Gunslinger Quote by Stephen King
““A time will come when it won’t pass.’ The gunslinger made no reply, for he knew this was true. The trap had a ghastly perfection. If someone told you you’d go to hell if you thought about seeing your mother naked (once when the gunslinger was very young he had been told this very thing), you’d eventually do it. And why? Because you did not want to imagine your mother naked. Because you did not want to go to hell. Because, if given a knife and a hand in which to hold it, the mind would eventually eat itself. Not because it wanted to; because it did not want to.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Gunslinger, 1982
The mind avoids imagined taboo, leading to self‑destruction despite rational knowledge.
In simple terms: Avoiding forbidden thoughts can harm the mind.
Key Takeaway
Confront uncomfortable thoughts.
Themes
psychology
taboo
self‑destruction
Mood
dark
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
cognitive avoidance
mental health
paradox of desire
Questions to Reflect On
- What taboo thoughts do you suppress?
- How does avoidance affect you?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex mental processes.
