--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can think about life as a battle…" description: "\"You can think about life as a battle between you and a doughnut shop. The doughnut shop wants you to eat another doughnut and pay the money, and you wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/dan-ariely-1899_battle_you-can-think-about-life-as-a-battle-bet_328961.png" --- # You can think about life as a battle between you and a… ![“You can think about life as a battle between you and a doughnut shop. The doughnut shop wants you to eat another doughnut and pay the money, and you want to do it in the short term, but in the long term it's not good for you either financially or from a health perspective.” quote by Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/dan-ariely-1899_battle_you-can-think-about-life-as-a-battle-bet_328961.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/dan-ariely-1899_battle_you-can-think-about-life-as-a-battle-bet_328961.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/dan-ariely-1899_battle_you-can-think-about-life-as-a-battle-bet_328961.png) > “You can think about life as a battle between you and a doughnut shop. The doughnut shop wants you to eat another doughnut and pay the money, and you want to do it in the short term, but in the long term it's not good for you either financially or from a health perspective.” [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often choose immediate gratification over long‑term wellbeing, especially when temptations are marketed as rewarding. **In simple terms:** Short‑term pleasure vs. long‑term health and finance. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist tempting offers that harm future self. Themes self‑control temptation health finance Mood reflective motivational Type advice self‑help When to use this quote - dieting - budgeting - shopping decisions - habit formation Key Concepts behavioral economics delayed gratification choice architecture Questions to Reflect On - What small habit can you change today to improve future health? - How do you balance enjoyment and responsibility? A Different Perspective Long‑term benefits require consistent discipline, not just one decision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Want my opinion fine don't get mad when you hear what I say, if you want something sugar coated...eat a doughnut!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylee/want-my-opinion-fine-don-t-get-mad-when-you-hear-what-i-say-if-you/) [Kylee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylee/) > [“Think I'll go eat me a doughnut and take me a nap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/think-i-ll-go-eat-me-a-doughnut-and-take-me-a-nap/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [It's one thing, holding open the door for someone at a grocery store, or the library, or just about anyplace else. But the doughnut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linwood-barclay/it-s-one-thing-holding-open-the-door-for-someone-at-a-grocery-store/) [Linwood Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linwood-barclay/) > [“Let’s face it. If you’re called to pastoral ministry, you’re being called to the local church. It’s where we move from being doughnut lovers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-harvey/let-s-face-it-if-you-re-called-to-pastoral-ministry-you-re-being/) [Dave Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-harvey/) > [You go into any doughnut shop and look at three cops having coffee, I guarantee I look like one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-norris/you-go-into-any-doughnut-shop-and-look-at-three-cops-having-coffee-i/) [Dean Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-norris/) > [The reality of life is, if you have a bagel shop and everybody is pouring into the doughnut shop across the street, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-reality-of-life-is-if-you-have-a-bagel-shop-and-everybody-is/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [“Sadly, most of us often prefer immediately gratifying short-term experiences over our long-term objectives.\* We routinely behave as if sometime in the future, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/sadly-most-of-us-often-prefer-immediately-gratifying-short-term/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [But because human being tend to focus on short-term benefits and our own immediate needs, such tragedies of the commons occur frequently .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/but-because-human-being-tend-to-focus-on-short-term-benefits-and-our/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [There isn't a problem on this earth that a doughnut cannot make better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/there-isn-t-a-problem-on-this-earth-that-a-doughnut-cannot-make-better/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [Rich people believe "You can have your cake and eat it too." Middle-class people believe "Cake is too rich, so I'll only have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/rich-people-believe-you-can-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too-middle/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [Go along, go along quickly, and set all you have on the table for us. We don't want doughnuts, honey buns, poppy cakes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-gogol/go-along-go-along-quickly-and-set-all-you-have-on-the-table-for-us-we/) [Nikolai Gogol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-gogol/) > [Don't look at the hole in the doughnut. Look at the whole doughnut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-rickey/don-t-look-at-the-hole-in-the-doughnut-look-at-the-whole-doughnut/) [Branch Rickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-rickey/) > [In year 10 or 11, I used to buy packs of doughnuts for 50p from Morrisons, and sell them for 50p each. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hus/in-year-10-or-11-i-used-to-buy-packs-of-doughnuts-for-50p-from/) [J Hus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hus/) > [“He leaned over, brushed the sugar away from her chin and planted a quick peck on her lips. She pulled back to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/he-leaned-over-brushed-the-sugar-away-from-her-chin-and-planted-a/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) ## More by Dan Ariely > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [ “\[..\] we human beings are ready and willing to steal something that does not explicitly reference monetary value - that is, something that lacks… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/we-human-beings-are-ready-and-willing-to-steal-something-that-does/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“Contrafreeloading,” a term coined by the animal psychologist Glen Jensen, refers to the finding that many animals prefer to earn food rather than simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/contrafreeloading-a-term-coined-by-the-animal-psychologist-glen/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [One of the big lessons from behavioral economics is that we make decisions as a function of the environment that we're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/one-of-the-big-lessons-from-behavioral-economics-is-that-we-make/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Not all debt is bad. 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Every time you spend on something, that's something you can't spend on something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/money-is-all-about-opportunity-cost-every-time-you-spend-on-something/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [The people that lend you money basically give you an answer based on the risk that they are willing to take. But just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/the-people-that-lend-you-money-basically-give-you-an-answer-based-on/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“Upton Sinclair once noted, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/upton-sinclair-once-noted-it-is-difficult-to-get-a-man-to-understand/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [If you get people to feel that they are putting something, that they are creating it and so on, their love for the project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-get-people-to-feel-that-they-are-putting-something-that-they/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [If I gave you now, $10 as a gift, how happy would you be? Would you be happy, is the marginal $10, the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-i-gave-you-now-10-as-a-gift-how-happy-would-you-be-would-you-be/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Imagine you have six loans, small to huge. People want to close loans and because of that, they try to pay off the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/imagine-you-have-six-loans-small-to-huge-people-want-to-close-loans/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“he started by selling his Porsche Boxster and buying a Toyota Prius in its place.4 “I don’t want to live the life of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/he-started-by-selling-his-porsche-boxster-and-buying-a-toyota-prius/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) [Explore all 198 Dan Ariely quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. 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But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can think about life as a battle between you and a doughnut shop. 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