--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human beings, he argued, are not…" description: "\"“Human beings, he argued, are not hardwired for seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. They want meaning. In spite of what we say, we don’t want happiness..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/jeff-goins-9892_avoiding-pain_human-beings-he-argued-are-not-hardwired_1265926.jpg" --- # Human beings, he argued, are not hardwired for seeking… ![“Human beings, he argued, are not hardwired for seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. They want meaning. In spite of what we say, we don’t want happiness. It’s simply not enough to satisfy our deepest longings. We are looking for something more, something transcendent—a reason to be happy.5 As” quote by Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/jeff-goins-9892_avoiding-pain_human-beings-he-argued-are-not-hardwired_1265926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/jeff-goins-9892_avoiding-pain_human-beings-he-argued-are-not-hardwired_1265926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/jeff-goins-9892_avoiding-pain_human-beings-he-argued-are-not-hardwired_1265926.jpg) > ““Human beings, he argued, are not hardwired for seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. They want meaning. In spite of what we say, we don’t want happiness. It’s simply not enough to satisfy our deepest longings. We are looking for something more, something transcendent—a reason to be happy.5 As”” [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans seek purpose beyond pleasure; meaning drives deeper fulfillment than fleeting happiness. **In simple terms:** People crave purpose more than pleasure. Key Takeaway Pursue meaning, not just happiness. Themes purpose meaning transcendence fulfillment Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choices - creative projects - spiritual practice - relationship building Key Concepts existentialism psychology human motivation Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life purpose? - How can you integrate meaning with pleasure? A Different Perspective Meaning alone may not guarantee happiness; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoiding pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding-pain/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-want-254822/) [Satisfy Deepest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfy-deepest-2668655/) [Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking/) [Seeking Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking-pleasure-575116/) [Want Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-happiness/) ## Related quotes > [“Seeking pleasure and avoiding pain are two key motivators in all species. When we feel discomfort, we seek to escape the uncomfortable sensation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/seeking-pleasure-and-avoiding-pain-are-two-key-motivators-in-all/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [There is nothing on earth that can satisfy our deepest longing. We long to see God. The leaves of life are rustling with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-is-nothing-on-earth-that-can-satisfy-our-deepest-longing-we/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There is no man on the face of the earth who can satisfy the deepest longings of a woman's heart--God made us in such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/there-is-no-man-on-the-face-of-the-earth-who-can-satisfy-the-deepest/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [All the suffering in the world comes from seeking pleasure for oneself. All the happiness in the world comes from seeking pleasure for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/all-the-suffering-in-the-world-comes-from-seeking-pleasure-for/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Living in the present is the instant perception of beauty and the great delight in it without seeking pleasure from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/living-in-the-present-is-the-instant-perception-of-beauty-and-the/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“So if you understand that where there is a search for pleasure there must be pain, live that way if you want to, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/so-if-you-understand-that-where-there-is-a-search-for-pleasure-there/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Do not direct all your energies towards seeking pleasure but rather towards a sublime ideal. Your energies will then serve you and contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omraam-mikhael-aivanhov/do-not-direct-all-your-energies-towards-seeking-pleasure-but-rather/) [Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omraam-mikhael-aivanhov/) > [“A moment of true happiness is worth far more than years spent seeking pleasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-howard-creelman/a-moment-of-true-happiness-is-worth-far-more-than-years-spent-seeking/) [C. Howard Creelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-howard-creelman/) > [A life devoted to seeking pleasure, is a life committed to being discontent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guerrero/a-life-devoted-to-seeking-pleasure-is-a-life-committed-to-being/) [David Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guerrero/) > [When I do things my way, I exhaust pleasure very quickly. It is not that Christianity has failed to teach me how to delight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/when-i-do-things-my-way-i-exhaust-pleasure-very-quickly-it-is-not/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [All pleasure is a vice, for seeking pleasure is what everybody does in life, and the only dark vice is doing what everybody does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/all-pleasure-is-a-vice-for-seeking-pleasure-is-what-everybody-does-in/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“All pleasure is a vice because seeking pleasure is what everyone does in life, and the worst vice of all is to do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/all-pleasure-is-a-vice-because-seeking-pleasure-is-what-everyone-does/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [I am now quite cured of seeking pleasure in society, be it country or town. A sensible man ought to find sufficient company in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-am-now-quite-cured-of-seeking-pleasure-in-society-be-it-country-or/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [At the heart of our desires is eternal happiness without the slightest hint of misery. You could say that we are pleasure seekers; however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-cole-whittaker/at-the-heart-of-our-desires-is-eternal-happiness-without-the/) [Terry Cole-Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-cole-whittaker/) > [I am now quite cured of seeking pleasure in society, be it country or town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-am-now-quite-cured-of-seeking-pleasure-in-society-be-it-country-or-2/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) ## More by Jeff Goins > [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“This is the world we live in today: a noisy, cluttered place in which the loudest voices get the most attention. And they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/this-is-the-world-we-live-in-today-a-noisy-cluttered-place-in-which/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“Sometimes, your ideas aren’t as good as you think. Other times, the world just isn’t ready for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/sometimes-your-ideas-aren-t-as-good-as-you-think-other-times-the/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“Fear, indecision, not knowing—these are the obstacles that keep you from moving forward. And they never go away. But if you are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/fear-indecision-not-knowing-these-are-the-obstacles-that-keep-you/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“This is the Rule of the Scene, which says that places and people shape the success of our work far more than we realize.