Appetite Quote by Jeanette Winterson
““The fatal combination of indulgence without feeling disgusts me. Strange to be both greedy and dead. For myself, I prefer to hold my desires just out of reach of appetite, to keep myself honed and sharp. I want the keen edge of longing. it is so easy to be a brute and yet it has become rather fashionable. Is that the consequence of leaving your body to science? Of assuming that another pill, another drug, another car, another pocket-sized home-movie station, a DNA transfer, or the complete freedom of choice that five hundred TV channels must bring, will make everything all right? Will soothe the nagging pain in the heart that the latest laser scan refuses to diagnose? The doctor's surgery is full of men and women who do not know why they are unhappy. "Take this", says the Doctor, "you'll soon feel better." They do not feel better, because, little by little, they cease to feel at all.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Passion, Jeanette Winterson, 1987
Indulgence without self‑disgust leads to emptiness; desire should be restrained to stay sharp and alive.
In simple terms: Desire must be tempered to stay alive.
Key Takeaway
Keep desires just out of reach.
Themes
self‑control
modernity
discontent
health
technology
Mood
reflective
critical
melancholic
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- healthcare critique
- media overload
- philosophical discussion
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
existentialism
consumerism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does restraint affect well‑being?
- Can technology truly replace emotional fulfillment?
A Different Perspective
The quote idealizes restraint without acknowledging genuine needs.
![“People being encouraged to make up their own minds and think for themselves is so important. This world talks endlessly about freedom of choice, but we've never been [nothing] more than a nation of robots. Everybody is seduced by corporate culture.” quote by Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3f4/jeanette-winterson-166_choices_people-being-encouraged-to-make-up-their_1764884.jpg)
