The keener the want the lustier the growth.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
We do not succeed in changing things according to our desire, but gradually our desire changes.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
Human society is based on want. Life is based on want. Wild-eyed visionaries may dream of a world without need. Cloud-cuckoo-land. It can’t be done.
—H. G. Wells (1866–1946) English Novelist, Historian, Social Thinker
The more wild and incredible your desire, the more willing and prompt God is in fulfilling it, if you will have it so.”
—Coventry Patmore (1823–96) English Poet, Critic
I do want to get rich but I never want to do what there is to do to get rich.
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) American Writer
Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
If you desire many things, many things will seem few.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Besides the pleasure derived from acquired knowledge, there lurks in the mind of man, and tinged with a shade of sadness, an unsatisfactory longing for something beyond the present-a striving toward regions yet unknown and unopened.
—Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) German Philosopher, Linguist, Statesman
Dreams do come true, if we only wish hard enough, You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
A successful man is one who lays a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.
—Swami Chinmayananda (1916–93) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
We never desire strongly, what we desire rationally.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
From the desert I come to thee, On a stallion shod with fire; And the winds are left behind In the speed of my desire.
—Bayard Taylor (1825–78) American Poet, Literary Critic, Translator, Translator
Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Ignore what a man desires, and you ignore the very source of his power.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer
To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying “Amen” to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.
—John Adams (1735–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
There are three wants which can never be satisfied: that of the rich, who want something more; that of the sick, who want something different; and that of the traveler, who says, “Anywhere but here”.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done.
—P. T. Barnum (1810–91) American Businessperson, Entertainer
It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the converse is in fact true: will is a product of desire.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. The last is much the worst; the last is a real tragedy!
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906) American Civil Rights Leader
Some desire is necessary to keep life in motion; he whose real wants are supplied, must admit those of fancy.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
People seek within a short span of life to satisfy a thousand desires, each of which is insatiable.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It sometimes seems that we have only to love a thing greatly to get it.
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
The first principle of success is desire–knowing what you want. Desire is the planting of your seed. Very few persons, comparatively, know how to Desire with sufficient intensity. They do not know what it is to feel and manifest that intense, eager, longing, craving, insistent, demanding, ravenous Desire which is akin to the persistent, insistent, ardent, overwhelming desire of the drowning man for a breath of air; of the shipwrecked or desert-lost man for a drink of water; of the famished man for bread and meat…
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
And desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The intensity of your desire governs the power with which the force is directed.
—John D. MacDonald (1916–86) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Desire is the essence of a man.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
A desire arises in the mind. It is satisfied immediately another comes. In the interval which separates two desires a perfect calm reigns in the mind. It is at this moment freed from all thought, love or hate. Complete peace equally reigns between two mental waves.
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
As long as I have a want, I have a reason for living. Satisfaction is death.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
In all ranks of life the human heart yearns for the beautiful; and the beautiful things that God makes are his gift to all alike.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–96) American Abolitionist, Author
In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Anything you really want, you can attain, if you really go after it.
—Wayne Dyer (b.1940) American Motivational Writer, Author, Motivational Speaker
Man is a creation of desire, not a creation of need.
—Gaston Bachelard (1884–1962) French Philosopher, Psychoanalyst, Poet
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Listen to what you know instead of what you fear.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wishes. The greater part of all mischief in the world arises from the fact that men do not sufficiently understand their own aims. They have undertaken to build a tower, and spend no more labor on the foundation than would be necessary to erect a hut.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet