--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our desire must be like a slow and…" description: "\"Our desire must be like a slow and stately ship, sailing across endless oceans, never in search of safe anchorage. Then suddenly, unexpectedly, it will..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/etty-hillesum-9002_desire_our-desire-must-be-like-a-slow-and-state_2629286.jpg" --- # Our desire must be like a slow and stately ship, sailing… ![“Our desire must be like a slow and stately ship, sailing across endless oceans, never in search of safe anchorage. Then suddenly, unexpectedly, it will find mooring for a moment.” quote by Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/etty-hillesum-9002_desire_our-desire-must-be-like-a-slow-and-state_2629286.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/etty-hillesum-9002_desire_our-desire-must-be-like-a-slow-and-state_2629286.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/etty-hillesum-9002_desire_our-desire-must-be-like-a-slow-and-state_2629286.jpg) > “Our desire must be like a slow and stately ship, sailing across endless oceans, never in search of safe anchorage. Then suddenly, unexpectedly, it will find mooring for a moment.” [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A yearning that is patient and expansive, seeking purpose without clinging to safety, yet occasionally finding brief respite. **In simple terms:** Patient desire seeks purpose, not safety. Key Takeaway Embrace patient longing, accept fleeting rests. Themes patience longing purpose Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative work - personal growth - spiritual practice - overcoming fear Key Concepts existentialism spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How does you balance patient longing with concrete action? - What does “safe anchorage” mean to you? A Different Perspective Even patient yearning can feel restless without tangible goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Sailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailing/) ## Related quotes > [“Things went downhill pretty fast after that. Although every action and reaction felt like slow motion from Krista’s perspective, the entire debacle probably took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-salonen/things-went-downhill-pretty-fast-after-that-although-every-action-and/) [Debra Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-salonen/) > [Coming in solemn beauty like slow old tunes of Spain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-masefield/coming-in-solemn-beauty-like-slow-old-tunes-of-spain/) [John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-masefield/) > [She came onto him like a slow movin' cold front -- His beer was warmer than the look in her eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hiatt/she-came-onto-him-like-a-slow-movin-cold-front-his-beer-was-warmer/) [John Hiatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hiatt/) > [“He pulls me into a hug again, and we stay like that for a little while, to the point that it's almost like we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/he-pulls-me-into-a-hug-again-and-we-stay-like-that-for-a-little-while/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [There are times you like to take it slow with romance, but it may come on quick during this time. Just go with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-times-you-like-to-take-it-slow-with-romance-but-it-may-come/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like slow rock 'n' roll, like Hozier, the Eagles, and Kodaline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hill/i-like-slow-rock-n-roll-like-hozier-the-eagles-and-kodaline/) [Taylor Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hill/) > [Everything feels like you're in slow motion and everything you do seems like it's about two or three plays of what everybody else is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-parker/everything-feels-like-you-re-in-slow-motion-and-everything-you-do/) [Tony Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-parker/) > [Most black singers like to slow the word down and, and go directly to your heart. They're not interested in your ears, we just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/most-black-singers-like-to-slow-the-word-down-and-and-go-directly-to/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [“What if more of life could be like that? Like the last slow dance, where, to echo T.S. Eliot, a lifetime burns in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-steinbach/what-if-more-of-life-could-be-like-that-like-the-last-slow-dance/) [Alice Steinbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-steinbach/) > [elliptical, adj. The kiss I like the most is one of the slow ones. It’s as much breath as touch, as much no as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/elliptical-adj-the-kiss-i-like-the-most-is-one-of-the-slow-ones-it-s/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Lust is a lot like a slow brained dog. It slobbers a lot and jumps up on people at the most inopportune time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goode/lust-is-a-lot-like-a-slow-brained-dog-it-slobbers-a-lot-and-jumps-up/) [John Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goode/) > [To me, what defines a New Yorker is the edge that one develops from having actually lived here. Once you have it, it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump-jr/to-me-what-defines-a-new-yorker-is-the-edge-that-one-develops-from/) [Donald Trump, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump-jr/) > [Desire for true love is like slow poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/desire-for-true-love-is-like-slow-poison/) Mak\_786 > [At one time, late Yash-ji, too, wanted to do two to three films, but somehow, I am not the kind to do too many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-deol/at-one-time-late-yash-ji-too-wanted-to-do-two-to-three-films-but/) [Sunny Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-deol/) > [I've always been like this, very slow, I like to work aaramse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranitha-subhash/i-ve-always-been-like-this-very-slow-i-like-to-work-aaramse/) [Pranitha Subhash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranitha-subhash/) ## More by Etty Hillesum > [A large group of us were crowded into the Gestapo hall, and at that moment the circumstances of all our lives were the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/a-large-group-of-us-were-crowded-into-the-gestapo-hall-and-at-that/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Every word born of an inner necessity - writing must never be anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/every-word-born-of-an-inner-necessity-writing-must-never-be-anything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [That fear of missing out on things makes you miss out on everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/that-fear-of-missing-out-on-things-makes-you-miss-out-on-everything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [There are moments when I feel like giving up or giving in, but I soon rally again and do my duty as I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/there-are-moments-when-i-feel-like-giving-up-or-giving-in-but-i-soon/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Here, beside this great black surface that is my desk, I feel as though I am on a desert island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/here-beside-this-great-black-surface-that-is-my-desk-i-feel-as-though/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [The externals are simply so many props; everything we need is within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/the-externals-are-simply-so-many-props-everything-we-need-is-within-us/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one finds the strength to deal with small things, one finds it to deal with the large ones as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-finds-the-strength-to-deal-with-small-things-one-finds-it-to/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [All disasters stem from us. Why is there a war? Perhaps because now and then I might be inclined to snap at my neighbour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/all-disasters-stem-from-us-why-is-there-a-war-perhaps-because-now-and/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-the-most-important-thing-in-a-whole-day-is-the-rest-we-take/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We human beings cause monstrous conditions, but precisely because we cause them we soon learn to adapt ourselves to them. Only if we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-human-beings-cause-monstrous-conditions-but-precisely-because-we/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Despite everything, life is full of beauty and meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/despite-everything-life-is-full-of-beauty-and-meaning/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes my day is crammed full of people and talk and yet I have the feeling of living in utter peace and quiet. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-my-day-is-crammed-full-of-people-and-talk-and-yet-i-have/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [To live fully, outwardly and inwardly, not to ignore the external reality for the sake of the inner life, or the reverse, that's quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/to-live-fully-outwardly-and-inwardly-not-to-ignore-the-external/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one burdens the future with one's worries, it cannot grow organically. I am filled with confidence, not that I shall succeed in worldly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-burdens-the-future-with-one-s-worries-it-cannot-grow/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We have to fight them daily, like fleas, those many small worries about the morrow, for they sap our energies. We make mental provisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-have-to-fight-them-daily-like-fleas-those-many-small-worries-about/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) [Explore all 62 Etty Hillesum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our desire must be like a slow and stately ship, sailing across endless oceans, never in search of safe anchorage. 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