--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our whole life is an attempt to discover…" description: "\"Our whole life is an attempt to discover when our spontaneity is whimsical, sentimental irresponsibility and when it is a valid expression of our deepe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/helen-lynd-76423_desire_our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover_913209.png" --- # Our whole life is an attempt to discover when our… ![“Our whole life is an attempt to discover when our spontaneity is whimsical, sentimental irresponsibility and when it is a valid expression of our deepest desires and values.” quote by Helen Lynd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/helen-lynd-76423_desire_our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover_913209.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/helen-lynd-76423_desire_our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover_913209.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/helen-lynd-76423_desire_our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover_913209.png) > “Our whole life is an attempt to discover when our spontaneity is whimsical, sentimental irresponsibility and when it is a valid expression of our deepest desires and values.” Helen Lynd ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She suggests we must discern when spontaneous actions are frivolous versus when they express true values. **In simple terms:** Distinguish frivolous spontaneity from authentic desire. Key Takeaway Align actions with core values. Themes spontaneity self-awareness values Mood introspective analytical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - creative work - relationship decisions - life planning Key Concepts authenticity psychology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When is spontaneity genuine? - How to recognize authentic desires? A Different Perspective Spontaneity can be misread as impulsivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Irresponsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresponsibility/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sentimental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentimental/) [Spontaneity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneity/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Whimsical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whimsical/) ## Related quotes > [“I love to create vibrant, whimsical floral compositions that are either executed with one single hue or the opposite: a blend of multiple colors!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chantal-larocque/i-love-to-create-vibrant-whimsical-floral-compositions-that-are/) [Chantal Larocque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chantal-larocque/) > [“Why they don’t wanna walk in my shoes, I ask them to come out of their shoes and walk the world in mine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shreya-gupta/why-they-don-t-wanna-walk-in-my-shoes-i-ask-them-to-come-out-of-their/) [Shreya Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shreya-gupta/) > [I've never been a fan of whimsical or confusing storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-ve-never-been-a-fan-of-whimsical-or-confusing-storytelling/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [“Ocean gusts slunk between the trees, who whispered to one another about The Great White Father being home; how everything was back to how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-ducarte/ocean-gusts-slunk-between-the-trees-who-whispered-to-one-another/) [Holly Ducarte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ducarte/) > [“Do you know a better time than the present for igniting your dreams?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/and-artist-carolyn-tody/do-you-know-a-better-time-than-the-present-for-igniting-your-dreams/) and Artist Carolyn Tody > [“Man's wobbly little mind isn't equipped for hauling around the great unknowns. Very few people realize, there's no point chasing after answers to life's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/man-s-wobbly-little-mind-isn-t-equipped-for-hauling-around-the-great/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [I have people who want to pull me into specific projects in the community based on my music and on the mixtapes. It's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-have-people-who-want-to-pull-me-into-specific-projects-in-the/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [“Night is the sleep of seven wax moths Dawn is the singing of five mermaids Noon is the scratching of three field mice Dusk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-chuan/night-is-the-sleep-of-seven-wax-moths-dawn-is-the-singing-of-five/) [Xi Chuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-chuan/) > [The rugs that I picked out and the pillows with the little owls, sort of like whimsical throw pillows - I feel like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/the-rugs-that-i-picked-out-and-the-pillows-with-the-little-owls-sort/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [It's hard to find black roles that are just whimsical and fun and colorful. And I think, in many ways, that can be just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/it-s-hard-to-find-black-roles-that-are-just-whimsical-and-fun-and/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [“And so, they sat next to a birch tree, watching the butterflies spin around them. Linetta leaned back, her dark hair falling against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-marinello-sweeney/and-so-they-sat-next-to-a-birch-tree-watching-the-butterflies-spin/) [Gina Marinello-Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-marinello-sweeney/) > [I wish the word whimsical wasn't used now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcgough/i-wish-the-word-whimsical-wasn-t-used-now/) [Roger McGough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcgough/) > [On inspection, Gaudi's architecture isn't whimsical at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/on-inspection-gaudi-s-architecture-isn-t-whimsical-at-all/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Agreements. Specifically, a treaty ratified by all the orders of whimsical like forms who dwell here that affords a measure of security for mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/agreements-specifically-a-treaty-ratified-by-all-the-orders-of/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [It was a marvelous night, the sort of night one only experiences when one is young. The sky was so bright, and there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-a-marvelous-night-the-sort-of-night-one-only-experiences-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Helen Lynd > [One of the sources of pride in being a human being is the ability to bear present frustrations in the interests of longer purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-lynd/one-of-the-sources-of-pride-in-being-a-human-being-is-the-ability-to/) Helen Lynd > [Freedom which has genuine meaning is more than a timeless abstraction, more than an absence of restraints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-lynd/freedom-which-has-genuine-meaning-is-more-than-a-timeless-abstraction/) Helen Lynd Explore all 3 Helen Lynd quotes ## 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 whole life is an attempt to discover when our spontaneity is whimsical, sentimental irresponsibility and when it is a valid expression of our deepest desires and values.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Helen Lynd" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-lynd/our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover-when-our-spontaneity-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-lynd/our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover-when-our-spontaneity-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/helen-lynd-76423_desire_our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover_913209.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/helen-lynd-76423_desire_our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover_913209.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/helen-lynd-76423_desire_our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover_913209.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our whole life is an attempt to discover when our spontaneity is whimsical, sentimental irresponsibility and…” — Helen Lynd", "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": "Helen Lynd", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-lynd/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our whole life is an attempt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-lynd/our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover-when-our-spontaneity-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-lynd/our-whole-life-is-an-attempt-to-discover-when-our-spontaneity-is/#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 } } ] } ```