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/this-is-the-rule-of-the-scene-which-says-that-places-and-people-shape/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“Serving people is the best way to earn influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/serving-people-is-the-best-way-to-earn-influence/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“The truth was much simpler. When do you become a writer? “When you say you are,” he said. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-truth-was-much-simpler-when-do-you-become-a-writer-when-you-say/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“Write something that’s worth fighting over. Because that’s how you change things. That’s how you create art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/write-something-that-s-worth-fighting-over-because-that-s-how-you/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“Rarely do easy and greatness go together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/rarely-do-easy-and-greatness-go-together/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“Every place you go, every person you meet, every job you have is a chance to gain greater clarity in your self-education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/every-place-you-go-every-person-you-meet-every-job-you-have-is-a/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“It’s a choice, writing is. One that belongs to you and me. We get to choose it (or not) every single day. So whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/it-s-a-choice-writing-is-one-that-belongs-to-you-and-me-we-get-to/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“Struggle shapes our character. And character dictates what we will become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/struggle-shapes-our-character-and-character-dictates-what-we-will/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“And as we embrace the wait , we learn to appreciate the delays and postponements that teach us some things in life are worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/and-as-we-embrace-the-wait-we-learn-to-appreciate-the-delays-and/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“When John Grisham finished A Time to Kill, he pitched it to forty different publishers who all rejected the book. Unfazed, he started working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/when-john-grisham-finished-a-time-to-kill-he-pitched-it-to-forty/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“Here’s the truth. The risk of not committing is greater than the cost of making the wrong choice. Because when you fail, you learn.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/here-s-the-truth-the-risk-of-not-committing-is-greater-than-the-cost/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) [Explore all 69 Jeff Goins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) ## More Avoiding pain quotes > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [“The greatest satisfaction comes not from chasing pleasure and avoiding pain, but from the radical acceptance of life as it is, without fighting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/the-greatest-satisfaction-comes-not-from-chasing-pleasure-and/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“The art of life is the art of avoiding pain: and he is the best pilot who steers clearest of the rocks and shoals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-art-of-life-is-the-art-of-avoiding-pain-and-he-is-the-best-pilot/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Remember and Share - Action is the second step in The Hook. - The action is the simplest behavior in anticipation of reward. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/remember-and-share-action-is-the-second-step-in-the-hook-the-action/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [“It sets a dangerous precedent. For avoiding pain? For avoiding life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowell-rainbow/it-sets-a-dangerous-precedent-for-avoiding-pain-for-avoiding-life/) [Rowell Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowell-rainbow/) > [The underlying motivation that drives all addiction is our insistence on avoiding pain. However, the pain you are avoiding is based in the past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-jacobson/the-underlying-motivation-that-drives-all-addiction-is-our-insistence/) [Leonard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-jacobson/) > [“My house was built by a partnership called Desire and Ignorance; they often work together, and always with disastrous consequences. It’s surprising they aren’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-parke/my-house-was-built-by-a-partnership-called-desire-and-ignorance-they/) [Simon Parke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-parke/) > [“Nothing. Nothing. Just … isn’t giving up allowed sometimes? Isn’t it okay to say, ‘This really hurts, so I’m going to stop trying’?” “It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/nothing-nothing-just-isn-t-giving-up-allowed-sometimes-isn-t-it-okay/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Where can I start slow and hold myself accountable?” And, “Where do I need to take that bigger leap? Where have I been avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/where-can-i-start-slow-and-hold-myself-accountable-and-where-do-i/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [Unexplained pain may sometimes direct our attention to something unacknowledged, something we are afraid to know or feel. Then it holds us to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/unexplained-pain-may-sometimes-direct-our-attention-to-something/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [“Avoiding pain causes endless suffering for you and others. Avoiding pain is really selfishness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/avoiding-pain-causes-endless-suffering-for-you-and-others-avoiding/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“To get some distance from this, you first need to get some perspective. Walk outside on a clear night and just look up into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-singer/to-get-some-distance-from-this-you-first-need-to-get-some-perspective/) [Michael A. Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-singer/) > [Epicurus recommends bread and cheese as the staple, and his emphasis is more on avoiding pain than on seeking pleasure, insofar as pleasure-seeking tends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/epicurus-recommends-bread-and-cheese-as-the-staple-and-his-emphasis/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [If men as individuals surrender to the call of their elementary instincts, avoiding pain and seeking satisfaction only for their own selves, the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-men-as-individuals-surrender-to-the-call-of-their-elementary/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Pain in this life is not avoidable, but the pain we create avoiding pain is avoidable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pain-in-this-life-is-not-avoidable-but-the-pain-we-create-avoiding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 39 Avoiding pain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding-pain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Human beings, he argued, are not hardwired for seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. 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