--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The desire of knowledge, like the thirst…" description: "\"The desire of knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.\" — Laurence Sterne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/laurence-sterne-1405_desire_the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst_269901.jpg" --- # The desire of knowledge, like the thirst for riches… ![“The desire of knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.” quote by Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/laurence-sterne-1405_desire_the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst_269901.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/laurence-sterne-1405_desire_the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst_269901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/laurence-sterne-1405_desire_the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst_269901.jpg) > “The desire of knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.” [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The pursuit of knowledge fuels a growing desire, similar to wealth, intensifying as one learns more. **In simple terms:** Learning creates a stronger thirst for more knowledge. Key Takeaway Cultivate continuous curiosity. Themes knowledge desire growth Mood inquisitive motivated Type intellectual inspirational When to use this quote - education - research - career development Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What new subject excites you? - How does learning change your worldview? A Different Perspective The analogy may oversimplify motivations behind learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) ## Related quotes > [The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst-of-riches-increases-ever-with/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [There are two considerations which always imbitter the heart of an avaricious man--the one is a perpetual thirst after more riches, the other the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/there-are-two-considerations-which-always-imbitter-the-heart-of-an/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Take from the philosopher the pleasure of being heard and his desire for knowledge ceases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/take-from-the-philosopher-the-pleasure-of-being-heard-and-his-desire/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Ardent desire for knowledge, in fact, is the one motive attracting and supporting investigators in their efforts; and just this knowledge, really grasped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/ardent-desire-for-knowledge-in-fact-is-the-one-motive-attracting-and/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [“Everything had changed for me, and words that I had never understood before suddenly began to make sense. This came as revelation, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/everything-had-changed-for-me-and-words-that-i-had-never-understood/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [“The tremendous historical need of our unsatisfied modern culture, the assembling around one of countless other cultures, the consuming desire for knowledge--what does all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-tremendous-historical-need-of-our-unsatisfied-modern-culture-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The search for truth is, as it always has been, the noblest expression of the human spirit. Man's insatiable desire for knowledge about himself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-b-fosdick/the-search-for-truth-is-as-it-always-has-been-the-noblest-expression/) [Raymond B. Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-b-fosdick/) > [“There’s power in knowledge and a little power feeds the desire for more of it. If the knowledge is something that few others have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-russell/there-s-power-in-knowledge-and-a-little-power-feeds-the-desire-for/) Jeffery Russell > [“What does our great historical hunger signify, our clutching about us of countless cultures, our consuming desire for knowledge, if not the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-does-our-great-historical-hunger-signify-our-clutching-about-us/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Man did not address his inquiries to the earth on which he stood until a remarkably late stage in the development of his desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-heinrich-ralph-von-koenigswald/man-did-not-address-his-inquiries-to-the-earth-on-which-he-stood/) Gustav Heinrich Ralph von Koenigswald > [Humanities deepest desire for knowledge is justification enough for continuing our quest. and our goal is nothing less than a complete description of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/humanities-deepest-desire-for-knowledge-is-justification-enough-for/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [This desire of knowledge and the wonder which it hopes to satisfy are the driving power behind all the changes that we, with careless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-murray-butler/this-desire-of-knowledge-and-the-wonder-which-it-hopes-to-satisfy-are/) [Nicholas Murray Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-murray-butler/) > [My desire for knowledge is intermittent; but my desire to bathe my head in atmospheres unknown to my feet is perennial and constant. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/my-desire-for-knowledge-is-intermittent-but-my-desire-to-bathe-my/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Today will still yearn to know why we are here and where we came from. Humanity's deepest desire for knowledge is justification enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/today-will-still-yearn-to-know-why-we-are-here-and-where-we-came-from/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [There is no desire more natural than the desire for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-is-no-desire-more-natural-than-the-desire-for-knowledge/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More by Laurence Sterne > [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The world is ashamed of being virtuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-world-is-ashamed-of-being-virtuous/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/digressions-incontestably-are-the-sunshine-they-are-the-life-the-soul/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [I was acquainted once with a gallant soldier who assured me that his only measure of courage was this: upon the first fire, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/i-was-acquainted-once-with-a-gallant-soldier-who-assured-me-that-his/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [A man's body and his mind, with the utmost reverence to both I speak it, are exactly like a jerkin and a jerkin's lining;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/a-man-s-body-and-his-mind-with-the-utmost-reverence-to-both-i-speak/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [When the affections so kindly break loose, Joy, is another name for Religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/when-the-affections-so-kindly-break-loose-joy-is-another-name-for/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Sweet pliability of man's spirit, that can at once surrender itself to illusions, which cheat expectation and sorrow of their weary moments! - long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/sweet-pliability-of-man-s-spirit-that-can-at-once-surrender-itself-to/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Philosophy has a fine saying for everything.-For Death it has an entire set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/philosophy-has-a-fine-saying-for-everything-for-death-it-has-an/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Dear sensibility! Source inexhausted of all that's precious in our joys, or costly in our sorrows! Eternal fountain of our feelings! 'tis here I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/dear-sensibility-source-inexhausted-of-all-that-s-precious-in-our/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The best friends in the world may differ sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-best-friends-in-the-world-may-differ-sometimes/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Beauty has so many charms, one knows not how to speak against it; and when it happens that a graceful figure is the habitation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/beauty-has-so-many-charms-one-knows-not-how-to-speak-against-it-and/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The best hearts are ever the bravest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-best-hearts-are-ever-the-bravest/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Hail! the small courtesies of life, for smooth do ye make the road of it, like grace and beauty, which beget inclinations to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/hail-the-small-courtesies-of-life-for-smooth-do-ye-make-the-road-of/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [There are a thousand unnoticed openings, continued my father, which let penetrating eye at once into a man's soul; and I maintain it, added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/there-are-a-thousand-unnoticed-openings-continued-my-father-which-let/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [“Button-holes! there is something lively in the very idea of 'em - and trust me, when I get amongst 'em - you gentry with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/button-holes-there-is-something-lively-in-the-very-idea-of-em-and/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) [Explore all 244 Laurence Sterne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) ## 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": "The desire of knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurence Sterne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst-for-riches-increases-ever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst-for-riches-increases-ever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/laurence-sterne-1405_desire_the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst_269901.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/laurence-sterne-1405_desire_the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst_269901.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/laurence-sterne-1405_desire_the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst_269901.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The desire of knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.” — Laurence Sterne", "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": "Laurence Sterne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The desire of knowledge, like the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst-for-riches-increases-ever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-desire-of-knowledge-like-the-thirst-for-riches-increases-ever/#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 } } ] } ```