Cherish Quote by Thomas Pynchon
“I came," she said, "hoping you could talk me out of a fantasy." Cherish it!" cried Hilarious, fiercely. "What else do any of you have? Hold it tightly by it's little tentacle, don't let the Freudians coax it away or the pharmacists poison it out of you. Whatever it is, hold it dear, for when you lose it you go over by that much to the others. You begin to cease to be.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon, 1973
A character seeks help to escape a fantasy, urging fierce protection of fragile personal truths against external pressures.
In simple terms: Protect your fragile truths from external forces.
Key Takeaway
Guard your personal convictions fiercely.
Themes
identity
psychology
resistance
fantasy
Mood
reflective
defiant
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- mental health struggles
- creative imagination
- social conformity
Key Concepts
self‑preservation
critical thinking
inner conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal “tentacle” are you protecting?
- How do you balance fantasy and reality?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may be too abstract for practical guidance.
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