--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When obsessives are given their object of…" description: "\"“When obsessives are given their object of desire, what do they feel? It was hard to say, really. In a sense their lives were ending; yet something els..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/kim-stanley-robinson-2148_desire_when-obsessives-are-given-their-object-o_2488746.png" --- # When obsessives are given their object of desire, what do… ![“When obsessives are given their object of desire, what do they feel? It was hard to say, really. In a sense their lives were ending; yet something else, some other life, had finally, finally begun…. Filled with so many emotions at once, it was impossible not to be confused; it was an interference…” quote by Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/kim-stanley-robinson-2148_desire_when-obsessives-are-given-their-object-o_2488746.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/kim-stanley-robinson-2148_desire_when-obsessives-are-given-their-object-o_2488746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/kim-stanley-robinson-2148_desire_when-obsessives-are-given-their-object-o_2488746.png) > ““When obsessives are given their object of desire, what do they feel? It was hard to say, really. In a sense their lives were ending; yet something else, some other life, had finally, finally begun…. Filled with so many emotions at once, it was impossible not to be confused; it was an interference pattern, some feelings cancelled, others reinforced.”” [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a deep desire is finally met, it can feel both an ending and a new beginning, creating a complex blend of emotions that can be confusing and contradictory. **In simple terms:** Achieving a long‑held goal can feel like both ending and starting anew, causing mixed emotions. Key Takeaway Embrace the complexity of emotions after fulfillment. Themes desire transformation conflict emotion Mood reflective introspective hopeful Type literary philosophical emotional When to use this quote - personal milestones - career achievements - relationship milestones - creative breakthroughs Key Concepts psychology existentialism human experience Questions to Reflect On - How do you navigate mixed emotions after a major success? - What new responsibilities arise with your new desire? A Different Perspective The intensity of emotion may mask practical considerations and lead to impulsive decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-feel-262945/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Object Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/object-desire-532209/) [Obsessives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessives-942158/) [Obsessives Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessives-given-942157/) ## Related quotes > [I've encountered Knausgaard obsessives who work for the government. In Hollywood. I've met them at a queer separatist compound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/i-ve-encountered-knausgaard-obsessives-who-work-for-the-government-in/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [Sticklers never read a book without a pencil at hand, to correct the typographical errors. In short, we are unattractive know-all obsessives who get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/sticklers-never-read-a-book-without-a-pencil-at-hand-to-correct-the/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [“we are unattractive know-all obsessives who get things out of proportion and are in continual peril of being disowned by our exasperated families.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/we-are-unattractive-know-all-obsessives-who-get-things-out-of/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [Kids before they're 7 or 8 are like little manic obsessives. They become completely hooked on things and they're slightly crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/kids-before-they-re-7-or-8-are-like-little-manic-obsessives-they/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [“But paranoids might have real enemies and obsessives might obsess about really important stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-goff/but-paranoids-might-have-real-enemies-and-obsessives-might-obsess/) [Stan Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-goff/) > [You do get your stalkers and obsessives though, and it's a huge problem sometimes. When I lived in Jersey, I used to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/you-do-get-your-stalkers-and-obsessives-though-and-it-s-a-huge/) [John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/) > [You may think of me as an object of desire and I'm going to tell you that I can be in front of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-beart/you-may-think-of-me-as-an-object-of-desire-and-i-m-going-to-tell-you/) [Emmanuelle Beart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-beart/) > [It has frequently been said that we never desire what we think absolutely inapprehensible: it is however true that some of our sharpest agonies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/it-has-frequently-been-said-that-we-never-desire-what-we-think/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [“Often the object of a desire, when desire is transformed into hope, becomes more real than reality itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/often-the-object-of-a-desire-when-desire-is-transformed-into-hope/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“A brick could be used to gauge the level of reciprocated sexual interest of the person or object of your desire. A brick works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-to-gauge-the-level-of-reciprocated-sexual/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“To be the object of desire is to be defined in the passive case. To exist in the passive case is to die in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/to-be-the-object-of-desire-is-to-be-defined-in-the-passive-case-to/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [We treat desire as a problem to be solved, address what desire is for and focus on that something and how to acquire it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/we-treat-desire-as-a-problem-to-be-solved-address-what-desire-is-for/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“the object of a desire, when desire is transformed into hope, becomes more real than reality itself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-object-of-a-desire-when-desire-is-transformed-into-hope-becomes/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“No matter how sexy or appealing or flashy or tall, dark, and handsome the object of your desire may be...no matter how AMAZING the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/no-matter-how-sexy-or-appealing-or-flashy-or-tall-dark-and-handsome/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [With attachment all that seems to exist is just me & that object I desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/with-attachment-all-that-seems-to-exist-is-just-me-that-object-i/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) ## More by Kim Stanley Robinson > [The minimum that most minimalists want leaves in place just the institutions who protect their interests. That's libertarians for you - anarchists who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/the-minimum-that-most-minimalists-want-leaves-in-place-just-the/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“It's the love of right lures men to wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/it-s-the-love-of-right-lures-men-to-wrong/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“You can’t make love to your fame. Even though some people try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/you-can-t-make-love-to-your-fame-even-though-some-people-try/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“Memory is a haunting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/memory-is-a-haunting/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“No one cares about books, that’s why you can write anything you want in them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/no-one-cares-about-books-that-s-why-you-can-write-anything-you-want/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“Sometimes I think it's only post-scarcity that evil exists. Before that, it could always be put down to want or fear. It was possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/sometimes-i-think-it-s-only-post-scarcity-that-evil-exists-before/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [Science fiction rarely is about scientists doing real science, in its slowness, its vagueness, the sort of tedious quality of getting out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/science-fiction-rarely-is-about-scientists-doing-real-science-in-its/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [Anyway that's a large part of what economics is - people arbitrarily, or as a matter of taste, assigning numerical values to non-numerical things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/anyway-that-s-a-large-part-of-what-economics-is-people-arbitrarily-or/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“The Earth is bathed in a flood of sunlight. A fierce inundation of photons—on average, 342 joules per second per square meter. 4185 joules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/the-earth-is-bathed-in-a-flood-of-sunlight-a-fierce-inundation-of/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“And so sometimes when you feel strange, when a pang tugs at your heart or it seems like the moment has already happened- or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/and-so-sometimes-when-you-feel-strange-when-a-pang-tugs-at-your-heart/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“...what has mattered are the moments of exposure to every life, when habit is no longer enough, and choices have to be made. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/what-has-mattered-are-the-moments-of-exposure-to-every-life-when/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“There remained a main melody, or a path through a maze—a maze that was like the delta of the Po. He seemed to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/there-remained-a-main-melody-or-a-path-through-a-maze-a-maze-that-was/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“Must redefine utopia. It isn't the perfect end-product of our wishes, define it so and it deserves the scorn of those who sneer when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/must-redefine-utopia-it-isn-t-the-perfect-end-product-of-our-wishes/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“Of course there was no such thing as a true repetition of anything; ever since the pre-Socratics that had been clear, Heraclitus and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/of-course-there-was-no-such-thing-as-a-true-repetition-of-anything/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [But lies were what people wanted; that was politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/but-lies-were-what-people-wanted-that-was-politics/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) [Explore all 183 Kim Stanley Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“When obsessives are given their object of desire, what do they feel? It was hard to say, really. In a sense their lives were ending; yet something else, some other life, had finally, finally begun…. 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