--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So endless and exorbitant are the desires…" description: "\"So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with less.\" — Jonathan Swift" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/jonathan-swift-433_desire_so-endless-and-exorbitant-are-the-desire_76281.jpg" --- # So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they… ![“So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with less.” quote by Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/jonathan-swift-433_desire_so-endless-and-exorbitant-are-the-desire_76281.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/jonathan-swift-433_desire_so-endless-and-exorbitant-are-the-desire_76281.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/jonathan-swift-433_desire_so-endless-and-exorbitant-are-the-desire_76281.jpg) > “So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with less.” [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human desire is insatiable, leading people to chase endless wants without a clear vision of true contentment. **In simple terms:** Insatiable desire prevents clear happiness. Key Takeaway Desire overwhelms rational pursuit of happiness. Themes desire human nature contentment irrationality philosophy Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical maxim When to use this quote - consumerism - career ambition - relationship expectations - political promises Key Concepts insatiability happiness goal formation Practical Applications - ethical marketing - personal coaching Questions to Reflect On - How do our wants shape our definition of happiness? - Can limiting desire lead to greater fulfillment? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Perfect happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-happiness/) [Schemes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemes/) ## Related quotes > [Moral laws are set as a curb and restraint to these exorbitant desires, which they cannot be but by rewards and punishments, that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/moral-laws-are-set-as-a-curb-and-restraint-to-these-exorbitant/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“It was so unfair. Like the exorbitant cost of designer shoes. Or world hunger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/it-was-so-unfair-like-the-exorbitant-cost-of-designer-shoes-or-world/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Fortunately for those who pay their court through such foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, the most rapacious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/fortunately-for-those-who-pay-their-court-through-such-foibles-a-fond/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [The harsh truth is that 'respectability' is the exorbitant tax we African Americans are forced to pay daily as we try to live out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/the-harsh-truth-is-that-respectability-is-the-exorbitant-tax-we/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Making 'Sweetback' took an exorbitant amount of energy and time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/making-sweetback-took-an-exorbitant-amount-of-energy-and-time/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [The forces which are working out the great scheme of perfect happiness, taking no account of incidental suffering, exterminate such sections of mankind as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-forces-which-are-working-out-the-great-scheme-of-perfect/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“Important events may be shaped by chance and natural factors -- disease, famine, prosperity, even weather – but the thoughts and desires of men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schell/important-events-may-be-shaped-by-chance-and-natural-factors-disease/) Robert Schell > [“As a result we are more and more directing the desires of men to something which does not exist—making the rôle of the eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/as-a-result-we-are-more-and-more-directing-the-desires-of-men-to/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Alas, put no faith in such a bond of union. interpreting freedom as the multiplication and rapid satisfaction of desires, men distort their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/alas-put-no-faith-in-such-a-bond-of-union-interpreting-freedom-as-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [It is impossible to abolish either with a law or an axe the desires of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/it-is-impossible-to-abolish-either-with-a-law-or-an-axe-the-desires/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“God desires that all men would come to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and through Him come to know Him personally and intimately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/god-desires-that-all-men-would-come-to-saving-knowledge-of-jesus/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [It is impossible to abolish either with a law or an ax the desires of men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/it-is-impossible-to-abolish-either-with-a-law-or-an-ax-the-desires-of/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Countless are, as the sand in the sea, the deep desires of men, and none resembles the other, and all of them, whether shameful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/countless-are-as-the-sand-in-the-sea-the-deep-desires-of-men-and-none/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does not prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men) do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/therefore-the-sage-desires-what-other-men-do-not-desire-and-does-not/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“In Zilboorg’s interpretation of the primal scene, women become sexual and economic slaves in the family. The co-operative socialist William Thompson provided a similar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-pateman/in-zilboorg-s-interpretation-of-the-primal-scene-women-become-sexual/) [Carole Pateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-pateman/) ## More by Jonathan Swift > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“He said, he knew no reason why those who entertain opinions prejudicial to the public should be obliged to change, or should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/he-said-he-knew-no-reason-why-those-who-entertain-opinions/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-best-maxim-i-know-in-this-life-is-to-drink-your-coffee-when-you/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [A forward critic often dupes us With sham quotations peri hupsos, And if we have not read Longinus, Will magisterially outshine us. Then, lest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-forward-critic-often-dupes-us-with-sham-quotations-peri-hupsos-and/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [May you live every day of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/may-you-live-every-day-of-your-life/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Ale is meat, drink and cloth; it will make a cat speak and a wise man dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/ale-is-meat-drink-and-cloth-it-will-make-a-cat-speak-and-a-wise-man/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; it is like spending this year part of the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/all-fits-of-pleasure-are-balanced-by-an-equal-degree-of-pain-or/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“When a great genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign; that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/when-a-great-genius-appears-in-the-world-you-may-know-him-by-this/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals: for instance, I hate the tribe of lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-have-ever-hated-all-nations-professions-and-communities-and-all-my/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Vanity is a natural object of temptation to a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/vanity-is-a-natural-object-of-temptation-to-a-woman/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) [Explore all 535 Jonathan Swift quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. 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