--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you've got nowhere to turn, turn on…" description: "\"When you've got nowhere to turn, turn on the gas.\" — Truman Capote" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/truman-capote-376_depression_when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on_1744678.jpg" --- # When you've got nowhere to turn, turn on the gas. ![“When you've got nowhere to turn, turn on the gas.” quote by Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/truman-capote-376_depression_when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on_1744678.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/truman-capote-376_depression_when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on_1744678.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/truman-capote-376_depression_when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on_1744678.jpg) > “When you've got nowhere to turn, turn on the gas.” [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When options seem exhausted, increase effort or seek new momentum to break stagnation. **In simple terms:** Push harder when stuck. Key Takeaway Increase effort or seek new solutions. Themes perseverance resourcefulness determination Mood determined urgent Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career crisis - creative block - financial difficulty Key Concepts problem solving motivation Questions to Reflect On - What small action can reignite progress? - Are you balancing effort with self‑care? A Different Perspective Pushing harder can lead to burnout without rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Gas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gas/) [Got Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-turn-670752/) [Nowhere to turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nowhere-to-turn/) [Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn/) [Turn Gas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-gas-1549648/) [Turn on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-on/) [Turn Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-turn-468571/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [When you've got nowhere to turn, turn on the gas. , Answered Prayers (Unspoiled Monsters).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on-the-gas-answered-prayers/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Stuff up the cracks, turn on the gas, I'm gonna take my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/stuff-up-the-cracks-turn-on-the-gas-i-m-gonna-take-my-life/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [But I must admit I didn´t like that idea; do the same thing as everyone else. Eating to live, living to eat - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/but-i-must-admit-i-didn-t-like-that-idea-do-the-same-thing-as/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [No one has the answers, but one thing is true. You got to turn on evil, when its coming after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/no-one-has-the-answers-but-one-thing-is-true-you-got-to-turn-on-evil/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [If I could turn, turn back the hands of time. Then my darlin' you'd, still be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly-2/if-i-could-turn-turn-back-the-hands-of-time-then-my-darlin-you-d/) [R Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly-2/) > [“Lives that have had their turn now take their turn observing other”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stone/lives-that-have-had-their-turn-now-take-their-turn-observing-other/) [Jonathan Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stone/) > [I turn around but turn back no matter what the circumstance/ You like a drug, heightened buzz I know that you heard of that/…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tactics/i-turn-around-but-turn-back-no-matter-what-the-circumstance-you-like/) [Tactics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tactics/) > [I turn and turn in my cell like a fly that doesn't know where to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/i-turn-and-turn-in-my-cell-like-a-fly-that-doesn-t-know-where-to-die/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [When it's your turn, it's your turn. That's just the way it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/when-it-s-your-turn-it-s-your-turn-that-s-just-the-way-it-is/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [“If something got you to turn off T.V. , it's a total success”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/if-something-got-you-to-turn-off-t-v-it-s-a-total-success/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Man may have told you I got you but you turn around the next minute and they for got you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-johnson/man-may-have-told-you-i-got-you-but-you-turn-around-the-next-minute/) [Natalya Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-johnson/) > [There are lots of people out there who will try to tell you what you cant do. What youve got to do is turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakare/there-are-lots-of-people-out-there-who-will-try-to-tell-you-what-you/) [Bakare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakare/) > [There are people who will tell you, you cant. what youve got to do is turn around and say watch me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas/there-are-people-who-will-tell-you-you-cant-what-youve-got-to-do-is/) [Anas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas/) > [“Beautiful, that's what you got to do with that hurtin', you got to turn it beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-peterson/beautiful-that-s-what-you-got-to-do-with-that-hurtin-you-got-to-turn/) [A.S. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-peterson/) > [“Do you understand, sir, do you understand what it means when you have absolutely nowhere to turn?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/do-you-understand-sir-do-you-understand-what-it-means-when-you-have/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) ## More by Truman Capote > [“You can beat your brains out for her, and she’ll hand you horseshit on a platter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/you-can-beat-your-brains-out-for-her-and-she-ll-hand-you-horseshit-on/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“The walls of the cell fell away, the sky came down, I saw the big yellow bird.