--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are taught to want a thing. We are…" description: "\"We are taught to want a thing. We are taught that having that thing will make us happy. We are taught that having it immediately is the answer. We are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/daniel-gillies-24532_and-love_we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-tau_1483480.png" --- # We are taught to want a thing. We are taught that having… ![“We are taught to want a thing. We are taught that having that thing will make us happy. We are taught that having it immediately is the answer. We are taught a corrupted version of success. And love.” quote by Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/daniel-gillies-24532_and-love_we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-tau_1483480.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/daniel-gillies-24532_and-love_we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-tau_1483480.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/daniel-gillies-24532_and-love_we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-tau_1483480.png) > “We are taught to want a thing. We are taught that having that thing will make us happy. We are taught that having it immediately is the answer. We are taught a corrupted version of success. And love.” [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society conditions us to equate material acquisition with happiness, leading to a distorted view of success and love. **In simple terms:** We think buying things brings joy, but it's a false promise. Key Takeaway Question the link between possessions and fulfillment. Themes consumerism happiness success Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - marketing - personal finance - relationship counseling Key Concepts materialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What truly satisfies you beyond possessions? - How can you redefine success? A Different Perspective Instant gratification often leads to emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“His mother had taught him exactly that: To do what must be done. But she had taught him to do it while having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meljean-brook/his-mother-had-taught-him-exactly-that-to-do-what-must-be-done-but/) [Meljean Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meljean-brook/) > [“Joe had long resented how American culture had taught him to want. There were so many things pictured in ads, displayed in store windows:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-gilles-seidel/joe-had-long-resented-how-american-culture-had-taught-him-to-want/) [Kathleen Gilles Seidel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-gilles-seidel/) > [Seeing where my dad was from, the grind he went through. It taught me that you always have to go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/seeing-where-my-dad-was-from-the-grind-he-went-through-it-taught-me/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [“I quickly remember what Finn taught me about how to get what you want from people: pay attention to them, figure out what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-terrill/i-quickly-remember-what-finn-taught-me-about-how-to-get-what-you-want/) [Cristin Terrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-terrill/) > [The children of each generation are taught to want what they are taught they must not have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-g-collingwood/the-children-of-each-generation-are-taught-to-want-what-they-are/) [Robin G. Collingwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-g-collingwood/) > [“But I want to be better than the lessons they taught me. I want my love to be greater that my hate, my mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-engel/but-i-want-to-be-better-than-the-lessons-they-taught-me-i-want-my/) [Amy Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-engel/) > [I never aspired to be 2nd. I was taught... you can do whatever you want in this world, so why not be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/i-never-aspired-to-be-2nd-i-was-taught-you-can-do-whatever-you-want/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [Dating has taught me what I want and don't want, who I am, and who I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-love-hewitt/dating-has-taught-me-what-i-want-and-don-t-want-who-i-am-and-who-i/) [Jennifer Love Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-love-hewitt/) > [If the internet has taught us anything, it's that you want less news and more cats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sagal/if-the-internet-has-taught-us-anything-it-s-that-you-want-less-news/) [Peter Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sagal/) > [“Life’s too short. If Ethan taught me anything, that would be it. I want to get on with living mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-shirvington/life-s-too-short-if-ethan-taught-me-anything-that-would-be-it-i-want/) [Jessica Shirvington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-shirvington/) > [One of the most important things one can do in life is to brutally question every single thing you are taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/one-of-the-most-important-things-one-can-do-in-life-is-to-brutally/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [The MFA program did one great thing for me: It taught me how to be a better reader and critic. Nothing I wrote during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/the-mfa-program-did-one-great-thing-for-me-it-taught-me-how-to-be-a/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [I think about my education sometimes. I went to the University of Chicago for awhile after the Second World War. I was a student…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-think-about-my-education-sometimes-i-went-to-the-university-of/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [The one thing nobody was taught was how to deal with success, and I think that happens to everyone who makes it at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/the-one-thing-nobody-was-taught-was-how-to-deal-with-success-and-i/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [“We teach our children one thing only, as we were taught: to wake up. We teach our children to look alive there, to join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-teach-our-children-one-thing-only-as-we-were-taught-to-wake-up-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More by Daniel Gillies > [If you devote yourself entirely to a pursuit, there is no way you cannot find beauty and fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/if-you-devote-yourself-entirely-to-a-pursuit-there-is-no-way-you/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [It's all just venom to the soul and symptomatic of a larger issue: the idea of the shortcut. The result without the fight. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/it-s-all-just-venom-to-the-soul-and-symptomatic-of-a-larger-issue-the/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [Cable had a latitude to move which created less censorship and bestowed upon the artists, the writers and the creators, more liberty to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/cable-had-a-latitude-to-move-which-created-less-censorship-and/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [People never regret when they come out of a movie and they've been crying. I think people need it. That's why people have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/people-never-regret-when-they-come-out-of-a-movie-and-they-ve-been/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [At every turn you have to find a new kind of self-sovereignty over your environment. Every kid I see is at the mercy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/at-every-turn-you-have-to-find-a-new-kind-of-self-sovereignty-over/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [Whatever you want is as elusive as you make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/whatever-you-want-is-as-elusive-as-you-make-it/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [Tell people you're a Canadian or a Kiwi when you travel and they'll adore you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/tell-people-you-re-a-canadian-or-a-kiwi-when-you-travel-and-they-ll/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [The romance of circumvention is one of the most destructive forces at work in our society. The American Idol freeway to greatness, Instagramming one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/the-romance-of-circumvention-is-one-of-the-most-destructive-forces-at/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [You're making a big mistake if you think that you can beat me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/you-re-making-a-big-mistake-if-you-think-that-you-can-beat-me/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [Most infants are geniuses. They're indomitable, fearless, and completely in harmony with a cosmic proclivity for growth. They're heroes because they walk directly through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/most-infants-are-geniuses-they-re-indomitable-fearless-and-completely/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [Nobody really truly supporting independent filmmakers anymore. It's just dire. There's a lot of bad filmmaking, and there's a lot of people worshipping some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/nobody-really-truly-supporting-independent-filmmakers-anymore-it-s/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [I love to watch my daughter. At twenty-two months, that little soul is developing at a rate I will never understand. She's kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/i-love-to-watch-my-daughter-at-twenty-two-months-that-little-soul-is/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [As lovely as people are to me about my performance, I'm still a huge critic. I like very little of what I ever do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/as-lovely-as-people-are-to-me-about-my-performance-i-m-still-a-huge/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [We are contaminated with the idea of "winning" and defeating others. Indoctrinated by parents, schools, and our ubiquitous media, hammered with a lie: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/we-are-contaminated-with-the-idea-of-winning-and-defeating-others/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [New Zealanders have conventions and pleasantries, but we are direct. We are encouraged to be transparent with our behavior and not to employ passive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/new-zealanders-have-conventions-and-pleasantries-but-we-are-direct-we/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) [Explore all 24 Daniel Gillies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) ## More And love quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [There are few husbands whom the wife cannot win in the long run, by patience and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/there-are-few-husbands-whom-the-wife-cannot-win-in-the-long-run-by/) [Margaret of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [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/) > [We'll walk together holding hands, and kiss in broad daylight, and love each other as much as we want to, and no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-ll-walk-together-holding-hands-and-kiss-in-broad-daylight-and-love/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Anyone who knows me knows that I am really into hair. I'm a real girly girl and love doing my hair and experimenting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/anyone-who-knows-me-knows-that-i-am-really-into-hair-i-m-a-real-girly/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [“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/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [And I read the moral--A brave endeavour To do thy duty, whate'er its worth, Is better than life with love forever, And love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jeffrey-roche/and-i-read-the-moral-a-brave-endeavour-to-do-thy-duty-whate-er-its/) James Jeffrey Roche > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) Browse all 2,635 And love quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are taught to want a thing. We are taught that having that thing will make us happy. We are taught that having it immediately is the answer. We are taught a corrupted version of success. And love.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Gillies" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-taught-that-having-that-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "And love" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-taught-that-having-that-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/daniel-gillies-24532_and-love_we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-tau_1483480.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/daniel-gillies-24532_and-love_we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-tau_1483480.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/daniel-gillies-24532_and-love_we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-tau_1483480.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are taught to want a thing. We are taught that having that thing will make us happy. We are taught that…” — Daniel Gillies", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Daniel Gillies", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are taught to want a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-taught-that-having-that-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/we-are-taught-to-want-a-thing-we-are-taught-that-having-that-thing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```