--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The main problem with desires...is that…" description: "\"“The main problem with desires...is that they're not nearly as authoritative as we wish they were...How can you find some structure that allows you to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/gideon-lewis-kraus-28025_desire_the-main-problem-with-desires-is-that-th_363614.jpg" --- # The main problem with desires...is that they're not nearly… ![“The main problem with desires...is that they're not nearly as authoritative as we wish they were...How can you find some structure that allows you to begin to understand what you want without forcing you to pay constant attention to the fluctuation of endlessly conflicting desires? ANd how can you…” quote by Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/gideon-lewis-kraus-28025_desire_the-main-problem-with-desires-is-that-th_363614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/gideon-lewis-kraus-28025_desire_the-main-problem-with-desires-is-that-th_363614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/gideon-lewis-kraus-28025_desire_the-main-problem-with-desires-is-that-th_363614.jpg) > ““The main problem with desires...is that they're not nearly as authoritative as we wish they were...How can you find some structure that allows you to begin to understand what you want without forcing you to pay constant attention to the fluctuation of endlessly conflicting desires? ANd how can you realize that, whatever the situation, you're probably already getting what you want on some level, whether you know it or not?”” [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desires are fluid and often lack clear authority, making it hard to grasp them without constant monitoring. **In simple terms:** Desires shift and are hard to pin down. Key Takeaway Observe desires without over‑analyzing. Themes self‑awareness psychology decision‑making Mood curious reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal relationships - creative projects - financial goals Key Concepts fluidity of desire mindful observation Questions to Reflect On - How can you notice desire patterns without judgment? - What small habit helps you stay present with shifting wishes? A Different Perspective Desires can be influenced by external pressures, making true self‑knowledge difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflicting Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicting-desires-2232652/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) [Desires Realize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires-realize-3333348/) [Problem Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-desires-840845/) [Understand Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-want/) ## Related quotes > [The problem for us is not are our desires satisfied or not. The problem is how do we know what we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-problem-for-us-is-not-are-our-desires-satisfied-or-not-the/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“To rise above the conflicting desires of others, there must be no conflict about your own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-rise-above-the-conflicting-desires-of-others-there-must-be-no/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“Inside of all of us there is the need and the desire to be heard, to have our innermost thoughts, feelings and desires expressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-vee/inside-of-all-of-us-there-is-the-need-and-the-desire-to-be-heard-to/) [V. Vee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-vee/) > [If you want to be rich, be generous. If you want to make friends, be friendly. If you want to be heard, listen. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-want-to-be-rich-be-generous-if-you-want-to-make-friends-be/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [When we want something in our life, we see the vision ahead, we can taste it, only we can understand why we want it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/when-we-want-something-in-our-life-we-see-the-vision-ahead-we-can/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety; if I sit in my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/when-i-run-after-what-i-think-i-want-my-days-are-a-furnace-of-stress/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“Fuck, Avery. You think I don't want you? There's not a single part of you that I don't want, you understand? I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/fuck-avery-you-think-i-don-t-want-you-there-s-not-a-single-part-of/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [I don't want you to understand me, I want you to Love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-morasco/i-don-t-want-you-to-understand-me-i-want-you-to-love-me/) [Jessica Morasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-morasco/) > [You don't have to make people understand who you are. You just need to make yourself understand what you want to do and why.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-kaushik/you-don-t-have-to-make-people-understand-who-you-are-you-just-need-to/) [Chanda Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-kaushik/) > [“I want to learn how to speak to anyone at any time and make us both feel a little bit better, lighter, richer, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/i-want-to-learn-how-to-speak-to-anyone-at-any-time-and-make-us-both/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [I was 19 before. I understand how you want to come in and do so many things on the positive side. You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-was-19-before-i-understand-how-you-want-to-come-in-and-do-so-many/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [“Don't you understand? I want to spend my life with you. I want you to be there when I go to bed at night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-anastasiu/don-t-you-understand-i-want-to-spend-my-life-with-you-i-want-you-to/) [Heather