“When someone is drowning and you try to save them, they're more likely to drown you before you pull them out.”

“You try to save a drowning man without prior authorization.”

Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961) Swedish diplomat, economist, and author

“If you know someone who tries to drown their sorrows, you might tell them sorrows know how to swim.”

H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (1940) American writer

“When someone is drowning, you have to approach them extremely carefully. This is because, if they are panicking and they grab you, then you both drown. And that's stupid, because you both drown. That's a really good metaphor for trying to help someone. When people are in real trouble, some of it is that they're confused, some of it is that their life has collapsed around them, and there's some malevolence there and some desire for vengeance (it's one dangerous mess). If you're going to wade in there unprepared, the possibility that they're going to take you down compared with you elevating them is very high, because you don't even know what your damn psychological stability rests on. You might be sane just because you're lucky and surrounded by good people. That doesn't mean that you have the psychological wherewithal to pull someone up from the depths of the underworld, especially if they have one foot in hell. You should bloody well be careful about doing that kind of thing. It's hubristic to attempt it, and I would definitely caution people – be very careful about rescuing people who don't want to be rescued. It's very dangerous activity, and it can easily be counterproductive.”

Jordan Peterson (1962) Canadian clinical psychologist, cultural critic, and professor of psychology

“hope is like a piece of string when you’re drowning; it just isn’t enough to get you out by itself.”

Robert Jordan (1948–2007) American writer

“Sometimes I miss you
the way someone drowning
remembers the air.”

Tim Seibles (1955) American poet

“Fate is never fair. You are caught in a current much stronger than you are; struggle against it and you'll drown not just yourself but those who try to save you. Swim with it. and you'll survive”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

“When someone was willing to drown with me, I really didn't want to drown anymore.”

Marilyn Manson (1969) American rock musician and actor

“If you try to breathe water, you will not turn into a fish, you will drown; but water is still good to drink.”

Robin McKinley book The Hero and the Crown

“They call it the drowning instinct. It's when drowning doesn't look like drowning. (pg. 241)”

Ilsa J. Bick (1957) American writer