---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Searching for what I need, and I don't…"
description: "\"Searching for what I need, and I don't even know precisely what that is, I was going from a man to a man, and I saw that all of them together have less..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/ivo-andri-2481_left_searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-ev_3210295.png"
---

#  Searching for what I need, and I don't even know precisely…

![“Searching for what I need, and I don't even know precisely what that is, I was going from a man to a man, and I saw that all of them together have less than me who has nothing, and that I left to each of them a bit of that what I don't have and I've been searching for.” quote by Ivo Andric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/ivo-andri-2481_left_searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-ev_3210295.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/ivo-andri-2481_left_searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-ev_3210295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/ivo-andri-2481_left_searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-ev_3210295.png)

> “Searching for what I need, and I don't even know precisely what that is, I was going from a man to a man, and I saw that all of them together have less than me who has nothing, and that I left to each of them a bit of that what I don't have and I've been searching for.”

[Ivo Andric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The search for identity involves giving parts of oneself to others while still feeling incomplete, highlighting the paradox of sharing and longing.

**In simple terms:** Searching for self while sharing with others leaves a feeling of lack.

Key Takeaway

Seek balance between giving and self‑fulfillment.

Themes

identity search selflessness loneliness

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- friendships
- family ties
- community involvement
- spiritual quests

Key Concepts

philosophy existentialism interdependence

Questions to Reflect On

- What do you give away that you still need?
- How can you retain self while helping others?

A Different Perspective

Giving too much can erode personal identity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Going Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-man-1893355/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/searching/) [Searching Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/searching-need-5917893/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Ve Searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-searching-1664756/)

## Related quotes

> [Well I've been searching for something true My heart says it must be you I'd love to fall and see it through But only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/well-i-ve-been-searching-for-something-true-my-heart-says-it-must-be/)

[Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/)

> [I've been searching for that someone, to show me the way, to take my hand and tell me that everything will be okay; I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-been-searching-for-that-someone-to-show-me-the-way-to-take-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I've been everywhere now, searching far and wide but she was down the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/i-ve-been-everywhere-now-searching-far-and-wide-but-she-was-down-the/)

[The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/)

> [I've always been searching. What am I going to do with all this - searching for that place where I could be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiree-rogers/i-ve-always-been-searching-what-am-i-going-to-do-with-all-this/)

[Desiree Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiree-rogers/)

> [“The problem with this generation is they are so quick to define who they are in the process of searching. It is their need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/the-problem-with-this-generation-is-they-are-so-quick-to-define-who/)

[Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/)

> [Show me the way you're the one that i've been searching. Guide me today...Just like a flashlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-styles/show-me-the-way-you-re-the-one-that-i-ve-been-searching-guide-me/)

[Darren Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-styles/)

> [Maybe the reason why I haven't found who I've been searching for is because I know that I've already found her. It's just up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-the-reason-why-i-haven-t-found-who-i-ve-been-searching-for-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [All my life I've been searching for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/all-my-life-i-ve-been-searching-for-you/)

[Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/)

> [I've been searching for a girl that's just like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevershoutnever/i-ve-been-searching-for-a-girl-that-s-just-like-you/)

[Nevershoutnever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevershoutnever/)

> [If you're not going to be a man of your word...Keep your mouth SHUT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-not-going-to-be-a-man-of-your-word-keep-your-mouth-shut/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The guy who's in charge isn't going to be the front man, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/the-guy-who-s-in-charge-isn-t-going-to-be-the-front-man-ever/)

[Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/)

> [It's always hard going a man down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ollie-watkins/it-s-always-hard-going-a-man-down/)

[Ollie Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ollie-watkins/)

> [Ultimately, it's not going to be about man versus machine. It is going to be about man with machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/ultimately-it-s-not-going-to-be-about-man-versus-machine-it-is-going/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [A man who keeps on going; a man who keeps his eye on the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-paisley/a-man-who-keeps-on-going-a-man-who-keeps-his-eye-on-the-ball/)

[Ian Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-paisley/)

> [“There never was a man who could sit down and say: 'Now I am going to be the first man to write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-diringer/there-never-was-a-man-who-could-sit-down-and-say-now-i-am-going-to-be/)

[David Diringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-diringer/)

## More by Ivo Andric

> [“Teško je zamisliti varoš sa manje novca i slabijim izvorima zarade a sa većom žeđi za novcem, sa manje volje za radom i veštine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/te-ko-je-zamisliti-varo-sa-manje-novca-i-slabijim-izvorima-zarade-a/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“U mraku vidim kako ti oči sjaju, a kad nam se lica dotaknu i tvoj dah ukrsti sa mojim, ja osetim sve godine naše…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/u-mraku-vidim-kako-ti-o-i-sjaju-a-kad-nam-se-lica-dotaknu-i-tvoj-dah/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“Neka ti nije žao rad samoće i šutnje što je oko tebe. Možda udes dobro misli s tobom, možda je to stara nečija molitva…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/neka-ti-nije-ao-rad-samo-e-i-utnje-to-je-oko-tebe-mo-da-udes-dobro/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [Between the fear that something would happen and the hope that still it wouldn't, there is much more space than one thinks. On that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/between-the-fear-that-something-would-happen-and-the-hope-that-still/)

