--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't find a man I want, and I'm…" description: "\"“I can't find a man I want, and I'm beginning to think the problem is me. Maybe I expect too much. Maybe I'm holding out for something that doesn't eve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/karen-marie-moning-189_desire_i-can-t-find-a-man-i-want-and-i-m-beginn_2554578.jpg" --- # I can't find a man I want, and I'm beginning to think the… ![“I can't find a man I want, and I'm beginning to think the problem is me. Maybe I expect too much. Maybe I'm holding out for something that doesn't even exist." She'd voiced her secret fear. Maybe grand passion was just a dream. With all the kissing she'd done in the past few months, she'd not once…” quote by Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/karen-marie-moning-189_desire_i-can-t-find-a-man-i-want-and-i-m-beginn_2554578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/karen-marie-moning-189_desire_i-can-t-find-a-man-i-want-and-i-m-beginn_2554578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/karen-marie-moning-189_desire_i-can-t-find-a-man-i-want-and-i-m-beginn_2554578.jpg) > ““I can't find a man I want, and I'm beginning to think the problem is me. Maybe I expect too much. Maybe I'm holding out for something that doesn't even exist." She'd voiced her secret fear. Maybe grand passion was just a dream. With all the kissing she'd done in the past few months, she'd not once been overcome with desire. Her parents certainly hadn't had any great passion between them. Come to think of it, she wasn't sure she'd ever seen grand passion outside of a movie theater or a book.”” [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unrealistic expectations and fear of intimacy can mask deeper self‑doubt, preventing genuine connection. **In simple terms:** High expectations block true love. Key Takeaway Examine your expectations. Themes self‑esteem relationships expectations Mood reflective melancholic Type personal literary When to use this quote - dating - friendships - personal growth - therapy Key Concepts psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - What does “grand passion” mean to you? - How can you lower unrealistic standards? A Different Perspective Idealizing love can lead to chronic disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Hard truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-truths/) [Highlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highlander/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Movie theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-theater/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) ## Related quotes > [I know that fitness helps me to be better at everything I do and to live my life in the best possible way, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-buttler/i-know-that-fitness-helps-me-to-be-better-at-everything-i-do-and-to/) [Jos Buttler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-buttler/) > [A grand passion is the privelege of people who have nothing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-grand-passion-is-the-privelege-of-people-who-have-nothing-to-do/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [In how many lives does love really play a dominant part? The average taxpayer is no more capable of the grand passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-zangwill/in-how-many-lives-does-love-really-play-a-dominant-part-the-average/) [Israel Zangwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-zangwill/) > [There exists within everyone a grand passion, an outlandish thirst for adventure, a desire to live boldly and vividly through the journey of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/there-exists-within-everyone-a-grand-passion-an-outlandish-thirst-for/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [To demand of strength that it should not express itself as strength, that it should not be a desire to overcome, a desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-demand-of-strength-that-it-should-not-express-itself-as-strength/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“And by midafternoon he was again overcome with the desire to be somewhere else, someone else, someone else somewhere else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/and-by-midafternoon-he-was-again-overcome-with-the-desire-to-be/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is a rare woman who can overcome her desire to remain pretty and allow herself to become beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/it-is-a-rare-woman-who-can-overcome-her-desire-to-remain-pretty-and/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Often the best way to overcome desire is to satisfy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/often-the-best-way-to-overcome-desire-is-to-satisfy-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just one time before I turn into the villain of this piece, just one time before I become the fourth and final Unseelie prince,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/just-one-time-before-i-turn-into-the-villain-of-this-piece-just-one/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Gwen smiled. "Hardly. Bedraggled is being in the full throes of nicotine withdrawal, and after a week on a bus with a group of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/gwen-smiled-hardly-bedraggled-is-being-in-the-full-throes-of-nicotine/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [As his other hand began to slip around her waist, his body brushed against hers, and there was no mistaking the thick, hard ridge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/as-his-other-hand-began-to-slip-around-her-waist-his-body-brushed/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [And now she was just Gabby, currently staying in a dreamy, magnificent castle in Scotland with a Fae prince who did all kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-now-she-was-just-gabby-currently-staying-in-a-dreamy-magnificent/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [That part of his body was simply uncontrollable, apparently functioning in accordance to a single law of nature: She existed--he got a hard-on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/that-part-of-his-body-was-simply-uncontrollable-apparently/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Is there anything love couldn't make us do? --MARTIAL, C.E. C.40-104”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/is-there-anything-love-couldn-t-make-us-do-martial-c-e-c-40-104/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [There should be a vaccine against Adam Black. And all women should be given it at birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/there-should-be-a-vaccine-against-adam-black-and-all-women-should-be/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## More by Karen Marie Moning > [“I can either be a victim—or a winner. Fuck victimhood. I don’t wear it well; it clashes with my wardrobe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-can-either-be-a-victim-or-a-winner-fuck-victimhood-i-don-t-wear-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Some things are sacred. Until you act like they're not. Then you lose them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/some-things-are-sacred-until-you-act-like-they-re-not-then-you-lose/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Who would ever understand me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/who-would-ever-understand-me/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I think I’m under control, that I’ve stripped away all weaknesses. That committing to my mission has made me impervious. I’m wrong. The thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-think-i-m-under-control-that-i-ve-stripped-away-all-weaknesses-that/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Desire makes life happen. Makes it matter. Makes everything worth it. Desire is life. Hunger to see the next sunrise or sunset, to touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/desire-makes-life-happen-makes-it-matter-makes-everything-worth-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Our sex is fierce. We will both be bruised. "I want it to always be like this," I tell him. "Try holding onto that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/our-sex-is-fierce-we-will-both-be-bruised-i-want-it-to-always-be-like/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Keep hoping to see the light in her eyes. Even knowing it'll mean she's saying good-bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/keep-hoping-to-see-the-light-in-her-eyes-even-knowing-it-ll-mean-she/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Strength wasn‘t about being able to do everything alone. Strength was knowing when to ask for help and not being too proud to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/strength-wasn-t-about-being-able-to-do-everything-alone-strength-was/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“He swapped the fistful of my shirt for one in my hair, and ground his mouth against mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-swapped-the-fistful-of-my-shirt-for-one-in-my-hair-and-ground-his/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [He’s so beautiful,” she said wistfully. “He’s like an angel.” “Yep,” I agreed flatly. “The one that fell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-s-so-beautiful-she-said-wistfully-he-s-like-an-angel-yep-i-agreed/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) [Explore all 940 Karen Marie Moning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## 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. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I can't find a man I want, and I'm beginning to think the problem is me. Maybe I expect too much. Maybe I'm holding out for something that doesn't even exist.\" She'd voiced her secret fear. Maybe grand passion was just a dream. With all the kissing she'd done in the past few months, she'd not once been overcome with desire. Her parents certainly hadn't had any great passion between them. 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