--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alan Beaumont stepped through the…" description: "\"“Alan Beaumont stepped through the automatic door of his office building and down the broad steps to the pavement. The sky above DC was a monochrome of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tom-wood-19062_middle-finger_alan-beaumont-stepped-through-the-automa_989903.jpg" --- # Alan Beaumont stepped through the automatic door of his… ![“Alan Beaumont stepped through the automatic door of his office building and down the broad steps to the pavement. The sky above DC was a monochrome of grey cloud. A light rain fell, but a few drops of water were not going to bother him. Damp clothes? Whatever. Messed-up hair? He had no hair to…” quote by Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tom-wood-19062_middle-finger_alan-beaumont-stepped-through-the-automa_989903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tom-wood-19062_middle-finger_alan-beaumont-stepped-through-the-automa_989903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tom-wood-19062_middle-finger_alan-beaumont-stepped-through-the-automa_989903.jpg) > ““Alan Beaumont stepped through the automatic door of his office building and down the broad steps to the pavement. The sky above DC was a monochrome of grey cloud. A light rain fell, but a few drops of water were not going to bother him. Damp clothes? Whatever. Messed-up hair? He had no hair to ruin. That was long gone. Nothing had helped retain those once-magnificent curls. Not pills. Not potions. Nada. He used a thumb and middle finger to snap open his Zippo lighter and lit the cigarette perched between his lips. Smoking was perhaps the only real pleasure he had. He watched the downtown traffic and the pedestrians pass by, all miserable. Good. He didn’t like anyone to be happy but himself. It wasn’t pure selfishness. Joy was a zero sum game. There just wasn’t enough to go around.”” [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A cynical man finds fleeting pleasure in smoking while despising others’ happiness, seeing joy as a zero‑sum game. **In simple terms:** He enjoys his cigarette but resents others’ joy, believing happiness is limited. Key Takeaway Recognize that joy can be shared, not scarce. Themes cynicism isolation misery self‑destruction Mood bitter reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - office routine - rainy commute - personal reflection - social interactions Key Concepts existentialism psychology addiction Questions to Reflect On - What drives his belief that joy is limited? - Can he find meaning beyond fleeting pleasures? A Different Perspective His worldview may be self‑fulfilling and harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Zero sum game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zero-sum-game/) ## Related quotes > [“He lit the cigarette and inhaled gratefully. "You want one?" "No thanks. Had a touch of the cancer a few years ago." "What kind?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-gregory/he-lit-the-cigarette-and-inhaled-gratefully-you-want-one-no-thanks/) [Daryl Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-gregory/) > [“Oh, and they said I have ADD, too." He lit a cigarette, his first of the day, and took a long, grateful drag. "But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-reid/oh-and-they-said-i-have-add-too-he-lit-a-cigarette-his-first-of-the/) [S.A. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-reid/) > [“I lit a cigarette, using the matches I always carried in my left pocket, the song playing inside hit the backdoor and then my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanne-van-dolder/i-lit-a-cigarette-using-the-matches-i-always-carried-in-my-left/) Sanne van Dolder > [“The strong man lit a cigarette. It looked too frail for his hand. They looked like King Kong and Fay Wray, that hand, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-thomson/the-strong-man-lit-a-cigarette-it-looked-too-frail-for-his-hand-they/) [Rupert Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-thomson/) > [“Life is like a lit cigarette. The past is ashes, the present is burning, and the future is up in smoke. Fast as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/life-is-like-a-lit-cigarette-the-past-is-ashes-the-present-is-burning/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“Olivia lit a cigarette and said, "God, if I worried about running into old boyfriends, I couldn't go anywhere!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/olivia-lit-a-cigarette-and-said-god-if-i-worried-about-running-into/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“Sometimes, when I’m chain smoking on the balcony and feeling like shit (which happens more often than I’d like to admit), I let go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kidd/sometimes-when-i-m-chain-smoking-on-the-balcony-and-feeling-like-shit/) [Kris Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kidd/) > [“I lit a cigarette and dragged a smoking stand beside the chair. The minutes went by on tiptoe, with their fingers to their lips.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/i-lit-a-cigarette-and-dragged-a-smoking-stand-beside-the-chair-the/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [If there was a pause in a conversation with anyone, you could always light a cigarette, or if a man lit a cigarette for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/if-there-was-a-pause-in-a-conversation-with-anyone-you-could-always/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [“I'm trying to quit,” he said. “Just so you know.” He lit the cigarette and inhaled so long and so deep it sounded like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/i-m-trying-to-quit-he-said-just-so-you-know-he-lit-the-cigarette-and/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [“Bunny plucked the lit cigarette from Dylan’s lips and slipped it between her own. “Always offer a lady a cigarette after sex. It’s polite.