Anastasiu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-anastasiu/) > [Understand who you are and who you want to be, and thereby learn how you may best relate to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-danby/understand-who-you-are-and-who-you-want-to-be-and-thereby-learn-how/) [Ken Danby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-danby/) > [I think that if people look deeply enough into their trading patterns, they find that, on balance, including all their goals, they are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-seykota/i-think-that-if-people-look-deeply-enough-into-their-trading-patterns/) [Ed Seykota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-seykota/) > [I can't understand why anyone would want to reduce vinegar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-torode/i-can-t-understand-why-anyone-would-want-to-reduce-vinegar/) [John Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-torode/) ## More by Gideon Lewis-Kraus > [“The Valley might not actually make much in the way of tangible goods, but like industrial centers before it, it’s the place where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/the-valley-might-not-actually-make-much-in-the-way-of-tangible-goods/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [Gary Greenberg is a thoughtful comedian and a cranky philosopher and a humble pest of a reporter, equal parts Woody Allen, Kierkegaard, and Columbo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/gary-greenberg-is-a-thoughtful-comedian-and-a-cranky-philosopher-and/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“Tom and I help in common the hope that there might be a geographical ticket out of the problems of indecision, boredom, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/tom-and-i-help-in-common-the-hope-that-there-might-be-a-geographical/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“The experiences of wanting less, needing less, and giving more allow us to withdraw from the psychic conflicts that cause so much pain for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/the-experiences-of-wanting-less-needing-less-and-giving-more-allow-us/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“I wondered...if the difference between people who believed in preparation and those who believed in proof...wasn't the difference between those who worked constantly for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/i-wondered-if-the-difference-between-people-who-believed-in/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“As rivers flow into the sea and so lose name and form, attains the Supreme Being, the Self-Luminous, the Infinite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/as-rivers-flow-into-the-sea-and-so-lose-name-and-form-attains-the/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“San Francisco was full of people walking around with their pockets stuffed with 1.2 percent of nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/san-francisco-was-full-of-people-walking-around-with-their-pockets/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“an MIT AI PhD can generally walk alone into an investor meeting wearing a coconut-shell bra, perform a series of improvised birdcalls, and walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/an-mit-ai-phd-can-generally-walk-alone-into-an-investor-meeting/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“breaks from the ordered configurations of everyday life...'anti-structures.' The chief characteristic of the anti-structure...is...'communitas' - a spontaneous, rich, classless, nonhierarchical association of people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/breaks-from-the-ordered-configurations-of-everyday-life-anti/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“Anything we have chosen to do invites the specters of all that we haven't chosen - this is the real mystery of choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/anything-we-have-chosen-to-do-invites-the-specters-of-all-that-we/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [The promise of the Internet-as-Alexandria is more than the rolling plenitude of information. It's the ability of individuals to choreograph that information in idiosyncratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/the-promise-of-the-internet-as-alexandria-is-more-than-the-rolling/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“time...counts for precisely something because its quantity is fixed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/time-counts-for-precisely-something-because-its-quantity-is-fixed/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [If Tao Lin had been born to Gary Shteyngart's parents and spent his early twenties slaving for pageviews at NewYorker.com, he would have written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/if-tao-lin-had-been-born-to-gary-shteyngart-s-parents-and-spent-his/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“My dad sent me dozens of texts to the effect that he was ready to forgive me for my 'outburst' and that if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/my-dad-sent-me-dozens-of-texts-to-the-effect-that-he-was-ready-to/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [“As long as we keep moving, time is kept at bay; when we stop, it catches up in a rush.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/as-long-as-we-keep-moving-time-is-kept-at-bay-when-we-stop-it-catches/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) [Explore all 20 Gideon Lewis-Kraus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) ## 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": "“The main problem with desires...is that they're not nearly as authoritative as we wish they were...How can you find some structure that allows you to begin to understand what you want without forcing you to pay constant attention to the fluctuation of endlessly conflicting desires? 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