--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you need something desperately and…" description: "\"“If you need something desperately and find it, this is not an accident; your own craving and compulsion leads you to it.”\" — Herman Hesse" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/herman-hesse-14882_compulsion_if-you-need-something-desperately-and-fi_564555.jpg" --- # If you need something desperately and find it, this is not… ![“If you need something desperately and find it, this is not an accident; your own craving and compulsion leads you to it.” quote by Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/herman-hesse-14882_compulsion_if-you-need-something-desperately-and-fi_564555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/herman-hesse-14882_compulsion_if-you-need-something-desperately-and-fi_564555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/herman-hesse-14882_compulsion_if-you-need-something-desperately-and-fi_564555.jpg) > ““If you need something desperately and find it, this is not an accident; your own craving and compulsion leads you to it.”” [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) ## 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 guide you toward what you seek, but it may be driven by inner compulsion rather than chance. **In simple terms:** Strong cravings can steer you to outcomes. Key Takeaway Recognize when desire drives decisions. Themes desire intuition self-awareness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical insightful When to use this quote - career choices - creative projects - personal relationships - goal pursuit Key Concepts psychology motivation determinism Questions to Reflect On - Is your craving helping or hindering you? - How do you differentiate intuition from obsession? A Different Perspective The quote may overstate agency, ignoring external factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accident Craving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident-craving-4672903/) [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Compulsion Leads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion-leads-4672902/) [Craving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craving/) [Craving Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craving-compulsion-4672901/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ## Related quotes > [I will never have the willpower to completely swear off pizza or a good summer sale, but I'm working on realizing the difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-will-never-have-the-willpower-to-completely-swear-off-pizza-or-a/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [As meditation deepens, compulsions, cravings and fits of emotion begin to lose their power to dictate our behavior. We see clearly that choices are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/as-meditation-deepens-compulsions-cravings-and-fits-of-emotion-begin/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [There is no satisfying the senses, not even with a shower of money. "The senses are of slight pleasure and really suffering." When a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/there-is-no-satisfying-the-senses-not-even-with-a-shower-of-money-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The craving to risk death is our last great perversion. We come from night, we go into night. Why live in night?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/the-craving-to-risk-death-is-our-last-great-perversion-we-come-from/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [The worst passion we mortals cherish is the desire to possess. Even when we know that our final destination is a hole not more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/the-worst-passion-we-mortals-cherish-is-the-desire-to-possess-even/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [You don't want to love - your eternal and abnormal craving is to be loved. You aren't positive, you're negative. You absorb, absorb, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-want-to-love-your-eternal-and-abnormal-craving-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How are we to account for the strange human craving for the pleasure of feeling afraid which is so much involved in our love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/how-are-we-to-account-for-the-strange-human-craving-for-the-pleasure/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Pleasure simply brings more craving, but the problem is that we try to get contentment through pleasure. True contentment can only come through service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/pleasure-simply-brings-more-craving-but-the-problem-is-that-we-try-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [People who do not understand themselves have a craving for understanding — a thing which is rather surmised and never spoken than known and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/people-who-do-not-understand-themselves-have-a-craving-for/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [“The more the soul loves the word, the more craving it has after it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/the-more-the-soul-loves-the-word-the-more-craving-it-has-after-it/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) ## More by Herman Hesse > [“O how incomprehensible everything was, and actually sad, although it was also beautiful. One knew nothing. One lived and ran about the earth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/o-how-incomprehensible-everything-was-and-actually-sad-although-it/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [Love exists to show us how much we can endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/love-exists-to-show-us-how-much-we-can-endure/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“and so I think, O Illustrious One, that nobody finds salvation through teachings. To nobody, O Illustrious One, can you communicate in words and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/and-so-i-think-o-illustrious-one-that-nobody-finds-salvation-through/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“Once he said to her: 'You are like me; you are different from other people. You are Kamala and no one else, and within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/once-he-said-to-her-you-are-like-me-you-are-different-from-other/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“My story isn't sweet and harmonious, like invented stories. It tastes of folly and bewilderment, of madness and dream, like the life of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/my-story-isn-t-sweet-and-harmonious-like-invented-stories-it-tastes/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“Exactly, my