---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The odd thing was, Dickie longed to…"
description: "\"“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 his body. rather, it s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/tom-robbins-169_death-wish_the-odd-thing-was-dickie-longed-to-exper_2432908.jpg"
---

#  The odd thing was, Dickie longed to experience that…

![“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 his body. rather, it seemed that the very sensation, the inner force that made Dickie's scrotum tighten, his throat constrict, and his eyeballs swim in dizziness also…” quote by Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/tom-robbins-169_death-wish_the-odd-thing-was-dickie-longed-to-exper_2432908.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/tom-robbins-169_death-wish_the-odd-thing-was-dickie-longed-to-exper_2432908.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/tom-robbins-169_death-wish_the-odd-thing-was-dickie-longed-to-exper_2432908.jpg)

> ““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 his body. rather, it seemed that the very sensation, the inner force that made Dickie's scrotum tighten, his throat constrict, and his eyeballs swim in dizziness also made him want to tumble into the precipitous void. And ultimately, his fear of longing to fall was greater, more disturbing, than his fear of falling.””

[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.

Dickie is drawn to a dangerous, exhilarating feeling that both attracts and terrifies him, revealing a paradox where the desire for intense experience can outweigh fear of harm.

**In simple terms:** He craves a risky thrill despite fearing it.

Key Takeaway

Embrace caution when seeking intense experiences.

Themes

desire fear paradox thrill human nature

Mood

anxious intense reflective

Type

philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

- adrenaline sports
- creative pursuits
- risk-taking behavior
- psychological self‑exploration

Key Concepts

psychology existentialism risk hedonism

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives you toward risky thrills?
- How can you balance excitement with safety?

A Different Perspective

The allure may mask underlying self‑destructive impulses.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-wish/) [Dickie Longed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickie-longed-303673/) [Fear Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-falling/) [Fear Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-longing-303674/) [Longing Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing-fall-303671/)

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