---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody knows what the cause is, though…"
description: "\"Nobody knows what the cause is, though some pretend they do; it like some hidden assassin waiting to strike at you. Childless women get it, and men whe..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/w-h-auden-856_assassins_nobody-knows-what-the-cause-is-though-so_2301316.jpg"
---

#  Nobody knows what the cause is, though some pretend they…

![“Nobody knows what the cause is, though some pretend they do; it like some hidden assassin waiting to strike at you. Childless women get it, and men when they retire; it as if there had to be some outlet for their foiled creative fire.” quote by W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/w-h-auden-856_assassins_nobody-knows-what-the-cause-is-though-so_2301316.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/w-h-auden-856_assassins_nobody-knows-what-the-cause-is-though-so_2301316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/w-h-auden-856_assassins_nobody-knows-what-the-cause-is-though-so_2301316.jpg)

> “Nobody knows what the cause is, though some pretend they do; it like some hidden assassin waiting to strike at you. Childless women get it, and men when they retire; it as if there had to be some outlet for their foiled creative fire.”

[W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/)

## About This Quote

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

Unidentified forces drive frustration, especially in later life, seeking an outlet for suppressed creativity.

**In simple terms:** Hidden pressures cause restlessness.

Key Takeaway

Find healthy creative outlets.

Themes

aging creativity psychological tension

Mood

melancholic thoughtful

Type

poetic reflective

When to use this quote

- retirement planning
- art therapy
- career counseling
- hobby groups

Key Concepts

Repressed ambition life transitions

Questions to Reflect On

- What outlets can channel creative energy?
- How does age affect perceived purpose?

A Different Perspective

Creative suppression can lead to harmful coping mechanisms.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Assassins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassins/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/)

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## More by W. H. Auden

> [Pleasure is by no means an infallible critical guide, but it is the least fallible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/pleasure-is-by-no-means-an-infallible-critical-guide-but-it-is-the/)

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