---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody ever wants what they've got, \" he…"
description: "\"“Nobody ever wants what they've got, \" he said”\" — Jodi Picoult"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/jodi-picoult-45_said_nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-sa_461039.jpg"
---

#  Nobody ever wants what they've got, " he said

![“Nobody ever wants what they've got, &quot; he said” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/jodi-picoult-45_said_nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-sa_461039.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/jodi-picoult-45_said_nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-sa_461039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/jodi-picoult-45_said_nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-sa_461039.jpg)

> ““Nobody ever wants what they've got, " he said””

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

## 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 desire what they lack, overlooking the value of what they already possess.

**In simple terms:** We crave the unattainable, ignoring what we have.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate current blessings.

Themes

desire contentment human nature psychology

Mood

reflective emotional

Type

self‑help literary

When to use this quote

- Relationship counseling
- career planning
- personal finance
- mindfulness practice

Key Concepts

Self‑help literary psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What are you overlooking in your life?
- How can you balance desire with gratitude?

A Different Perspective

Desire can motivate growth but also cause chronic dissatisfaction.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Got Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-said-654204/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Wants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants/) [Wants Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-ve-1869209/)

## Related quotes

> [Whatever God wants to do through you, He will do in you first. You've got to be what you want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/whatever-god-wants-to-do-through-you-he-will-do-in-you-first-you-ve/)

[Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/)

> [The more you love someone the more he wants from you and the less you have to give since you've already given him your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/the-more-you-love-someone-the-more-he-wants-from-you-and-the-less-you/)

[Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/)

> [Anybody that's got a problem with me is probably envious or wants to be me, and that's how I've always looked at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/anybody-that-s-got-a-problem-with-me-is-probably-envious-or-wants-to/)

[Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/)

> [When you get your opportunities, you've just got to go with what they said... I'll do what's necessary wherever they put me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-jackson/when-you-get-your-opportunities-you-ve-just-got-to-go-with-what-they/)

[Malik Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-jackson/)

> [I hit Ali with everything and he said 'is that all you got' and I said 'yeah, that's pretty much it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-hit-ali-with-everything-and-he-said-is-that-all-you-got-and-i-said/)

[George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/)

> [So every artist and would-be artist makes this same phrase: 'I knew, I never got it said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-wylie/so-every-artist-and-would-be-artist-makes-this-same-phrase-i-knew-i/)

[Philip Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-wylie/)

> [“Things got said, the kinds of embarrassing things that don't go away. Tempers ran high. My paternal grandfather's teak desk required a new panel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-kress/things-got-said-the-kinds-of-embarrassing-things-that-don-t-go-away/)

[Nancy Kress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-kress/)

> [“Kittridge closed his eyes. So, the end. It would happen instantaneously, a painless departure, quicker than thought. he felt the presence of his body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/kittridge-closed-his-eyes-so-the-end-it-would-happen-instantaneously/)

[Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/)

> [“not how we got here,” she said as she went. “Or even that we are here. It’s where we go from here.” A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lawson-timmer/not-how-we-got-here-she-said-as-she-went-or-even-that-we-are-here-it/)

[Julie Lawson Timmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lawson-timmer/)

> [“Don’t fret none, darlin’. I got your back.” “You said that in Budapest. I still have the scars, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/don-t-fret-none-darlin-i-got-your-back-you-said-that-in-budapest-i/)

[Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/)

> [“I got this," said Nix, raising her bokken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/i-got-this-said-nix-raising-her-bokken/)

[Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/)

> [“I never even got your name in my back,” V said. “I thought it was stupid and a waste of time . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-3/i-never-even-got-your-name-in-my-back-v-said-i-thought-it-was-stupid/)

[J.R.Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-3/)

> [“Kayla snatched the ruby-coloured bra he'd dug out from behind his back. "You should know, you're the one who got it off me," she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/kayla-snatched-the-ruby-coloured-bra-he-d-dug-out-from-behind-his/)

[Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/)

> [“It’s not how we got here,” she said as she went. “Or even that we are here. It’s where we go from here.” A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lawson-timmer/it-s-not-how-we-got-here-she-said-as-she-went-or-even-that-we-are/)

[Julie Lawson Timmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lawson-timmer/)

> [“Face it,' I said. 'There is no true life. Your true life is the one you end up with, whatever it may be. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/face-it-i-said-there-is-no-true-life-your-true-life-is-the-one-you/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

## More by Jodi Picoult

> [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. I've wanted her since you two started dating."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/let-me-guess-eric-says-you-never-meant-for-it-to-happen-hell-yes-i/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Music is the language of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/music-is-the-language-of-memory/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“sometimes words are not big enough to contain all the feelings you are trying to pour into them. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. Sharing DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/here-s-what-i-hadn-t-realized-the-mother-you-haven-t-seen-for-almost/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

[Explore all 2,062 Jodi Picoult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

## More Said quotes

> [High school sucked. It was a universal truth, and whoever said these were supposed to be the best years of your life was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/high-school-sucked-it-was-a-universal-truth-and-whoever-said-these/)

[Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/)

> [I have three words for you," EMT Guy said. "Possible internal bleeding." I turned back to him. "Don't you think if I was bleeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-have-three-words-for-you-emt-guy-said-possible-internal-bleeding-i/)

[Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/)

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/)

[Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/)

> [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/)

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

> [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/)

[Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

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

> [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/)

> [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/)

[Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/)

> [I'm proud to say I had a bet with a guy from Chicago who said Chicago is windier and colder than Wyoming. Wyoming dominated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/i-m-proud-to-say-i-had-a-bet-with-a-guy-from-chicago-who-said-chicago/)

[Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/)

> [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/)

[Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/)

> [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/)

[Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/)

[Browse all 30,273 Said quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Nobody ever wants what they've got, \" he said”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jodi Picoult"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-said/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Said"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-said/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/jodi-picoult-45_said_nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-sa_461039.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/jodi-picoult-45_said_nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-sa_461039.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/jodi-picoult-45_said_nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-sa_461039.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Nobody ever wants what they've got, \" he said” — Jodi Picoult",
                "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": "Jodi Picoult",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Nobody ever wants what they've got,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-said/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/nobody-ever-wants-what-they-ve-got-he-said/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
