--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Immoderate desire is the mark of a child…" description: "\"Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man.\" — Democritus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/democritus-4814_children_immoderate-desire-is-the-mark-of-a-child_2462590.png" --- # Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man. ![“Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man.” quote by Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/democritus-4814_children_immoderate-desire-is-the-mark-of-a-child_2462590.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/democritus-4814_children_immoderate-desire-is-the-mark-of-a-child_2462590.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/democritus-4814_children_immoderate-desire-is-the-mark-of-a-child_2462590.png) > “Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man.” [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive desire signals immaturity, lacking self‑control and wisdom. **In simple terms:** Too much desire shows childishness. Key Takeaway Cultivate moderation. Themes self‑control wisdom maturity Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - relationships Key Concepts philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - Can desire ever be constructive? - How to balance ambition and restraint? A Different Perspective It ignores context where desire fuels innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Ambition is the immoderate desire for power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/ambition-is-the-immoderate-desire-for-power/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [Menon the Thessalian did not either conceal his immoderate desire of riches or his desire of commanding, in order to increase them, or of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophon/menon-the-thessalian-did-not-either-conceal-his-immoderate-desire-of/) [Xenophon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophon/) > [As I had once done thus in my breaking away from my Parents, so I could not be content now, but I must go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/as-i-had-once-done-thus-in-my-breaking-away-from-my-parents-so-i/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Ambition is the immoderate desire for honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/ambition-is-the-immoderate-desire-for-honor/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [Immoderate grief is selfish, harmful, brings no advantage to either the mourner or the mourned, and dishonors the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/immoderate-grief-is-selfish-harmful-brings-no-advantage-to-either-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The immoderate cannot laugh moderately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-immoderate-cannot-laugh-moderately/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Do nothing immoderate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/do-nothing-immoderate/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [Immoderate assurance is perfect licentiousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/immoderate-assurance-is-perfect-licentiousness/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [“Both sleep and insomnolency, when immoderate, are bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/both-sleep-and-insomnolency-when-immoderate-are-bad/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [“prone to fits of ‘immoderate arrogance’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prone-to-fits-of-immoderate-arrogance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I could do with a bit more excess. From now on I'm going to be immoderate--and volatile--I shall enjoy loud music and lurid poetry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/i-could-do-with-a-bit-more-excess-from-now-on-i-m-going-to-be/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [“But it's a child ! You're a man !" "Your powers of observation are formidable," said Charles. "You are a credit to your optician.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-rundell/but-it-s-a-child-you-re-a-man-your-powers-of-observation-are/) [Katherine Rundell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-rundell/) > [“In short, I should have liked to have had the lightest license of a child, and yet be man enough to know its value”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/in-short-i-should-have-liked-to-have-had-the-lightest-license-of-a/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [A heart is a heart in a child or a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/a-heart-is-a-heart-in-a-child-or-a-man/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“To stomach the world for any prolonged length of time, one must either remain a child or become more than a man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lieber/to-stomach-the-world-for-any-prolonged-length-of-time-one-must-either/) Michael Lieber ## More by Democritus > [If your desires are not great, a little will seem much to you; for small appetite makes poverty equivalent to wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/if-your-desires-are-not-great-a-little-will-seem-much-to-you-for/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Men will cease to be fools only when they cease to be men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/men-will-cease-to-be-fools-only-when-they-cease-to-be-men/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Nothing exists but atoms and the void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/nothing-exists-but-atoms-and-the-void/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [If thou suffer injustice, console thyself; the true unhappiness is in doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/if-thou-suffer-injustice-console-thyself-the-true-unhappiness-is-in/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Men have made an idol of luck as an excuse for their own thoughtlessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/men-have-made-an-idol-of-luck-as-an-excuse-for-their-own/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [By desiring little, a poor man makes himself rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/by-desiring-little-a-poor-man-makes-himself-rich/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [People sometimes rationalize their greed by saying that it is all for the good of their children but this is nothing but an excuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/people-sometimes-rationalize-their-greed-by-saying-that-it-is-all-for/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Beautiful objects are wrought by study through effort, but ugly things are reaped automatically without toil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/beautiful-objects-are-wrought-by-study-through-effort-but-ugly-things/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Nature and education are somewhat similar. 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