--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All these were things he could not want…" description: "\"“All these were things he could not want, because they were the things he could not have, and wanting you could not have led to misery and madness.”\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork-prince_all-these-were-things-he-could-not-want_904042.jpg" --- # All these were things he could not want, because they were… ![“All these were things he could not want, because they were the things he could not have, and wanting you could not have led to misery and madness.” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork-prince_all-these-were-things-he-could-not-want_904042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork-prince_all-these-were-things-he-could-not-want_904042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork-prince_all-these-were-things-he-could-not-want_904042.jpg) > ““All these were things he could not want, because they were the things he could not have, and wanting you could not have led to misery and madness.”” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desiring unattainable things creates suffering and irrational behavior. **In simple terms:** Wanting what you can’t have leads to misery. Key Takeaway Accept limits, seek realistic goals. Themes desire misery irrationality Mood reflective somber Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - relationships - career aspirations - material pursuits Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What unattainable desire drives you? - How can you transform longing into action? 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She wanted to stay here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-should-go-back-inside-she-said-in-a-half-whisper-she-did-not-want/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“But—but...” Will sputtered. “Oh, leave it,” said Jem, kicking Will, not without affection, lightly on the ankle. “She annexed my plan!” “Will,” Tessa said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/but-but-will-sputtered-oh-leave-it-said-jem-kicking-will-not-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Wo ai ni, Tessa,” he whispered. “Wo bu xiang shi qu ni.” She knew, without knowing how she knew, what the words meant. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/wo-ai-ni-tessa-he-whispered-wo-bu-xiang-shi-qu-ni-she-knew-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You speak of sacrifice, but it is not my sacrifice I offer. It is yours I ask of you," he went on. 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THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT REGRET. THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT NUMBER. THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-infernal-devices-are-without-pity-the-infernal-devices-are/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Of course, the guests were also staring because they know of my relationship with Camille, and are wondering what we might be doing here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/of-course-the-guests-were-also-staring-because-they-know-of-my/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [One must always be careful of books,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. 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'Tain't my way to turn down payment, but any man who looks like you 'as got no need of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-potions-for-will-erondale-tain-t-my-way-to-turn-down-payment-but/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Reparations,” said Jem very suddenly, setting down the pen he was holding. Will looked at him in puzzlement. “Is this a game? We just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/reparations-said-jem-very-suddenly-setting-down-the-pen-he-was/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“But—but...” Will sputtered. “Oh, leave it,” said Jem, kicking Will, not without affection, lightly on the ankle. “She annexed my plan!” “Will,” Tessa said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/but-but-will-sputtered-oh-leave-it-said-jem-kicking-will-not-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Dear me," said Will, and he took another bite of his apple. "Is it because I'm better-looking than you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/dear-me-said-will-and-he-took-another-bite-of-his-apple-is-it-because/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will’s voice dropped. “Everyone makes mistakes, Jem.” “Yes,” said Jem. “You just make more of them than most people.” “I —” “You hurt everyone,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-s-voice-dropped-everyone-makes-mistakes-jem-yes-said-jem-you/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I am not the one of us who has no heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-am-not-the-one-of-us-who-has-no-heart/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [For love is as strong as death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/for-love-is-as-strong-as-death/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is not always accomplished peacefully, but that does not make it disadventageous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/change-is-not-always-accomplished-peacefully-but-that-does-not-make/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When Will truly wants something,” said Jem, quietly, “when he feels something — he can break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/when-will-truly-wants-something-said-jem-quietly-when-he-feels/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [He carried a pipe in his left hand, and as he examined Will at his leisure, he exhaled sending a cloud of sweet-smelling, cough-induced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-carried-a-pipe-in-his-left-hand-and-as-he-examined-will-at-his/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Wo ai ni, Tessa,” he whispered. “Wo bu xiang shi qu ni.” She knew, without knowing how she knew, what the words meant. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/wo-ai-ni-tessa-he-whispered-wo-bu-xiang-shi-qu-ni-she-knew-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love potions? For Will Herondale? T’aint my way to turn down payment, but any man who looks like you has got no need of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-potions-for-will-herondale-t-aint-my-way-to-turn-down-payment/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will has always been the brighter burning star, the one to catch attention — but Jem is a steady flame, unwavering and honest. 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