--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You never truly need what you want. That…" description: "\"You never truly need what you want. That is the main and thoroughgoing key to serenity.\" — Albert Ellis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/albert-ellis-3379_acceptance_you-never-truly-need-what-you-want-that_2285056.jpg" --- # You never truly need what you want. That is the main and… ![“You never truly need what you want. That is the main and thoroughgoing key to serenity.” quote by Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/albert-ellis-3379_acceptance_you-never-truly-need-what-you-want-that_2285056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/albert-ellis-3379_acceptance_you-never-truly-need-what-you-want-that_2285056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/albert-ellis-3379_acceptance_you-never-truly-need-what-you-want-that_2285056.jpg) > “You never truly need what you want. That is the main and thoroughgoing key to serenity.” [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True serenity comes from not being attached to specific desires; letting go of the need for particular outcomes brings peace. **In simple terms:** Let go of specific wants for peace. Key Takeaway Practice acceptance of what is. Themes serenity acceptance desire cognitive therapy inner peace Mood calming instructive Type self-help psychological When to use this quote - stress management - goal setting - personal development - mindfulness meditation Key Concepts psychology self-help philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What desire are you clinging to? - How can you cultivate contentment without resignation? A Different Perspective Over‑attachment to desires can still arise despite practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Serenity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serenity/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) ## Related quotes > [The key to serenity is trusting that the universe has your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/the-key-to-serenity-is-trusting-that-the-universe-has-your-back/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [“Patience is our safeguard against doubt and despair and is the key to our serenity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/na-ima-b-robert/patience-is-our-safeguard-against-doubt-and-despair-and-is-the-key-to/) [Na'ima B. Robert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/na-ima-b-robert/) > [When we truly need to do is often what we most feel like avoiding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/when-we-truly-need-to-do-is-often-what-we-most-feel-like-avoiding/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [All you truly need to worry about is waking up each day and to try to be the best version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-gilbert/all-you-truly-need-to-worry-about-is-waking-up-each-day-and-to-try-to/) [Chad Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-gilbert/) > [When we meet a person truly in need, do we see the face of God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/when-we-meet-a-person-truly-in-need-do-we-see-the-face-of-god/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [We truly need Him every hour, whether they be hours of sunshine or of rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-truly-need-him-every-hour-whether-they-be-hours-of-sunshine-or-of/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Read as much as you can, discarding negative or disturbing information. Learn by doing, and the Goddess and God will bless you with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cunningham/read-as-much-as-you-can-discarding-negative-or-disturbing-information/) [Scott Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cunningham/) > [We already have so much abundance. We truly do. We need not search too far. It is within. The reason we fail to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/we-already-have-so-much-abundance-we-truly-do-we-need-not-search-too/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [“Today, no matter where or how you live, look upon your home through the eyes of Love. Walk around the rooms and offer thanks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/today-no-matter-where-or-how-you-live-look-upon-your-home-through-the/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [We must protect our limited resources for those who are truly in need and who are doing all they can to be self-sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lepage/we-must-protect-our-limited-resources-for-those-who-are-truly-in-need/) [Paul LePage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lepage/) > [Its really painful to say goodbye to someone that you dont want to let go of, but its even more painful to hold on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-really-painful-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-that-you-dont-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There will always be hope in hopeless an use in useless. All one truly need do is quite simply open one's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/there-will-always-be-hope-in-hopeless-an-use-in-useless-all-one-truly/) Unkown > [I've learned that God sometimes allows us to find ourselves in a place where we want something so bad that we can't see past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-ve-learned-that-god-sometimes-allows-us-to-find-ourselves-in-a/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) ## More by Albert Ellis > [The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-best-years-of-your-life-are-the-ones-in-which-you-decide-your/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“REBT’s Insight No. 1 holds that you have both healthy and unhealthy emotions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/rebt-s-insight-no-1-holds-that-you-have-both-healthy-and-unhealthy/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Failure doesn't have anything to do with your intrinsic value as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/failure-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-your-intrinsic-value-as-a/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [So I'd better stop my whining and help myself cope better with even the worst Adversities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/so-i-d-better-stop-my-whining-and-help-myself-cope-better-with-even/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm one of the best-loved psychologists in the United States, but I'm also probably the most hated one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-one-of-the-best-loved-psychologists-in-the-united-states-but-i-m/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I thought foolishly that Freudian psychoanalysis was deeper and more intensive than other, more directive forms of therapy, so I was trained in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-thought-foolishly-that-freudian-psychoanalysis-was-deeper-and-more/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm very happy. I like my work and I like the various aspects of it - going around the world, teaching the gospel according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-very-happy-i-like-my-work-and-i-like-the-various-aspects-of-it/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Let's suppose somebody abused you sexually. You still had a choice, though not a good one, about what to tell yourself about the abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/let-s-suppose-somebody-abused-you-sexually-you-still-had-a-choice/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contribute-to-their-upsetness/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“The concept of deservingness for one’s “sins” implies that certain acts are unquestionably under all conditions “sinful.” And this is impossible to prove.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-concept-of-deservingness-for-one-s-sins-implies-that-certain-acts/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [The art of love is largely the art of persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-art-of-love-is-largely-the-art-of-persistence/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I teach people to be flexible, scientific and logical in their thinking and therefore to be less prone to brainwashing by the therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-teach-people-to-be-flexible-scientific-and-logical-in-their/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency. If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/for-that-again-is-what-all-manner-of-religion-essentially-is-childish/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Thinking rationally is often different from "positive thinking," in that it is a realistic assessment of the situation, with a view towards rectifying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/thinking-rationally-is-often-different-from-positive-thinking-in-that/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People are terrified of other people or difficult projects because they tell themselves that they could fail or be rejected. Failure can lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-are-terrified-of-other-people-or-difficult-projects-because/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) [Explore all 132 Albert Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You never truly need what you want. 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