--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I realized that you can get so used to…" description: "\"“I realized that you can get so used to certain luxuries that you start to think they’re necessities, but when you have to forgo them, you come to see ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/jeannette-walls-1378_necessities_i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-c_2176806.jpg" --- # I realized that you can get so used to certain luxuries… ![“I realized that you can get so used to certain luxuries that you start to think they’re necessities, but when you have to forgo them, you come to see that you don’t need them after all. There was a big difference between needing things and wanting things—though a lot of people had trouble telling…” quote by Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/jeannette-walls-1378_necessities_i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-c_2176806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/jeannette-walls-1378_necessities_i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-c_2176806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/jeannette-walls-1378_necessities_i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-c_2176806.jpg) > ““I realized that you can get so used to certain luxuries that you start to think they’re necessities, but when you have to forgo them, you come to see that you don’t need them after all. There was a big difference between needing things and wanting things—though a lot of people had trouble telling the two apart—and at the ranch, I could see, we’d have pretty much everything we’d need but precious little else.”” [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often mistake comfort for necessity; loss reveals true needs versus wants. **In simple terms:** Luxury feels essential until it's gone. Key Takeaway Recognize and prioritize genuine needs. Themes materialism gratitude minimalism self-awareness Mood reflective introspective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - budgeting - travel - moving homes Key Concepts psychology consumer culture Questions to Reflect On - What comforts could you live without? - How do you differentiate need from want? A Different Perspective Comfort can become a crutch, hindering resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [As I sat down, though, I realized that you can get used to certain luxuries that you start to think they're necessities, but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/as-i-sat-down-though-i-realized-that-you-can-get-used-to-certain/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“sat down, though, I realized that you can get so used to certain luxuries that you start to think they’re necessities, but when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/sat-down-though-i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-certain/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“...very few Westerners, I thought, could tolerate such a way of life- for it would mean having to forgo the luxuries which we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/very-few-westerners-i-thought-could-tolerate-such-a-way-of-life-for/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [...after you stop wanting things is when having them won't make you go crazy. After you stop wanting them is when you can handle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/after-you-stop-wanting-things-is-when-having-them-won-t-make-you-go/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I want you and I hate wanting things and I especially hate admitting I want them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-want-you-and-i-hate-wanting-things-and-i-especially-hate-admitting/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [It's weak and despicable to go on wanting things and not trying to get them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-milner/it-s-weak-and-despicable-to-go-on-wanting-things-and-not-trying-to/) [Marion Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-milner/) > [“I’m extra good at wanting things. I want things until I feel sort of sick about them. I want enough for two normal people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-m-extra-good-at-wanting-things-i-want-things-until-i-feel-sort-of/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Even when we get what we addictively want, our wanting to keep things that way automatically creates a new addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-keyes-jr/even-when-we-get-what-we-addictively-want-our-wanting-to-keep-things/) [Ken Keyes Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-keyes-jr/) > [“And sometimes, sometimes , wanting things, wishing for, working for them, is a good thing. Otherwise, we become nothing but spoiled boys and girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tawn-bergren/and-sometimes-sometimes-wanting-things-wishing-for-working-for-them/) [Lisa Tawn Bergren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tawn-bergren/) > [“I wanted to write “I Want” because wanting is one of the things I want most in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wanted-to-write-i-want-because-wanting-is-one-of-the-things-i-want/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [It's about challenging yourself; wanting to do things that push you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/it-s-about-challenging-yourself-wanting-to-do-things-that-push-you/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [It was curious that when we had been able to buy new clothes when we wanted we had never really appreciated them nor enjoyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/it-was-curious-that-when-we-had-been-able-to-buy-new-clothes-when-we/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [We all think we're different, but when it comes around, we end up needing the same things. Somebody to love us. Somebody to respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/we-all-think-we-re-different-but-when-it-comes-around-we-end-up/) [Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/) > [“Essential to life, is desiring the things that you need, than needing the things you desire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/essential-to-life-is-desiring-the-things-that-you-need-than-needing/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [I'm a great believer in needing things that give us some hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lucas/i-m-a-great-believer-in-needing-things-that-give-us-some-hope/) [Caroline Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lucas/) ## More by Jeannette Walls > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“You should never hate anyone, not even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You had to find the redeeming quality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-not-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [With a complicated childhood, you can either focus on the positive or the negative, and I chose to focus on the positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/with-a-complicated-childhood-you-can-either-focus-on-the-positive-or/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [She never felt sorry for herself, and that was something I decided I admired most in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/she-never-felt-sorry-for-herself-and-that-was-something-i-decided-i/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“If you want to live in the farmland, haul your sorry hide off to Pennsylvania.