--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tis easier to suppress the first desire…" description: "\"“Tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.”\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/benjamin-franklin-65_desire_tis-easier-to-suppress-the-first-desire_1781026.png" --- # Tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy… ![“Tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/benjamin-franklin-65_desire_tis-easier-to-suppress-the-first-desire_1781026.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/benjamin-franklin-65_desire_tis-easier-to-suppress-the-first-desire_1781026.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/benjamin-franklin-65_desire_tis-easier-to-suppress-the-first-desire_1781026.png) > ““Tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.”” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suppressing the initial urge is easier than satisfying the cascade of subsequent desires. **In simple terms:** Control the first desire. Key Takeaway Master the first impulse. Themes self‑control temptation habit formation Mood reflective practical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - dieting - shopping - addiction recovery - time management Key Concepts behavioral economics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What first desire triggers a chain of others for you? - How can you break the desire cycle? A Different Perspective Later desires may resurface despite initial suppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [It is much easier to suppress a first desire than to satisfy those that follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-is-much-easier-to-suppress-a-first-desire-than-to-satisfy-those/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy. 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People enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/as-a-species-of-animal-that-evolved-to-make-connections-and-work/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Every time I go to the grocery store, I suppress my desire to trip kids running through the aisles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-i-go-to-the-grocery-store-i-suppress-my-desire-to-trip/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Often the best way to overcome desire is to satisfy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/often-the-best-way-to-overcome-desire-is-to-satisfy-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The knowledge that you desired other men was in you. 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Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? 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