---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Are you aware that rushing toward a goal…"
description: "\"Are you aware that rushing toward a goal is a sublimated death wish? It's no coincidence we call them 'deadlines.\" — Tom Robbins"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tom-robbins-169_coincidence_are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal_3206199.jpg"
---

#  Are you aware that rushing toward a goal is a sublimated…

![“Are you aware that rushing toward a goal is a sublimated death wish? It's no coincidence we call them 'deadlines.” quote by Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tom-robbins-169_coincidence_are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal_3206199.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tom-robbins-169_coincidence_are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal_3206199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tom-robbins-169_coincidence_are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal_3206199.jpg)

> “Are you aware that rushing toward a goal is a sublimated death wish? It's no coincidence we call them 'deadlines.”

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

## About This Quote

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

Suggests that imposing tight deadlines is akin to a self‑destructive impulse, urging healthier pacing.

**In simple terms:** Rushing deadlines feel like a hidden self‑harm.

Key Takeaway

Set realistic timelines to avoid burnout.

Themes

productivity mental health time management

Mood

cautionary thought‑provoking

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- project planning
- creative work
- stress reduction
- healthcare
- personal finance

Key Concepts

deadline pressure self‑sabotage psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Are your deadlines driving or draining you?
- How can you reframe urgency positively?

A Different Perspective

Deadlines can be necessary motivators in some contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Aware Rushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aware-rushing-5972715/) [Coincidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidence/) [Deadline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deadline/) [Deadlines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deadlines/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-wish/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goal Sublimated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal-sublimated-5972713/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Rushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rushing/) [Rushing Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rushing-goal-5972714/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/)

## Related quotes

> [“The odd thing was, Dickie longed to experience that feeling. It wasn't any kind of death wish: there was not a suicidal cell in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-odd-thing-was-dickie-longed-to-experience-that-feeling-it-wasn-t/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [“‎"revolutionary suicide does not mean that i and my comrades have a death wish; it means just the opposite. we have such a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-newton/revolutionary-suicide-does-not-mean-that-i-and-my-comrades-have-a/)

[Huey Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-newton/)

> [Many people use the words 'death defying' or 'death wishing' when they talk about wire-walking. Many people have asked me: 'So do you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/many-people-use-the-words-death-defying-or-death-wishing-when-they/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [“Much time has passed since the evil of humans ceased to surprise you. Your years as a war photographer have removed any pretence you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margr-t-helgad-ttir/much-time-has-passed-since-the-evil-of-humans-ceased-to-surprise-you/)

[Margrét Helgadóttir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margr-t-helgad-ttir/)

> [What?" I ask. "I'm developing a theory." "And it is?" She picks up her hamburger, grins, and says, "That you have a death wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-i-ask-i-m-developing-a-theory-and-it-is-she-picks-up-her/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“In fact, had there been less discussion of the syntactical construction of Schoenberg’s music, and more of what it says, people might more readily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-macdonald/in-fact-had-there-been-less-discussion-of-the-syntactical/)

[Malcolm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-macdonald/)

> [I don't have a death wish. On the contrary, I'm hanging onto my life like never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ueli-steck/i-don-t-have-a-death-wish-on-the-contrary-i-m-hanging-onto-my-life/)

[Ueli Steck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ueli-steck/)

> [This life in us; however low it flickers or fiercely burns, is still a divine flame which no man dare presume to put out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/this-life-in-us-however-low-it-flickers-or-fiercely-burns-is-still-a/)

[Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/)

> [“That's just stupid, Tory! Quit being so damn stubborn!” “Not a chance! You've got some kind of death wish! We can't even trust our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-reichs/that-s-just-stupid-tory-quit-being-so-damn-stubborn-not-a-chance-you/)

[Kathy Reichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-reichs/)

> [“Er Lang examined his shoes in dismay. “You should have told me there was mud down here.” “Is that all you can say?” But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yangsze-choo/er-lang-examined-his-shoes-in-dismay-you-should-have-told-me-there/)

[Yangsze Choo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yangsze-choo/)

> [“I don't give a damn if you were the featured date du jour of the sultan of Brunei. Get it through your head: You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherry-adair/i-don-t-give-a-damn-if-you-were-the-featured-date-du-jour-of-the/)

[Cherry Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherry-adair/)

> [Destroy everything. That's all well and fine, but you got to offer something in it's place. Since I always have a point and purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/destroy-everything-that-s-all-well-and-fine-but-you-got-to-offer/)

[John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/)

> [In defence, I have cultivated a death wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-fury/in-defence-i-have-cultivated-a-death-wish/)

[Billy Fury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-fury/)

> [“Knock it off,Finn!" I tried to pull my arm from him, but physically he was still stronger than me. "Loki is right. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/knock-it-off-finn-i-tried-to-pull-my-arm-from-him-but-physically-he/)

[Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/)