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/the-walls-of-the-cell-fell-away-the-sky-came-down-i-saw-the-big/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Don't wanna ride on the devil's side...just wanna ride with you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/don-t-wanna-ride-on-the-devil-s-side-just-wanna-ride-with-you/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Wrinkles and bones, white hair and diamonds: I can't wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/wrinkles-and-bones-white-hair-and-diamonds-i-can-t-wait/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [You can't blame a writer for what the characters say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/you-can-t-blame-a-writer-for-what-the-characters-say/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [There is really no practical help that one can offer; it is a matter of self-discovery, of one's own convictions, or working with one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/there-is-really-no-practical-help-that-one-can-offer-it-is-a-matter/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“...Narcissus was so egotist...he was merely another of us who, in our unshatterable isolation, recognized, on seeing his reflection, the beautiful comrade, the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/narcissus-was-so-egotist-he-was-merely-another-of-us-who-in-our/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Is it - I'm not certain - possible to love someone if your first interest is the use you can make of him? Doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/is-it-i-m-not-certain-possible-to-love-someone-if-your-first-interest/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [One of the most difficult things in writing a novel or anything at all is to choose the point of view from which it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-in-writing-a-novel-or-anything-at/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [I've never worked for a newspaper. I've had some very bad reviews in newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-ve-never-worked-for-a-newspaper-i-ve-had-some-very-bad-reviews-in/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [But, my dear, so few things are fulfilled: what are most lives but a series of incompleted episodes? 'We work in the dark, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/but-my-dear-so-few-things-are-fulfilled-what-are-most-lives-but-a/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“…she, glittery voyager of secure destination, steamed down the harbor with whistles whistling and confetti in the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/she-glittery-voyager-of-secure-destination-steamed-down-the-harbor/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Because it's indeed difficult to portray, in any meaningful depth, another being, his appearance, speech, mentality, without to some degree, and often for quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/because-it-s-indeed-difficult-to-portray-in-any-meaningful-depth/) [truman capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“It's a bore, but the answer is good things only happen to you if you're good. Good? Honest is more what I mean. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/it-s-a-bore-but-the-answer-is-good-things-only-happen-to-you-if-you/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“In the courtyard there was an angel of black stone, and its angel head rose above giant elephant leaves; the stark glass angel eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/in-the-courtyard-there-was-an-angel-of-black-stone-and-its-angel-head/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) [Explore all 585 Truman Capote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## More Depression quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) [Kirsten Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gilchrist/) > [“my stomach turned and burned with the acid of failure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ames/my-stomach-turned-and-burned-with-the-acid-of-failure/) [Heidi Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ames/) > [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/) [Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“Why in depression" "If we are human, why not have the right to smile, Why in depression, young, and beautiful as earth, Why in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanilsa-pena/why-in-depression-if-we-are-human-why-not-have-the-right-to-smile-why/) [Yanilsa pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanilsa-pena/) > [“Depression makes me stronger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayamalan/depression-makes-me-stronger/) [Shayamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayamalan/) > [“Shorter believes that psychosomatic illnesses (such as leg paralysis at the turn of the twentieth century or multiple personality disorder at the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-watters/shorter-believes-that-psychosomatic-illnesses-such-as-leg-paralysis/) [Ethan Watters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-watters/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Repression will provoke rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-williamson/repression-will-provoke-rebellion/) [Hugh Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-williamson/) > [I'm certainly not a perfect mother, but I'm trying to be what my mother wasn't for me. My mother's battled depression, so I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/i-m-certainly-not-a-perfect-mother-but-i-m-trying-to-be-what-my/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Scars by Papa Roach. <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophielianne/scars-by-papa-roach-3/) [Sophielianne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophielianne/) [Browse all 4,965 Depression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you've got nowhere to turn, turn on the gas.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Truman Capote" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on-the-gas/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Depression" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on-the-gas/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/truman-capote-376_depression_when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on_1744678.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/truman-capote-376_depression_when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on_1744678.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/truman-capote-376_depression_when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on_1744678.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you've got nowhere to turn, turn on the gas.” — Truman Capote", "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": "Truman Capote", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you've got nowhere to turn,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on-the-gas/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/when-you-ve-got-nowhere-to-turn-turn-on-the-gas/#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 } } ] } ```