dear sir, as the radio for ten minutes together projects the most lovely music without regard into the most impossible places, into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/exactly-my-dear-sir-as-the-radio-for-ten-minutes-together-projects/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“In spite of their friendship, they were so far apart, the bowstring was so taut between them: a seeing man and a blind man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/in-spite-of-their-friendship-they-were-so-far-apart-the-bowstring-was/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [It was as if all of the happiness, all of the magic of this blissful hour had flowed together into these stirring, bittersweet tones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/it-was-as-if-all-of-the-happiness-all-of-the-magic-of-this-blissful/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“Are ideals attainable? Do we live to abolish death? No-we live to fear it and then again to love it, and just for death's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/are-ideals-attainable-do-we-live-to-abolish-death-no-we-live-to-fear/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“The morality of artists is replaced by aesthetics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/the-morality-of-artists-is-replaced-by-aesthetics/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“There is, in fact, no way back either to the wolf or to the child. From the very start there is no innocence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/there-is-in-fact-no-way-back-either-to-the-wolf-or-to-the-child-from/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“After so many years of foolishness, you have once again had an idea, have done something, have heard the bird in your chest singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/after-so-many-years-of-foolishness-you-have-once-again-had-an-idea/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“Govinda said: "But what you call thing, is it something real, something intrinsic? Is it not only the illusion of Maya, only image and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/govinda-said-but-what-you-call-thing-is-it-something-real-something/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“A longing to wander tears my heart when I hear trees rustling in the wind at evening. If one listens to them silently for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/a-longing-to-wander-tears-my-heart-when-i-hear-trees-rustling-in-the-2/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [“Within yourself is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/within-yourself-is-a-stillness-and-a-sanctuary-to-which-you-can/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) [Explore all 24 Herman Hesse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) ## More Compulsion quotes > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I think it's in our nature to try to get beyond that next horizon. I think that when we as a species are scratching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/i-think-it-s-in-our-nature-to-try-to-get-beyond-that-next-horizon-i/) [Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/you-develop-an-instant-global-consciousness-a-people-orientation-an/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Why am I always at war with myself? Why have I told, as if upon compulsion, what I knew all along I ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/why-am-i-always-at-war-with-myself-why-have-i-told-as-if-upon/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [It is true that the virtues which are less esteemed and practiced now--independence, self-reliance, and the willingness to bear risks, the readiness to back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/it-is-true-that-the-virtues-which-are-less-esteemed-and-practiced-now/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [Not merely by rules of conduct and religious observances, nor by much learning either, nor even by attainment of concentration, nor by sleeping alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-merely-by-rules-of-conduct-and-religious-observances-nor-by-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I started off like everyone else does, slogging but having a compulsion to put words on paper. I didn't write or read horror or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-started-off-like-everyone-else-does-slogging-but-having-a/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I have with me two gods, Persuasion and Compulsion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-have-with-me-two-gods-persuasion-and-compulsion/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [When you are dealing with a serious compulsion or addictive pattern, then by definition self-will, self-discipline, and any other machinations of the conscious mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-serious-compulsion-or-addictive-pattern/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Browse all 513 Compulsion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you need something desperately and find it, this is not an accident; your own craving and compulsion leads you to it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Hesse" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/if-you-need-something-desperately-and-find-it-this-is-not-an-accident/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compulsion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/if-you-need-something-desperately-and-find-it-this-is-not-an-accident/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/herman-hesse-14882_compulsion_if-you-need-something-desperately-and-fi_564555.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/herman-hesse-14882_compulsion_if-you-need-something-desperately-and-fi_564555.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/herman-hesse-14882_compulsion_if-you-need-something-desperately-and-fi_564555.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you need something desperately and find it, this is not an accident; your own craving and compulsion…” — Herman Hesse", "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": "Herman Hesse", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If you need something desperately and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/if-you-need-something-desperately-and-find-it-this-is-not-an-accident/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/if-you-need-something-desperately-and-find-it-this-is-not-an-accident/#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 } } ] } ```