--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are designed to want something that…" description: "\"“You are designed to want something that will hurt you. And you cannot help wanting it. You cannot stop wanting it. It is in your design. And when you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/daniel-h-wilson-3372_wanting_you-are-designed-to-want-something-that_1636879.jpg" --- # You are designed to want something that will hurt you. And… ![“You are designed to want something that will hurt you. And you cannot help wanting it. You cannot stop wanting it. It is in your design. And when you finally find it, this thing will burn you up. This thing will destroy you.” quote by Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/daniel-h-wilson-3372_wanting_you-are-designed-to-want-something-that_1636879.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/daniel-h-wilson-3372_wanting_you-are-designed-to-want-something-that_1636879.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/daniel-h-wilson-3372_wanting_you-are-designed-to-want-something-that_1636879.jpg) > ““You are designed to want something that will hurt you. And you cannot help wanting it. You cannot stop wanting it. It is in your design. And when you finally find it, this thing will burn you up. This thing will destroy you.”” [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human desire can be wired toward self‑destructive cravings, making us chase what ultimately harms us. **In simple terms:** We often want things that hurt us. Key Takeaway Recognize and redirect harmful urges. Themes self‑destruction psychology human nature Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - consumer behavior - addiction recovery Key Concepts addiction cognitive bias self‑sabotage Questions to Reflect On - What urges do you ignore that may be harmful? - How can you rewire harmful cravings? A Different Perspective Desire can be a survival mechanism, not just a flaw. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Because you are designed to want something that will hurt you. And you cannot help it...cannot stop wanting it. It is in your design.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/because-you-are-designed-to-want-something-that-will-hurt-you-and-you/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [People may or may not say what they mean... but they always say something designed to get what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/people-may-or-may-not-say-what-they-mean-but-they-always-say/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said softly. “But I can’t seem to stop myself from wanting you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roni-loren/i-don-t-want-to-hurt-you-he-said-softly-but-i-can-t-seem-to-stop/) [Roni Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roni-loren/) > [“The narrative will look completely different when you start wanting to design your own life, become dedicated to bettering your future, and strive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-green/the-narrative-will-look-completely-different-when-you-start-wanting/) [Nate Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-green/) > [I don't know that I ever wanted greatness, on its own. It seems rather like wanting to be an engineer, rather than wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-don-t-know-that-i-ever-wanted-greatness-on-its-own-it-seems-rather/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [Giving is living. If you stop wanting to give, there's nothing more to live for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/giving-is-living-if-you-stop-wanting-to-give-there-s-nothing-more-to/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [...after you stop wanting things is when having them won't make you go crazy. After you stop wanting them is when you can handle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/after-you-stop-wanting-things-is-when-having-them-won-t-make-you-go/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [You never really fail until you stop wanting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/you-never-really-fail-until-you-stop-wanting/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [“We cannot stop wanting. Wanting is the tireless engine of life itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-tubali/we-cannot-stop-wanting-wanting-is-the-tireless-engine-of-life-itself/) [Shai Tubali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-tubali/) > [Does it ever stop? The wanting you?" "Even when I've just left ye. I want you so much my chest feels tight and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/does-it-ever-stop-the-wanting-you-even-when-i-ve-just-left-ye-i-want/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I'll never stop wanting to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-mclaughlin/i-ll-never-stop-wanting-to-learn/) [Caleb McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-mclaughlin/) > [Stop wanting someone who doesn't want you. You're just wasting your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan/stop-wanting-someone-who-doesn-t-want-you-you-re-just-wasting-your/) [Sushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan/) > [I consider kissing her right there on the dirty couch, but self-preservation stops me. Once someone hurts you, it’s harder to relax around them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-consider-kissing-her-right-there-on-the-dirty-couch-but-self/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Once you stop wanting to improve, you start to slide. And if you want to keep winning, if you want to stay at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-seedorf/once-you-stop-wanting-to-improve-you-start-to-slide-and-if-you-want/) [Clarence Seedorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-seedorf/) > [How do you resign yourself to something that will never be? You stop wanting just that thing. You go numb. Or you kill the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-holzer/how-do-you-resign-yourself-to-something-that-will-never-be-you-stop/) [Jenny Holzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-holzer/) ## More by Daniel H. Wilson > [“I don't think. I react. My action is divorced from all emotion and logic. It isn't human or inhuman-it just is. I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/i-don-t-think-i-react-my-action-is-divorced-from-all-emotion-and/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [“See you in the funny pages...mate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/see-you-in-the-funny-pages-mate/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [To survive, humans will work together. Accept each other. For a moment, we are all equal. Backs against the wall, human beings are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/to-survive-humans-will-work-together-accept-each-other-for-a-moment/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [You don't pick your revolution. It picks