--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can never have enough of that which…" description: "\"“You can never have enough of that which you don’t need.”\" — Eric Hoffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/eric-hoffer-343_need_you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which_474549.jpg" --- # You can never have enough of that which you don’t need. ![“You can never have enough of that which you don’t need.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/eric-hoffer-343_need_you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which_474549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/eric-hoffer-343_need_you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which_474549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/eric-hoffer-343_need_you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which_474549.jpg) > ““You can never have enough of that which you don’t need.”” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that endless desire for unnecessary things leads to dissatisfaction. **In simple terms:** Wanting more of what you don’t need is futile. Key Takeaway Focus on essential needs. Themes desire contentment needs Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - consumerism - budgeting - goal setting - life planning Key Concepts minimalism psychology of want Questions to Reflect On - What do you truly need? - How can you limit unnecessary wants? A Different Perspective May ignore that some non-essentials bring joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Don Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-need/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Never Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-enough/) ## Related quotes > [You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/you-can-never-get-enough-of-what-you-don-t-need-to-make-you-happy/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [You can never get enough of what you don't need, because what you don't need won't satisfy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/you-can-never-get-enough-of-what-you-don-t-need-because-what-you-don/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [We can never have enough of that which we do not want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which-we-do-not-want/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [We can never have enough of that which we really do not want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which-we-really-do-not-want/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“You can never get enough of what you don’t really need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/you-can-never-get-enough-of-what-you-don-t-really-need/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [You don't need someone who doesn't need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-don-t-need-someone-who-doesn-t-need-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I don't need alcohol to have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-janikowski/i-don-t-need-alcohol-to-have-fun/) [Sebastian Janikowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-janikowski/) > [I'm not a sucka, so I don't need a bodyguard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-base/i-m-not-a-sucka-so-i-don-t-need-a-bodyguard/) [Rob Base](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-base/) > [“If you want to be an actor, don’t. If you need to be an actor, do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jacobi/if-you-want-to-be-an-actor-don-t-if-you-need-to-be-an-actor-do/) [Derek Jacobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jacobi/) > [Sometimes you can never get enough of what you dont really need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-vasquez/sometimes-you-can-never-get-enough-of-what-you-dont-really-need/) [Christian Vasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-vasquez/) > [Too much is the same as not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/too-much-is-the-same-as-not-enough/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [What is too much? There is no such thing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-cavalli/what-is-too-much-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Roberto Cavalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-cavalli/) > [“A ’alf-litre ain’t enough. It don’t satisfy. And a ’ole litre’s too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/a-alf-litre-ain-t-enough-it-don-t-satisfy-and-a-ole-litre-s-too-much/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [There's no such thing as too much. If there's too much, then that's a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/there-s-no-such-thing-as-too-much-if-there-s-too-much-then-that-s-a/) [Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/) > [“When Too Much Isn’t Enough. With”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kelly/when-too-much-isn-t-enough-with/) [Kate Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kelly/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Need quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [I was very lucky to get well known much later in life. You need to have flopped quite a few times to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-was-very-lucky-to-get-well-known-much-later-in-life-you-need-to/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [A draft doesn't produce the people we need to satisfy our real manpower shortage. We need specialists to keep our jets flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/a-draft-doesn-t-produce-the-people-we-need-to-satisfy-our-real/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [U dount need eny cuz when u get in a relaishondhip u love it forever not for crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-athors-name-i-made-it/u-dount-need-eny-cuz-when-u-get-in-a-relaishondhip-u-love-it-forever/) [No Athors Name I Made It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-athors-name-i-made-it/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [Inequality is pervasive but invisible. It's hard to see. You need a sort of tool to make it visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/inequality-is-pervasive-but-invisible-it-s-hard-to-see-you-need-a/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [I really like female singers; I've got zero interest in working with male singers. Any male voice I need to do, I can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-townsend/i-really-like-female-singers-i-ve-got-zero-interest-in-working-with/) [Devin Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-townsend/) > [Receiving the care that you need, and are entitled to, shouldn't be a struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-walsh/receiving-the-care-that-you-need-and-are-entitled-to-shouldn-t-be-a/) [Marty Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-walsh/) > [Anything you pray for, you need to prepare for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/anything-you-pray-for-you-need-to-prepare-for/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [If the system should not need parts now, the worker should not produce because you are just absorbing instead of producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliyahu-goldratt/if-the-system-should-not-need-parts-now-the-worker-should-not-produce/) [Eliyahu Goldratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliyahu-goldratt/) > [I really don't think you need a letter on your jersey to be a leader on a hockey club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/i-really-don-t-think-you-need-a-letter-on-your-jersey-to-be-a-leader/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [The more I trust you, the less details I need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-i-trust-you-the-less-details-i-need/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 14,164 Need quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can never have enough of that which you don’t need.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Hoffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which-you-don-t-need/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Need" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which-you-don-t-need/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/eric-hoffer-343_need_you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which_474549.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/eric-hoffer-343_need_you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which_474549.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/eric-hoffer-343_need_you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which_474549.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can never have enough of that which you don’t need.” — Eric Hoffer", "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": "Eric Hoffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You can never have enough of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which-you-don-t-need/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/you-can-never-have-enough-of-that-which-you-don-t-need/#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 } } ] } ```