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That's how it is with want. As long as you lack something…

“That's how it is with want. As long as you lack something you yearn for it without cease. if only I could have that one thing, you tell yourself, all my problems would be solved. But once you get it, once the object of your desires is thrust into your hands, it begins to lose its charm. Other…” quote by Paul Auster
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““That's how it is with want. As long as you lack something you yearn for it without cease. if only I could have that one thing, you tell yourself, all my problems would be solved. But once you get it, once the object of your desires is thrust into your hands, it begins to lose its charm. Other wants assert themselves, other desires make themselves felt, and bit by bit you discover that you're right back where you started.””

Paul Auster

About This Quote

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

Desire is endless; fulfilling one wish reveals new longings, leaving us where we began.

In simple terms: Wanting never ends; getting one thing leads to more wants.

Key Takeaway

Recognize desire's cycle and seek deeper fulfillment.

Themes

desire contentment human nature growth

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • career ambition
  • relationship goals
  • material purchases
  • personal projects

Key Concepts

psychology philosophy hedonic adaptation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What deeper need drives your desires?
  • How can you find contentment beyond material gains?
A Different Perspective

Satisfaction is fleeting; deeper needs persist.

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