you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/you-don-t-pick-your-revolution-it-picks-you/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [“We search for the ordinary when we are surrounded by the extraordinary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/we-search-for-the-ordinary-when-we-are-surrounded-by-the-extraordinary/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [Johannes Cabal would kill me for saying this, but he's my favorite Zeppelin-hopping detective. The fellow has got all the charm of Bond and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/johannes-cabal-would-kill-me-for-saying-this-but-he-s-my-favorite/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [As a society, I think we express our cultural mores through our politics. We're trying constantly to figure out what's OK and what's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/as-a-society-i-think-we-express-our-cultural-mores-through-our/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [“You know what you get when the mind and body act as one?...You get harmony...remember that. There is no you. There is no it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/you-know-what-you-get-when-the-mind-and-body-act-as-one-you-get/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [“Science fiction inspires scientists, but it doesn't exist to dictate what our future should look like. Great science fiction is fun to read and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/science-fiction-inspires-scientists-but-it-doesn-t-exist-to-dictate/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [Personally, I'm not afraid of a robot uprising. The benefits far outweigh the threats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/personally-i-m-not-afraid-of-a-robot-uprising-the-benefits-far/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [“I may be a simple man, but I am very good with an axe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/i-may-be-a-simple-man-but-i-am-very-good-with-an-axe/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [Looking ahead, future generations may learn their social skills from robots in the first place. The cute yellow Keepon robot from Carnegie Mellon University…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/looking-ahead-future-generations-may-learn-their-social-skills-from/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [Human reactions to robots varies by culture and changes over time. In the United States we are terrified by killer robots. In Japan people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/human-reactions-to-robots-varies-by-culture-and-changes-over-time-in/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [“All those postage-stamp front yards we used to have were reminders that we like clear spaces to see predators coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/all-those-postage-stamp-front-yards-we-used-to-have-were-reminders/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [Robots are interesting because they exist as a real technology that you can really study - you can get a degree in robotics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/robots-are-interesting-because-they-exist-as-a-real-technology-that/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) [Explore all 132 Daniel H. Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) ## More Wanting quotes > [Wanting someone you cant have, isnt that the way it always works?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wanting-someone-you-cant-have-isnt-that-the-way-it-always-works/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [My earliest memory was watching gymnastics on live TV and wanting to do what the 'big girls' did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-earliest-memory-was-watching-gymnastics-on-live-tv-and-wanting-to/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Everybody out there watches the show and has expectations of wanting to be an 'Idol', but we're going to teach them how much hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bice/everybody-out-there-watches-the-show-and-has-expectations-of-wanting/) [Bo Bice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bice/) > [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [“All our misery comes from wanting at all costs to go on being Tom, Dick, or Harry, year in, year out. This body of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/all-our-misery-comes-from-wanting-at-all-costs-to-go-on-being-tom/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [Desire makes life happen. Makes it matter. Makes everything worth it. Desire is life. Hunger to see the next sunrise or sunset, to touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/desire-makes-life-happen-makes-it-matter-makes-everything-worth-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [It wasn't like, 'I'ma lose weight and start doing dramas.' I wanted to be healthier, and that was the impetus for wanting to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-wasn-t-like-i-ma-lose-weight-and-start-doing-dramas-i-wanted-to-be/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [We might make money and be in the careers we're in, but we don't need a bunch of stuff. We like showcasing that and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-bella/we-might-make-money-and-be-in-the-careers-we-re-in-but-we-don-t-need/) [Brie Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-bella/) > [Dhobi Ghat' is the only script I actually completed and that I was convinced about wanting to direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-rao/dhobi-ghat-is-the-only-script-i-actually-completed-and-that-i-was/) [Kiran Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-rao/) > [When I know things are not for me, I learn to let go. It doesn't mean I'm weak but I'm just showing how strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-know-things-are-not-for-me-i-learn-to-let-go-it-doesn-t-mean-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a rock/blues guitar player. I'm not wanting to be a pop star or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-m-a-rock-blues-guitar-player-i-m-not-wanting-to-be-a-pop-star-or/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [Stop WHINING about wanting a man, and just maybe you won't end up alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-whining-about-wanting-a-man-and-just-maybe-you-won-t-end-up-alone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At first, I was stubborn about not wanting to become a city boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cain/at-first-i-was-stubborn-about-not-wanting-to-become-a-city-boy/) [Matt Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cain/) Browse all 1,544 Wanting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You are designed to want something that will hurt you. And you cannot help wanting it. You cannot stop wanting it. It is in your design. 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