Quotes About Desire

reason tends to be the servant rather than the master of desire.

In my research on desire, I discovered nearly unanimous agreement among thoughtful people that we are unlikely to have a good and meaningful life unless we can overcome our insatiability. There was also agreement that one wonderful way to tame our tendency to always want more is to persuade ourselves to want the things we already have. This

Whereas the ordinary person embraces pleasure, the sage enchains it; whereas the ordinary person thinks pleasure is the highest good, the sage doesn't think it is even a good; and whereas the ordinary person does everything for the sake of pleasure, the sage does nothing.

We humans are unhappy in large part because we are insatiable; after working hard to get what we want, we routinely lose interest in the object of our desire.

In particular, were I to acquire a new car, a fine wardrobe, a Rolex watch, and a bigger house, I am convinced that I would experience no more joy than I presently do—and might even experience less.

easiest way for us to gain happiness is to learn how to want the things we already have.

In a full-fledged case of desire, by way of contrast, a creature is able to form a mental representation of the thing it desires, compare the current state [sic] with the desired state, and initiate action to diminish these states. Only a creature with considerable brainpower will have these abilities.

In the words of Epicurus, "Nothing satisfies the man who is not satisfied with a little.

In the words of Epicurus, "Nothing satisfies the man who is not satisfied with a little."2

Success is very much like a drug: it makes you feel good; you don't know what you are missing until you experience it; once you experience it, you want more; and in your attempts to recapture that first high, you will have to resort to ever bigger "doses." And if success is like a drug, some drugs are like success: a cocaine high, I am told, very much resembles the rush of success.

The trouble in modern democracy is that men do not approach to leadership 'til they have lost the desire to lead anyone.

The road to excess leads to the palace of wisdom...for we never know what is enough until we know what is more than enough.

What is it men in women do require?The lineaments of Gratified Desire.What is it women do in men require?The lineaments of Gratified Desire.

Sooner murder an infant in its cradle than nurse unacted desires.

Abstinence sows sand all overThe ruddy limbs and flaming hair,But Desire gratifiedPlants fruits of life and beauty there.

Grown old in love from seven till seven times seven,I oft have wish'd for Hell for ease from Heaven.

Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained.

You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough.

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom...You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough.

Restated constructively, the end of the adventure already drags the course of the man; he (Cagliostro) is in love with satiety. But she (Seraphina) is in love with adventure. Her pitch is higher.

Napoleon taught the world, or perhaps only satisfied a latent longing and gave it shape and hope, to want to be rewarded, visibly, definitely, let us say inorganically, for its deeds. Curiously enough, this mode of thought is even commoner among women than men ; the postulation of an infallible judge somewhere, somehow, who will examine work done and measure it exactly and register it in a stepped list of rewards.

I have to start my real life soon, before I die of boredom and frustration.

When it's mutual, a man and a woman know, instinctively, wordlessly. They may do nothing about it, but the knowledge of that shared desire is out there in the world - as obvious as neon, saying: I want you, I want you, I want you.

I want to be that Tantalus, unfed / forever, that my want's agony declare / that such as we want has nothing to say to the world; / if the world wants, it nothing wants for us. / Let me be unsatisfied.