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-b-good/bunny-plucked-the-lit-cigarette-from-dylan-s-lips-and-slipped-it/) [Ana B. Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-b-good/) > [“He lit another cigarette and inhaled deeply, the tip flaring an angry red. “Isn’t love a beautiful goddamn liar?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/he-lit-another-cigarette-and-inhaled-deeply-the-tip-flaring-an-angry/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [“Are you dying?" Cato lit his cigarette. "It's not acute, perhaps, but we're all dying, Harry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesb/are-you-dying-cato-lit-his-cigarette-it-s-not-acute-perhaps-but-we-re/) [Jo Nesbø](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesb/) > [“I lit a cigarette. 'Go ahead, take a smoke,' my father said. 'It won't kill you. Only sadness will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-lillith-assadi/i-lit-a-cigarette-go-ahead-take-a-smoke-my-father-said-it-won-t-kill/) [Hannah Lillith Assadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-lillith-assadi/) > [If you ever lit a cigarette in your life, you have very little will to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/if-you-ever-lit-a-cigarette-in-your-life-you-have-very-little-will-to/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) ## More by Tom Wood > [“Victor ignored him and reached inside the dead man’s jacket, searching unsuccessfully for a wallet. He went to take the man’s radio receiver, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/victor-ignored-him-and-reached-inside-the-dead-man-s-jacket-searching/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“Victor’s eyes narrowed. ‘Who are you working for?’ The man’s head slumped. Tears streamed down his cheeks. ‘Please…’ ‘Who are you working for?’ He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/victor-s-eyes-narrowed-who-are-you-working-for-the-man-s-head-slumped/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“To kill required little more than the ability to point and shoot. Almost anyone could do it. To escape required the successful diversion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/to-kill-required-little-more-than-the-ability-to-point-and-shoot/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“In a life threatening situation, whether terrorism or a rockslide, what kills most people is slowness to react. Regular lives are so safe, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/in-a-life-threatening-situation-whether-terrorism-or-a-rockslide-what/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“In the corridor the dying man had at last ceased his thrashing. Blood no longer spurted from his neck but simply oozed out onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/in-the-corridor-the-dying-man-had-at-last-ceased-his-thrashing-blood/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“I fought for a cause. And yes, I looted and I gained glory, but I went into that battle to protect my people. Have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/i-fought-for-a-cause-and-yes-i-looted-and-i-gained-glory-but-i-went/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“I like that quote, but Napoleon was a fool, drunk on his own perceived invincibility. He could have ruled the world had he but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/i-like-that-quote-but-napoleon-was-a-fool-drunk-on-his-own-perceived/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“The whole basement was empty. Victor drew his handgun — an FN Five-seven — because he knew he’d walked straight into a trap. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/the-whole-basement-was-empty-victor-drew-his-handgun-an-fn-five-seven/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“With his left hand Victor pulled the Beretta from the back of his waistband and pointed both guns at the doorway, one in each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/with-his-left-hand-victor-pulled-the-beretta-from-the-back-of-his/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“, ‘who got out before you did, offers you a different kind of private-sector job. Kind of like what you used to do for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/who-got-out-before-you-did-offers-you-a-different-kind-of-private/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“k are you writing?’ ‘It’s a fictionalised account of the death of Archduke Ferdinand.’ ‘A historical novel then. How interesting. You understand a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/k-are-you-writing-it-s-a-fictionalised-account-of-the-death-of/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“What are you?’ Rados asked. ‘You don’t strike me as the bone-breaker type.’ ‘I think of myself as a counsellor.’ ‘And what is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/what-are-you-rados-asked-you-don-t-strike-me-as-the-bone-breaker-type/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“He had one leg crossed over the other and sat with both hands resting casually in his lap. He wore a three-piece suit, silvery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/he-had-one-leg-crossed-over-the-other-and-sat-with-both-hands-resting/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“Victor’s shadow fell over her and she looked up. She was surprisingly attractive, twenty-eight or — nine, pain in her delicate features, terror in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/victor-s-shadow-fell-over-her-and-she-looked-up-she-was-surprisingly/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) > [“Her voice was even, but quiet. ‘You’re not going to let me go, are you?’ His was the same. ‘No, I’m not.’ She took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wood/her-voice-was-even-but-quiet-you-re-not-going-to-let-me-go-are-you/) [Tom Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) [Explore all 33 Tom Wood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wood/) ## More Middle finger quotes > [Dear haters... thank you, you gave me a job. Yours sincerely, middle finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-haters-thank-you-you-gave-me-a-job-yours-sincerely-middle-finger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“(After witnessing a young Indian man throwing a popped grain of some sort at a caged, humiliated mountain lion) That was it. I grabbed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-turner/after-witnessing-a-young-indian-man-throwing-a-popped-grain-of-some/) Jack Turner > [My middle finger is used when words aren't enough for people to understand that they're annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-middle-finger-is-used-when-words-aren-t-enough-for-people-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I fall in the field and ain't no more air for me Pour some on the ground and put one in the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhial-gatyung/if-i-fall-in-the-field-and-ain-t-no-more-air-for-me-pour-some-on-the/) Nhial Gatyung > [Sometimes one middle finger isn't enough to let someone know how you feel. That's why you have two hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted/sometimes-one-middle-finger-isn-t-enough-to-let-someone-know-how-you/) [Ted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted/) > [“He knelt quickly, bit her hard on the ass, then bobbed back up as she yelped and straightened in surprise. He pressed a hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-nicolay/he-knelt-quickly-bit-her-hard-on-the-ass-then-bobbed-back-up-as-she/) Scott Nicolay > [“Anyway I was in the school nurse’s office now recovering from my slit wrists. Snap and Loopin and HAHRID were there too. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-gilesbie/anyway-i-was-in-the-school-nurse-s-office-now-recovering-from-my-slit/) [Tara Gilesbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-gilesbie/) > [Stupid females gone talk regardless of how you feel, so I switch hard, have a smile on my face, and throw the middle finger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stupid-females-gone-talk-regardless-of-how-you-feel-so-i-switch-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do it all the time. Do it all night. Middle finger up to the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobra-starship/do-it-all-the-time-do-it-all-night-middle-finger-up-to-the-sky/) [Cobra Starship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobra-starship/) > [“Everyone has bad days...'my Dear MIDDLE FINGER, Thanks for sticking up for me!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napz-cherub-pellazo/everyone-has-bad-days-my-dear-middle-finger-thanks-for-sticking-up/) [Napz Cherub Pellazo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napz-cherub-pellazo/) > [My middle finger gets a boner whenever I think of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted/my-middle-finger-gets-a-boner-whenever-i-think-of-you/) [Ted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted/) > [Well, I guess I'm single for the night, And you can sit right on my middle finger for the night. And if I sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/well-i-guess-i-m-single-for-the-night-and-you-can-sit-right-on-my/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“. . . I had on . . . black jeggings under a fitted, sleeveless, flowered dress, so he could see my true shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/i-had-on-black-jeggings-under-a-fitted-sleeveless-flowered-dress-so/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-something-unexpected-happens-at-least-i-don-t-expect-it-because/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Hold your head up high, and put your middle finger up to the haters because your life will go on with or without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/hold-your-head-up-high-and-put-your-middle-finger-up-to-the-haters/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) Browse all 277 Middle finger quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Alan Beaumont stepped through the automatic door of his office building and down the broad steps to the pavement. The sky above DC was a monochrome of grey cloud. A light rain fell, but a few drops of water were not going to bother him. Damp clothes? Whatever. Messed-up hair? He had no hair to ruin. That was long gone. Nothing had helped retain those once-magnificent curls. Not pills. Not potions. Nada. He used a thumb and middle finger to snap open his Zippo lighter and lit the cigarette perched between his lips. Smoking was perhaps the only real pleasure he had. He watched the downtown traffic and the pedestrians pass by, all miserable. Good. He didn’t like anyone to be happy but himself. It wasn’t pure selfishness. Joy was a zero sum game. 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