--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should scarcely desire things ardently…" description: "\"We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what we desire.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardentl_2108901.png" --- # We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were… ![“We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what we desire.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardentl_2108901.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardentl_2108901.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardentl_2108901.png) > “We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what 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. Intense desire can be distorted by ignorance of its true nature. **In simple terms:** Desire is flawed without true understanding. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge before longing. Themes desire knowledge self-awareness Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical maxim When to use this quote - personal goals - relationships - career choices - consumer decisions Key Concepts human nature philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What do you truly know about what you want? - Can desire motivate growth despite uncertainty? A Different Perspective Desire may still be valuable even if imperfectly understood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquainted Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquainted-desire-4249055/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-things/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Miscellaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miscellaneous/) [Scarcely Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scarcely-desire-4249054/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Things Ardently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-ardently-4249056/) ## Related quotes > [We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-desire-very-few-things-passionately-if-we-did-but-perfectly/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Behind every stressful thought is the desire for things to be other than they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bernhard/behind-every-stressful-thought-is-the-desire-for-things-to-be-other/) [Toni Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bernhard/) > [It takes more strength of character to withstand good fortune than bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-takes-more-strength-of-character-to-withstand-good-fortune-than-bad/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [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/) > [“A man desire two things: love and happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/a-man-desire-two-things-love-and-happiness/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done. If powerful men and women could venter themselves in it, the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-never-does-anything-yet-through-it-all-things-are-done-if/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [This is a difference between us: you desire what other people have, while I desire the things I used to have, or think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/this-is-a-difference-between-us-you-desire-what-other-people-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [God will himself bless you with everything, so don't desire things before time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/god-will-himself-bless-you-with-everything-so-don-t-desire-things/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [IL DESIRE THE THINGS WHICH WILL DESTROY ME AT THE END...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishemo/il-desire-the-things-which-will-destroy-me-at-the-end/) [VISHEMO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishemo/) > [“People desire so many things and waste their days in vain... Some yearn for gold, others for power, yet others for glory and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/borje-vahamaki/people-desire-so-many-things-and-waste-their-days-in-vain-some-yearn/) [Borje Vahamaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/borje-vahamaki/) > [“Why do we desire, above all other things, that which has the greatest power to destroy us?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-rogerson/why-do-we-desire-above-all-other-things-that-which-has-the-greatest/) [Margaret Rogerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-rogerson/) > [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/) > [I used to desire many, many things, but now I have just one desire, and that's to get rid of all my other desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-used-to-desire-many-many-things-but-now-i-have-just-one-desire-and/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I am not poor. Poor are those who desire many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/i-am-not-poor-poor-are-those-who-desire-many-things/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [We all desire things that we believe we cannot have, and so my films reflect that again and again. The mystery must be solved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ji-woon/we-all-desire-things-that-we-believe-we-cannot-have-and-so-my-films/) [Kim Ji-woon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ji-woon/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what 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-scarcely-desire-things-ardently-if-we-were-perfectly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardently-if-we-were-perfectly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardentl_2108901.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardentl_2108901.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_desire_we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardentl_2108901.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what 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 scarcely desire things ardently...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardently-if-we-were-perfectly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-scarcely-desire-things-ardently-if-we-were-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 } } ] } ```