--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we want or desire is not necessarily…" description: "\"What we want or desire is not necessarily what we need.\" — Aisha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/aisha-8999_desire_what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessaril_978059.jpg" --- # What we want or desire is not necessarily what we need. ![“What we want or desire is not necessarily what we need.” quote by Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/aisha-8999_desire_what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessaril_978059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/aisha-8999_desire_what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessaril_978059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/aisha-8999_desire_what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessaril_978059.jpg) > “What we want or desire is not necessarily what we need.” [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desires and needs often diverge; what we long for may not be essential for well‑being. **In simple terms:** Wanting isn’t always needing. Key Takeaway Align actions with true needs. Themes desire need self‑awareness well‑being Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - shopping choices - career planning - health goals Key Concepts psychology philosophy decision making Questions to Reflect On - What needs are you mistaking for desires? - How can you prioritize needs over wants? A Different Perspective Simplifies complex motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ## Related quotes > [What we want or desire is not necessarily we need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessarily-we-need/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is still a perception that the way women are isn't necessarily what you need for the powerhouse start-ups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-borg/there-is-still-a-perception-that-the-way-women-are-isn-t-necessarily/) [Anita Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-borg/) > [I don't necessarily need Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-farmiga/i-don-t-necessarily-need-hollywood/) [Vera Farmiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-farmiga/) > [Im the kind of person that wants you, but doesnt necessarily need you..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shy-boy/im-the-kind-of-person-that-wants-you-but-doesnt-necessarily-need-you/) SHy BOy > [When we look back, the only things we cherish are those which in some way met our original want; the desire which formed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/when-we-look-back-the-only-things-we-cherish-are-those-which-in-some/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [I may never have all the things I think I want and desire, but I have 4 things there is no price on; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/i-may-never-have-all-the-things-i-think-i-want-and-desire-but-i-have/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [“I knew what it was like to want, to desire so intensely you were willing to throw everything else into its fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-disclafani/i-knew-what-it-was-like-to-want-to-desire-so-intensely-you-were/) [Anton DiSclafani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-disclafani/) > [Want, or desire, arises when you are not happy. Have you seen this? When you are very happy then there is contentment. Contentment means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/want-or-desire-arises-when-you-are-not-happy-have-you-seen-this-when/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [“..:Second chances in life don't come the way we want them nor desire. But we gotta be able to identify them, embrace them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-garcia/second-chances-in-life-don-t-come-the-way-we-want-them-nor-desire-but/) [Rafael Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-garcia/) > [“Whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire orginated in the soul of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/whoever-you-are-or-whatever-it-is-that-you-do-when-you-really-want/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Man never thinks himself happy, but when he enjoys those things which others want or desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/man-never-thinks-himself-happy-but-when-he-enjoys-those-things-which/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“I wished his question was, Wanna know what it's like to be the one who enters? because I do and I wish that knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-hodson/i-wished-his-question-was-wanna-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-the-one-who/) Chelsea Hodson > [I have no want or desire to solo. I'd rather create melodies and accompanying parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/i-have-no-want-or-desire-to-solo-i-d-rather-create-melodies-and/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [I'm into the law of attraction and quantum physics. Like cosmic ordering. It's all about thinking lovely things that you would like in life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-sawalha/i-m-into-the-law-of-attraction-and-quantum-physics-like-cosmic/) [Julia Sawalha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-sawalha/) > [There is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/there-is-one-great-truth-on-this-planet-whoever-you-are-or-whatever/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Aisha > [Ive been loving you for so long Ive been dreamimg of you all night long I keep telling myself some other time maybe you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/ive-been-loving-you-for-so-long-ive-been-dreamimg-of-you-all-night/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [When you wake up in the morning,you have two choices, to sleep and continue to dream or to wake up and chase them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/when-you-wake-up-in-the-morning-you-have-two-choices-to-sleep-and/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [I believe that life is about making mistakes and learning from them. Without mistakes it is impossible to grow and learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/i-believe-that-life-is-about-making-mistakes-and-learning-from-them/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [A life living by mistakes made from your own choices is better than a life living by mistakes made by someone elses choices. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/a-life-living-by-mistakes-made-from-your-own-choices-is-better-than-a/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [The saddest part of my life is when I woke up from a beautiful dream and eventually realized that it will never happen again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/the-saddest-part-of-my-life-is-when-i-woke-up-from-a-beautiful-dream/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [The day I came into this world, I was crowned with your gentle love and tender touch¦ my first hug.. My first step.. my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/the-day-i-came-into-this-world-i-was-crowned-with-your-gentle-love/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [My grandmother she an angel and she has a heart of gold her love is like an angel with wings on hold my grandmother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/my-grandmother-she-an-angel-and-she-has-a-heart-of-gold-her-love-is/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [“don't leet people waste your life life is only so long”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/don-t-leet-people-waste-your-life-life-is-only-so-long/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [Leaving you was probably the hardest thing I had to do. I made this decision, with listening to my brain, not my heart. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/leaving-you-was-probably-the-hardest-thing-i-had-to-do-i-made-this/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [God has blessed me. I have a caring dad and a loving mom, and nothing can take that away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/god-has-blessed-me-i-have-a-caring-dad-and-a-loving-mom-and-nothing/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [The world is a zoo of thinking, ethical, selfish, greedy and hypocritical animals men. The world is full of good and bad people, passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/the-world-is-a-zoo-of-thinking-ethical-selfish-greedy-and/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [There are three sides to every story: yours, theirs and the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/there-are-three-sides-to-every-story-yours-theirs-and-the-truth/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [End of the day No other way Mr. Sun goes to hide Lady Moon shines with pride After sun burns Moonlight turns Never ending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/end-of-the-day-no-other-way-mr-sun-goes-to-hide-lady-moon-shines-with/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [If you cant be yourself, you really arent anyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/if-you-cant-be-yourself-you-really-arent-anyone/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [She is a woman Who feeds, cuddles, and loves me. The one who gave birth to me. Im her greatest fan. She is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/she-is-a-woman-who-feeds-cuddles-and-loves-me-the-one-who-gave-birth/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) [Explore all 76 Aisha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we want or desire is not necessarily what we need.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aisha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessarily-what-we-need/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessarily-what-we-need/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/aisha-8999_desire_what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessaril_978059.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/aisha-8999_desire_what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessaril_978059.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/aisha-8999_desire_what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessaril_978059.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we want or desire is not necessarily what we need.” — Aisha", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aisha", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we want or desire is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessarily-what-we-need/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/what-we-want-or-desire-is-not-necessarily-what-we-need/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```