--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mind wants to live forever, or to…" description: "\"The mind wants to live forever, or to learn a very good reason why not. The mind wants the world to return its love, or its awareness... The mind's sid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/annie-dillard-509_ambitious_the-mind-wants-to-live-forever-or-to-lea_1370824.jpg" --- # The mind wants to live forever, or to learn a very good… ![“The mind wants to live forever, or to learn a very good reason why not. The mind wants the world to return its love, or its awareness... The mind's sidekick, however, will settle for two eggs over easy. The dear, stupid body is easily satisfied as a spaniel. And, incredibly, the simple spaniel can…” quote by Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/annie-dillard-509_ambitious_the-mind-wants-to-live-forever-or-to-lea_1370824.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/annie-dillard-509_ambitious_the-mind-wants-to-live-forever-or-to-lea_1370824.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/annie-dillard-509_ambitious_the-mind-wants-to-live-forever-or-to-lea_1370824.jpg) > “The mind wants to live forever, or to learn a very good reason why not. The mind wants the world to return its love, or its awareness... The mind's sidekick, however, will settle for two eggs over easy. The dear, stupid body is easily satisfied as a spaniel. And, incredibly, the simple spaniel can lure the brawling mind to its dish. It is everlastingly funny that the proud, metaphysically ambitious mind will hush if you give it an egg.” [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mind seeks eternal purpose and love, yet the body is content with simple, immediate pleasures, highlighting the tension between lofty aspirations and basic needs. **In simple terms:** Mind craves meaning; body craves simplicity. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with simple satisfaction. Themes philosophy psychology existentialism Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career goals - spiritual practice - daily routines - self‑care Key Concepts dualism desire contentment Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile big dreams with daily comforts? - What simple pleasures ground you? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Ambitious Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious-mind-1619731/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Brawling Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brawling-mind-4720859/) [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Dishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishes/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Eggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eggs/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hush/) [Live forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-forever/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Wants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-wants-308897/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-mind-1084776/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Satisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfied/) [Settling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settling/) [Sidekicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sidekicks/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Spaniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spaniels/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Very good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-good/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The dear, stupid body is as easily satisfied as a spaniel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-dear-stupid-body-is-as-easily-satisfied-as-a-spaniel/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The mind wants the world to return its love, or its awareness; the mind wants to know all the world, and all eternity, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mind-wants-the-world-to-return-its-love-or-its-awareness-the-mind/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [All political power, all power as such, is stupid. Don't rush after it, don't be ambitious, because all ambition collects dust and only dust.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/all-political-power-all-power-as-such-is-stupid-don-t-rush-after-it/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The ascent to greatness, however steep and dangerous, may entertain an active spirit with the consciousness and exercise of its own power: but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-ascent-to-greatness-however-steep-and-dangerous-may-entertain-an/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Man wants two contradictory things together: he wants peace and he is ambitious. It is impossible. If you are ambitious, then your mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/man-wants-two-contradictory-things-together-he-wants-peace-and-he-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I think that every player in every team must have an ambitious mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/i-think-that-every-player-in-every-team-must-have-an-ambitious-mind/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [Fluidity is the way to an empty mind. You must free your ambitious mind and learn the art of dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/fluidity-is-the-way-to-an-empty-mind-you-must-free-your-ambitious/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [It is the common failing of an ambitious mind to over-rate itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-caroline-lamb/it-is-the-common-failing-of-an-ambitious-mind-to-over-rate-itself/) [Lady Caroline Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-caroline-lamb/) > [To change, one must first reason with his own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/to-change-one-must-first-reason-with-his-own-mind/) [Aruho Marwin Machiaveli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/) > [Most often, the reason something is "on your mind" is that you want it to be different than it currently is, and yet: you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/most-often-the-reason-something-is-on-your-mind-is-that-you-want-it-2/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“Vaccinated with love, boosted with reason, mind becomes a powerhouse, putting an end to all discrimination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/vaccinated-with-love-boosted-with-reason-mind-becomes-a-powerhouse/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“WE say then- that the Cause of all, which is above all, is neither without being, nor without life----nor with- out reason, nor without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pseudo-dionysius-the-areopagite/we-say-then-that-the-cause-of-all-which-is-above-all-is-neither/) [Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pseudo-dionysius-the-areopagite/) > [Forbear to spew out reason from your mind, but rather ponder everything with keen judgment; and if it seems true, own yourself vanquished, but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/forbear-to-spew-out-reason-from-your-mind-but-rather-ponder/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [When philosophers talk about reason they often have in mind Having been in the business of philosophy more than half my life, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-anthony-appiah/when-philosophers-talk-about-reason-they-often-have-in-mind-having/) [Kwame Anthony Appiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-anthony-appiah/) > [“Most often, the reason something is “on your mind” is that you want it to be different than it currently is, and yet: •…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-often-the-reason-something-is-on-your-mind-is-that-you-want-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Annie Dillard > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“This is a spendthrift economy; though nothing is lost, all is spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/this-is-a-spendthrift-economy-though-nothing-is-lost-all-is-spent/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-creatures-i-seek-do-not-want-to-be-seen/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Nothing moves a woman so deeply as the boyhood of the man she loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/nothing-moves-a-woman-so-deeply-as-the-boyhood-of-the-man-she-loves/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. It lives captive on the face of the obvious - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-live-in-all-we-seek-the-hidden-shows-up-in-too-plain-sight-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“...The mockingbird took a single step into the air and dropped. His wings were still folded against his sides as though he were singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mockingbird-took-a-single-step-into-the-air-and-dropped-his-wings/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The sense impressions of one-celled animals are not edited for the brain. This is philosophically interesting in a rather mournful way, since it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-sense-impressions-of-one-celled-animals-are-not-edited-for-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“If we were to judge nature by its common sense or likelihood, we wouldn't believe the world existed. In nature, improbabilities are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-we-were-to-judge-nature-by-its-common-sense-or-likelihood-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [For writing a first draft requires from the writer a peculiar internal state which ordinary life does not induce. ... how to set yourself spinning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/for-writing-a-first-draft-requires-from-the-writer-a-peculiar/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a fugitive and a vagabond, a sojourner seeking signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-fugitive-and-a-vagabond-a-sojourner-seeking-signs/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) [Explore all 509 Annie Dillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More Ambitious quotes > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [“Getting rich is easy, staying rich is impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-trip/getting-rich-is-easy-staying-rich-is-impressive/) [Don Trip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-trip/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) [Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/) > [I am ambitious to do more than what has been offered me. I want to be the best in whatever career I choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/i-am-ambitious-to-do-more-than-what-has-been-offered-me-i-want-to-be/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [There are four varieties in society — the lovers, the ambitious, observers, and fools. The fools are the happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippolyte-taine/there-are-four-varieties-in-society-the-lovers-the-ambitious/) [Hippolyte Taine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippolyte-taine/) > [People who are ambitious - politicians who crave power - think that they're in control of it, but at some point, the movement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/people-who-are-ambitious-politicians-who-crave-power-think-that-they/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [If Reagan and John Paul II were linked by anything, it was a grand, ambitious, and generous idea of Western political civilization, one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/if-reagan-and-john-paul-ii-were-linked-by-anything-it-was-a-grand/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) [Browse all 1,269 Ambitious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The mind wants to live forever, or to learn a very good reason why not. The mind wants the world to return its love, or its awareness... The mind's sidekick, however, will settle for two eggs over easy. The dear, stupid body is easily satisfied as a spaniel. And, incredibly, the simple spaniel can lure the brawling mind to its dish. 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