Desire Quote by Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle
“It is the passions that do and undo everything.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Letters to the Royal Academy, 1690
Passions drive actions and can also lead to their undoing; they are both creator and destroyer.
In simple terms: Passions cause both creation and ruin.
Key Takeaway
Balance passion with reason.
Themes
passion
action
destruction
control
Mood
introspective
cautious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- Decision making
- relationships
- career planning
- creative projects
Key Concepts
Human nature
psychology
self‑regulation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your passions help or hinder you?
- What strategies keep them constructive?
A Different Perspective
Passions can be harnessed, not just feared.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