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/if-you-want-to-live-in-the-farmland-haul-your-sorry-hide-off-to/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“I WAS SITTING IN a taxi, wondering if I had overdressed for the evening, when I looked out the window and saw Mom rooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-was-sitting-in-a-taxi-wondering-if-i-had-overdressed-for-the/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I had the big shoulders; I had the big hair. I loved the '80s. It was all about power women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-had-the-big-shoulders-i-had-the-big-hair-i-loved-the-80s-it-was-all/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Things usually work out in the end." "What if they don't?" "That just means you haven't come to the end yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/things-usually-work-out-in-the-end-what-if-they-don-t-that-just-means/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“That was the way man was meant to live, he’d say, in harmony with the wild, like the Indians, not this lords-of-the-earth crap, trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/that-was-the-way-man-was-meant-to-live-he-d-say-in-harmony-with-the/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Sometimes you need a little crisis to get your adrenaline flowing and help you realize your potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/sometimes-you-need-a-little-crisis-to-get-your-adrenaline-flowing-and/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Don’t be afraid of your dark places,” Mom told her. “If you can shine a light on them, you’ll find treasure there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/don-t-be-afraid-of-your-dark-places-mom-told-her-if-you-can-shine-a/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I hate Erma," I told Mom... "You have to show compassion for her..." She added that you should never hate anyone, even your worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-hate-erma-i-told-mom-you-have-to-show-compassion-for-her-she-added/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Sad state to spend your life in. Being afraid of your own self." Rex Walls”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/sad-state-to-spend-your-life-in-being-afraid-of-your-own-self-rex/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I was so worried that people wouldn't like me or my story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-was-so-worried-that-people-wouldn-t-like-me-or-my-story/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“the surest way to feel rich was to invest in quality nonessentials.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/the-surest-way-to-feel-rich-was-to-invest-in-quality-nonessentials/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) [Explore all 247 Jeannette Walls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) ## More Necessities quotes > [Enjoy the necessities of life but eschew the excesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gardner/enjoy-the-necessities-of-life-but-eschew-the-excesses/) [Ian Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gardner/) > [“give me the luxuries of life and I will gladly do without the necessities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/give-me-the-luxuries-of-life-and-i-will-gladly-do-without-the/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [so few in reality are the true necessities of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/so-few-in-reality-are-the-true-necessities-of-man/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [It's often hard for us to imagine going without some of our luxuries like travel, dining out, or Internet, much less our basic necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/it-s-often-hard-for-us-to-imagine-going-without-some-of-our-luxuries/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [The Constitution of the United States, like all systems of government which are permanent, had its origin in the history and necessities of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-freeman-miller/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-like-all-systems-of-government/) [Samuel Freeman Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-freeman-miller/) > [“Meeting a thousand needs for one client is better than having a thousand clients whose needs you cannot meet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/meeting-a-thousand-needs-for-one-client-is-better-than-having-a/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-library-is-not-a-luxury-but-one-of-the-necessities-of-life/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Capitalism is about turning luxuries into necessities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/capitalism-is-about-turning-luxuries-into-necessities/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/necessities-can-be-many-but-the-one-that-is-stronger-is-that-which/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“The vessel was just comfortable for two people; there was room only for necessities, and Flambeau had stocked it with such things as his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-vessel-was-just-comfortable-for-two-people-there-was-room-only/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Our necessities are few, but our wants are endless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/our-necessities-are-few-but-our-wants-are-endless/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Our values are not luxuries, but necessities. They are not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/our-values-are-not-luxuries-but-necessities-they-are-not-the-salt-in/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“The need has to be defined by an Individual. If the basic need of quenching thirst can be met by a glass of water,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajay-chaturvedi/the-need-has-to-be-defined-by-an-individual-if-the-basic-need-of/) Ajay Chaturvedi > [Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lothrop-motley/give-us-the-luxuries-of-life-and-we-will-dispense-with-its-necessities/) [John Lothrop Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lothrop-motley/) > [Free choice - a small selection between pre-established necessities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/free-choice-a-small-selection-between-pre-established-necessities/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) Browse all 69 Necessities quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I realized that you can get so used to certain luxuries that you start to think they’re necessities, but when you have to forgo them, you come to see that you don’t need them after all. There was a big difference between needing things and wanting things—though a lot of people had trouble telling the two apart—and at the ranch, I could see, we’d have pretty much everything we’d need but precious little else.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeannette Walls" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-certain-luxuries-that-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Necessities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-certain-luxuries-that-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/jeannette-walls-1378_necessities_i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-c_2176806.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/jeannette-walls-1378_necessities_i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-c_2176806.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/jeannette-walls-1378_necessities_i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-c_2176806.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I realized that you can get so used to certain luxuries that you start to think they’re necessities, but…” — Jeannette Walls", "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": "Jeannette Walls", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I realized that you can get...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-certain-luxuries-that-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-realized-that-you-can-get-so-used-to-certain-luxuries-that-you/#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 } } ] } ```