Benefits Quote by Blaise Pascal
“You are in the same manner surrounded with a small circle of persons... full of desire. They demand of you the benefits of desire... You are therefore properly the king of desire. ...equal in this to the greatest kings of the earth... It is desire that constitutes their power; that is, the possession of things that men covet.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Treatise: Pensées, 1670
Desire drives human ambition and power, equating it with kingship, yet it also binds people to material covetousness.
In simple terms: Desire makes us powerful but also enslaved.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and temper desire for balanced living.
Themes
desire
power
materialism
human nature
philosophy
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal goal setting
- consumer behavior analysis
- spiritual practice
- leadership decisions
Key Concepts
will
attachment
ethical reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What desires serve my higher purpose?
- How does desire influence my relationships?
A Different Perspective
Desire can become destructive if unchecked.
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
