--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just because I'm choosy about what I want…" description: "\"“Just because I'm choosy about what I want - in this case, enlightenment, or peace, instead of money or prestige or fame or any of those things - doesn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/j-d-salinger-560_buddhism_just-because-i-m-choosy-about-what-i-wan_1345218.png" --- # Just because I'm choosy about what I want - in this case… ![“Just because I'm choosy about what I want - in this case, enlightenment, or peace, instead of money or prestige or fame or any of those things - doesn't mean I'm not as egotistical and self-seeking as everybody else.” quote by J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/j-d-salinger-560_buddhism_just-because-i-m-choosy-about-what-i-wan_1345218.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/j-d-salinger-560_buddhism_just-because-i-m-choosy-about-what-i-wan_1345218.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/j-d-salinger-560_buddhism_just-because-i-m-choosy-about-what-i-wan_1345218.png) > ““Just because I'm choosy about what I want - in this case, enlightenment, or peace, instead of money or prestige or fame or any of those things - doesn't mean I'm not as egotistical and self-seeking as everybody else.”” [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeking enlightenment or peace doesn’t make one less selfish; everyone desires self‑interest, even in spiritual quests. **In simple terms:** Even spiritual seekers are self‑interested. Key Takeaway Accept that self‑interest is universal. Themes spirituality self‑interest human nature ego Mood thoughtful philosophical Type literary reflective When to use this quote - personal growth - mindfulness practice - philosophical discussion - literary analysis Key Concepts existentialism psychology of desire Questions to Reflect On - Can self‑interest coexist with genuine altruism? - How does acknowledging ego affect spiritual practice? A Different Perspective It may overlook altruistic motives that coexist with self‑interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Religion-spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [Consumers, when they've only got a couple of quid left in their pockets, are choosy about how they want to spend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-easterbrook/consumers-when-they-ve-only-got-a-couple-of-quid-left-in-their/) [Steve Easterbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-easterbrook/) > [Of course, I am choosy because I want to do good cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konkona-sen-sharma/of-course-i-am-choosy-because-i-want-to-do-good-cinema/) [Konkona Sen Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konkona-sen-sharma/) > [“The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistical and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary, it makes them , for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-common-idea-that-success-spoils-people-by-making-them-vain-2/) [W. 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The well is within us, And if we dig deeply in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/enlightenment-peace-and-joy-will-not-be-granted-by-someone-else-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't you think I have sense enough to worry about my motives for saying the prayer? That's exactly what's bothering me so. Just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-you-think-i-have-sense-enough-to-worry-about-my-motives-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because anybody can find their fan base through the Internet, it opens opportunities up for talented people along with people like Rebecca Black. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-palomo/because-anybody-can-find-their-fan-base-through-the-internet-it-opens/) [Alan Palomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-palomo/) > [“My secret wish is right now to be romancing this dead girl. A dead girl. Any dead girl. 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If I don't feel it, then I am not able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jubin-nautiyal/i-am-a-very-choosy-guy-sometimes-it-gets-very-irritating-for/) [Jubin Nautiyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jubin-nautiyal/) > [The charm, one might say the genius, of memory is that it is choosy, chancy and temperamental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-charm-one-might-say-the-genius-of-memory-is-that-it-is-choosy/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > ['Promiscuous' implies that I'm not choosy. In fact I'm very choosy. I just happen to have had a lot of choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacki-weaver/promiscuous-implies-that-i-m-not-choosy-in-fact-i-m-very-choosy-i/) [Jacki Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacki-weaver/) ## More by J.D. 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If he didn’t have a cigar to hold on to, his feet would leave the ground. We’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/the-cigars-are-ballast-sweetheart-sheer-ballast-if-he-didn-t-have-a/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“They're just people that write poems that get published and anthologized all over the place but they're not poets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/they-re-just-people-that-write-poems-that-get-published-and/) [J.D. 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