Desire Quote by David Benatar
““Only an unsatisfied preference is bad. In other words, he argues that although it is good to have fulfilled whatever desires one might have, one is not better off having a fulfilled desire than having no desire at all. By way of example, consider the case in which we ‘paint the tree nearest to Sydney Opera house red and give Kate a pill that makes her wish that the tree nearest to Sydney Opera House were red’*. Professor Fehige plausibly denies that we do Kate any favour in doing this. She is no better off than had we done nothing. What matters is not that people have satisfied desires but that they do not have unsatisfied ones. It is the avoidance of frustration that is important. * Fehige, Christoph, ‘A Pareto Principle for Possible People’, 513–14.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “A Pareto Principle for Possible People”, 2008
Satisfaction of desires isn’t inherently valuable; the key is avoiding frustration from unfulfilled wants.
In simple terms: Unfulfilled desires cause frustration, not satisfied ones.
Key Takeaway
Focus on reducing frustration, not just fulfilling wishes.
Themes
desire
frustration
well‑being
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
calm
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal goal setting
- mental health strategies
- policy design
Key Concepts
philosophy of happiness
psychology of satisfaction
Questions to Reflect On
- What desires cause you frustration?
- Can you find contentment without fulfilling every wish?
A Different Perspective
Pursuing fulfillment without addressing underlying frustration may be futile.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