[Ivo Andric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“Vreme muči i zamara samo one koji žive zauzeti jedino ništavnim brigama o svojoj ličnosti i svojim uživanjima, ali ono je kratko i neosetno…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/vreme-mu-i-i-zamara-samo-one-koji-ive-zauzeti-jedino-ni-tavnim/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“Sve je u meni mrtvo; tako mi je dobro. Ne dopire do mene zvuk, umro mi je ocinji vid. Sve je ostalo za velikom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/sve-je-u-meni-mrtvo-tako-mi-je-dobro-ne-dopire-do-mene-zvuk-umro-mi/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“He never even felt how countless petty circumstances were fusing together to create an imperceptible but powerful stream that would carry him back into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/he-never-even-felt-how-countless-petty-circumstances-were-fusing/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“Men who do not work themselves and who undertake nothing in their lives easily loose patience and fall into error when judging the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/men-who-do-not-work-themselves-and-who-undertake-nothing-in-their/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“U nas se mnogo ljudi zale na ,,sredinu",i ne bez razloga,ali se zale toliki i tako mnogo i cesto,da je rec ,,sredina" pocela da…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/u-nas-se-mnogo-ljudi-zale-na-sredinu-i-ne-bez-razloga-ali-se-zale/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [What doesn't hurt - is not life; what doesn't pass - is not happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/what-doesn-t-hurt-is-not-life-what-doesn-t-pass-is-not-happiness/)

[Ivo Andric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“Ja, covjek nestalna srca koji živim bez mira i radosti; gorak život o tudjem hljebu, nemirne prošlosti, pune lutanja, nesnalaženja i stradanja, nestalne, teške…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/ja-covjek-nestalna-srca-koji-ivim-bez-mira-i-radosti-gorak-ivot-o/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“... u krvi im je saznanje da se pravi život sastoji od samih zatišja i da bi ludo i uzaludno bilo mutiti ta retka…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/u-krvi-im-je-saznanje-da-se-pravi-ivot-sastoji-od-samih-zati-ja-i-da/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“Kad bi se sakupila i ujedno sabrala lična osećanja gneva, protesta, gađenja i ogorčenja sa kojima su ljudi pojedinci umrli, uzalud dozivajući pravdu i…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/kad-bi-se-sakupila-i-ujedno-sabrala-li-na-ose-anja-gneva-protesta-ga/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“Postoje ljudi, koji ti za pet minuta pokvare cijeli dan, a postoje i oni s kojima provedeš minut, a poželiš da traje vječno.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/postoje-ljudi-koji-ti-za-pet-minuta-pokvare-cijeli-dan-a-postoje-i/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

> [“Kud sam ja sve lutao? Kud su padale moje teznje, koliko posrtao, koliko bludio u mislima i grijesio u zivotu! - Kako da vam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/kud-sam-ja-sve-lutao-kud-su-padale-moje-teznje-koliko-posrtao-koliko/)

[Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

[Explore all 145 Ivo Andric quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/)

## More Left quotes

> [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/)

[Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/)

> [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/)

[Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/)

[Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/)

> [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/)

[Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/)

> [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/)

[Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/)

[Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/)

> [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/family-means-no-one-gets-left-behind-or-forgotten/)

[David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/)

> [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/)

[Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/)

> [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [“You are the right eye And I'm the Left eye Together we can see the world But we can not see each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-sagar/you-are-the-right-eye-and-i-m-the-left-eye-together-we-can-see-the/)

[Zara Sagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zara-sagar/)

> [The truth is the Vintage Vitor never left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/the-truth-is-the-vintage-vitor-never-left/)

[Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/)

[Browse all 9,711 Left quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Searching for what I need, and I don't even know precisely what that is, I was going from a man to a man, and I saw that all of them together have less than me who has nothing, and that I left to each of them a bit of that what I don't have and I've been searching for.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ivo Andric"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-even-know-precisely-what-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Left"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-even-know-precisely-what-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/ivo-andri-2481_left_searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-ev_3210295.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/ivo-andri-2481_left_searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-ev_3210295.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/ivo-andri-2481_left_searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-ev_3210295.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Searching for what I need, and I don't even know precisely what that is, I was going from a man to a man…” — Ivo Andric",
                "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": "Ivo Andric",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Searching for what I need, and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-even-know-precisely-what-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/searching-for-what-i-need-and-i-don-t-even-know-precisely-what-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
