--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should desire very few things…" description: "\"We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-desire-very-few-things-passion_392818.png" --- # We should desire very few things passionately if we did… ![“We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-desire-very-few-things-passion_392818.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-desire-very-few-things-passion_392818.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-desire-very-few-things-passion_392818.png) > “We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## 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 limited and passionate; knowing the nature of what we want leads to true fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Know what you truly want and love it. Key Takeaway Seek depth over breadth in desire. Themes desire knowledge passion fulfillment Mood reflective philosophical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal goal setting - career planning - relationship expectations - consumer choices Key Concepts stoicism self-knowledge moderation Questions to Reflect On - What truly matters to you? - Do you know the nature of your desires? A Different Perspective Passionate desire without understanding can lead to disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) ## Related quotes > [Age isn't as important so long as you are surrounded by people you love, doing things you passionately believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/age-isn-t-as-important-so-long-as-you-are-surrounded-by-people-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [You will see that the things you desire most are the very things that bring you the greatest sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-see-that-the-things-you-desire-most-are-the-very-things-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is better to desire the things we have than to have the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-better-to-desire-the-things-we-have-than-to-have-the-things-we/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for any one the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baha-u-llah/lay-not-on-any-soul-a-load-that-you-would-not-wish-to-be-laid-upon/) [Bahá'u'lláh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baha-u-llah/) > [We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardently-if-we-were-perfectly/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“But there are many things to want in life. It's not a bad thing if there are other things you desire a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-garber/but-there-are-many-things-to-want-in-life-it-s-not-a-bad-thing-if/) [Stephanie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-garber/) > [“Let temporal things be in the use, eternal things in the desire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/let-temporal-things-be-in-the-use-eternal-things-in-the-desire/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [We always long for the forbidden things, and desire what is denied us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/we-always-long-for-the-forbidden-things-and-desire-what-is-denied-us/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake (everything else being desired for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-then-there-is-some-end-of-the-things-we-do-which-we-desire-for-its/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [There is often less danger in the things we fear than in the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/there-is-often-less-danger-in-the-things-we-fear-than-in-the-things/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [He who has few things to desire cannot have many to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/he-who-has-few-things-to-desire-cannot-have-many-to-fear/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [We are disgusted by the things that we desire, and we desire what disgusts us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/we-are-disgusted-by-the-things-that-we-desire-and-we-desire-what/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [Things unhoped for happen oftener than things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/things-unhoped-for-happen-oftener-than-things-we-desire/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [“He knew that those things we most desire to hold in our hearts are often taken from us while that which we would put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-knew-that-those-things-we-most-desire-to-hold-in-our-hearts-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To understand the limitation of things, desire them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-understand-the-limitation-of-things-desire-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## 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": "We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-desire-very-few-things-passionately-if-we-did-but-perfectly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-desire-very-few-things-passionately-if-we-did-but-perfectly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-desire-very-few-things-passion_392818.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-desire-very-few-things-passion_392818.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-desire-very-few-things-passion_392818.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "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": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We should desire very few things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-desire-very-few-things-passionately-if-we-did-but-perfectly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-desire-very-few-things-passionately-if-we-did-but-perfectly/#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 } } ] } ```