thinking that “the weird and little understood breakaway phenomenon could be taking hold of Kittinger’s…” quote by Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/546/mary-roach-635_morse-code_by-letter-in-morse-code-kittinger-says-i_2717254.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/546/mary-roach-635_morse-code_by-letter-in-morse-code-kittinger-says-i_2717254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/546/mary-roach-635_morse-code_by-letter-in-morse-code-kittinger-says-i_2717254.jpg)

> ““by letter in Morse code. Kittinger says it was a joke, but Simons didn’t take it that way. (Morse code has always been a tough medium for humor.) In his memoir Man High, Simons recalls thinking that “the weird and little understood breakaway phenomenon could be taking hold of Kittinger’s mind,…that he…was gripped in this strange reverie and was hellbent on flying on and on without regard for the consequences.” Simons compared the breakaway phenomenon to “the deadly raptures of the deep.” “Rapture of the deep” is a medical condition””

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

## About This Quote

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

The passage describes a humorous anecdote about Morse code jokes and a “breakaway phenomenon” likened to a dangerous, obsessive mental state.

**In simple terms:** Morse code humor leads to obsessive thoughts.

Key Takeaway

Beware of obsessive mental states.

Themes

humor psychology communication

Mood

lighthearted thought‑provoking

Type

narrative educational

When to use this quote

- writing memoir
- science communication
- humor writing

Key Concepts

Morse code limitations mental obsession

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humor influence perception of risk?
- What safeguards prevent obsession in research?

A Different Perspective

Humor can mask serious mental health concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Breakaway Phenomenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakaway-phenomenon-2854255/) [Deadly Raptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deadly-raptures-2854254/) [Deep Rapture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-rapture-2854252/) [Morse code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morse-code/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Rapture Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapture-deep-2382229/) [Raptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raptures-2854253/)

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