> [Jesus, you've got a death wish." "Right now I have a bathroom-and-sleep-somewhere safe wish, kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilith-saintcrow/jesus-you-ve-got-a-death-wish-right-now-i-have-a-bathroom-and-sleep/)

[Lilith Saintcrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilith-saintcrow/)

## More by Tom Robbins

> [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [“I believe in everything; nothing is sacred. I believe in nothing; everything is sacred. Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-believe-in-everything-nothing-is-sacred-i-believe-in-nothing/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [A sense of humor...is superior to any religion so far devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-sense-of-humor-is-superior-to-any-religion-so-far-devised/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the-2/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [“The glue that holds the natural world together appears to be a harmonious balance of opposites: day and night, light and dark, winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-glue-that-holds-the-natural-world-together-appears-to-be-a/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Zippers are primal and modern at the very same time. On the one hand, your zipper is primitive and reptilian, on the other, mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/zippers-are-primal-and-modern-at-the-very-same-time-on-the-one-hand/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [“religion is a paramount contributor to human misery. It is not merely the opium of the masses, it is the cyanide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/religion-is-a-paramount-contributor-to-human-misery-it-is-not-merely/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [She continued weeping until the heat of her tear water, the sheer velocity of its flow, finally obscured the already vague circumstances of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/she-continued-weeping-until-the-heat-of-her-tear-water-the-sheer/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-small-wonders-we-qualify-ourselves-to-imagine-great/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

[Explore all 994 Tom Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

## More Coincidence quotes

> [“Symbols are miracles we have recorded into language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/symbols-are-miracles-we-have-recorded-into-language/)

[S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/)

> [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/)

[Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/)

> [“Coincidence is the exception, not the rule.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soheir-khashoggi/coincidence-is-the-exception-not-the-rule/)

[Soheir Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soheir-khashoggi/)

> [Is it a coincidence that stories from the private life became more popular just as the grand hope for public redemption through revolution was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/is-it-a-coincidence-that-stories-from-the-private-life-became-more/)

[Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/)

> [It was an odd coincidence that my career took off the same decade as having babies. I often wished it had been different, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kaczmarek/it-was-an-odd-coincidence-that-my-career-took-off-the-same-decade-as/)

[Jane Kaczmarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kaczmarek/)

> [“Every emotion in the world wishes to be expressed, every task desires to be done. Coincidence is the perfect texture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-geary/every-emotion-in-the-world-wishes-to-be-expressed-every-task-desires/)

[Patricia Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-geary/)

> [It's not coincidence that these attacks come at the exact same moment, and all together at the same time as WikiLeaks releases documents exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-not-coincidence-that-these-attacks-come-at-the-exact-same-moment/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [“You wonder if that really constitutes being ‘a coincidence’ but don’t press her on the issue, instead sticking your hand down your pocket to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-kerkhoven/you-wonder-if-that-really-constitutes-being-a-coincidence-but-don-t/)

[Rudolf Kerkhoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-kerkhoven/)

> [A thrumming of piano-strings beyond the gardens and through the elms. At length the melody steals into my being. I know not when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-thrumming-of-piano-strings-beyond-the-gardens-and-through-the-elms/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“We cannot see how our lives will unfold. What is destiny and What is accident? And how can one ever be certain?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-ostlere/we-cannot-see-how-our-lives-will-unfold-what-is-destiny-and-what-is/)

[Cathy Ostlere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-ostlere/)

> [When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-live-your-life-with-an-appreciation-of-coincidences-and/)

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

> [It’s amazing how many coincidences occur when one begins to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/it-s-amazing-how-many-coincidences-occur-when-one-begins-to-pray/)

[Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/)

> [“Premonitions are coincidences waiting to happen,” he said, without looking up. “I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/premonitions-are-coincidences-waiting-to-happen-he-said-without/)

[Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/)

> [“A friend of mine once said that she didn't believe in coincidence, that it was God working in her life, not a coincidence every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cameron/a-friend-of-mine-once-said-that-she-didn-t-believe-in-coincidence/)

[Barbara Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cameron/)

> [Some people suggested that I should try something else. It was a lot of things, but nothing really stood out for me. Nothing felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-kim/some-people-suggested-that-i-should-try-something-else-it-was-a-lot/)

[Claudia Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-kim/)

[Browse all 823 Coincidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Are you aware that rushing toward a goal is a sublimated death wish? It's no coincidence we call them 'deadlines.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tom Robbins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal-is-a-sublimated-death-wish/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Coincidence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal-is-a-sublimated-death-wish/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tom-robbins-169_coincidence_are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal_3206199.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tom-robbins-169_coincidence_are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal_3206199.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tom-robbins-169_coincidence_are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal_3206199.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Are you aware that rushing toward a goal is a sublimated death wish? It's no coincidence we call them…” — Tom Robbins",
                "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": "Tom Robbins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Are you aware that rushing toward...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal-is-a-sublimated-death-wish/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/are-you-aware-that-rushing-toward-a-goal-is-a-sublimated-death-wish/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
