--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting on desire is more like a craft, a…" description: "\"“Acting on desire is more like a craft, a science, an art. It takes careful mindful practice. Be patient and quiet. Listen, observe, take notes. Figure..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/david-barringer-93900_art_acting-on-desire-is-more-like-a-craft-a_1781005.jpg" --- # Acting on desire is more like a craft, a science, an art… ![“Acting on desire is more like a craft, a science, an art. It takes careful mindful practice. Be patient and quiet. Listen, observe, take notes. Figure out what you want, privately, and then choose to want it, publicly. Put your desire out in the open. I want to go swimming. I want to bake bread. I…” quote by David Barringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/david-barringer-93900_art_acting-on-desire-is-more-like-a-craft-a_1781005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/david-barringer-93900_art_acting-on-desire-is-more-like-a-craft-a_1781005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/david-barringer-93900_art_acting-on-desire-is-more-like-a-craft-a_1781005.jpg) > ““Acting on desire is more like a craft, a science, an art. It takes careful mindful practice. Be patient and quiet. Listen, observe, take notes. Figure out what you want, privately, and then choose to want it, publicly. Put your desire out in the open. I want to go swimming. I want to bake bread. I want to paint a picture. I want to build a chair. I want to write a book. You act and then you fail. Over and over. And it’s better to start failing when you’re young, when all you lose is an ice-cream cone or a basketball game or an afternoon of fun. When you’re older, the stakes are higher. If adults don’t know how to want, then they lose a love, a career, a life.”” [David Barringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-barringer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire should be treated as a skill: practice, observe, and act on it, learning from early failures to shape a purposeful life. **In simple terms:** Desire is a craft needing practice and public expression. Key Takeaway Practice desire openly and learn from failure. Themes self‑development goal setting action learning growth Mood motivational practical Type advice reflection When to use this quote - goal planning - skill workshops - coaching sessions - creative projects Key Concepts psychology behavioral science habit formation personal mastery Questions to Reflect On - What small desire can you act on now? - How do you measure progress? A Different Perspective Early failures may discourage persistence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-desire-1863329/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Ball game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-game/) [Basketball game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-game/) [Choose Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-want/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-like-486981/) [Publicly Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publicly-desire-1863330/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [I love acting, and I have no desire to direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-bellman/i-love-acting-and-i-have-no-desire-to-direct/) [Gina Bellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-bellman/) > [We are acting on our desire; there is nothing wrong. Just remember if it does not pan out, if our desires go unfulfilled, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-kest/we-are-acting-on-our-desire-there-is-nothing-wrong-just-remember-if/) [Bryan Kest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-kest/) > [For me, I never, never, from the moment I started acting, had a desire to be famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-gugino/for-me-i-never-never-from-the-moment-i-started-acting-had-a-desire-to/) [Carla Gugino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-gugino/) > [The moment you say yes to acting on your desire is the real beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-moment-you-say-yes-to-acting-on-your-desire-is-the-real-beginning/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [We live by action—by acting on desire. Those of us who don't know how to want—whether geniuses or beggars—are related by impotence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/we-live-by-action-by-acting-on-desire-those-of-us-who-don-t-know-how/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [I went into umpiring at age 16. I got into officiating because of the fact that I could not stand the referees that worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-went-into-umpiring-at-age-16-i-got-into-officiating-because-of-the/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I have two definitions of success - one on the basketball court and one in my personal life. In basketball, success means making my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/i-have-two-definitions-of-success-one-on-the-basketball-court-and-one/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) > [That's what I do now: I lead and I teach. 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