--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is something self-defeating in the…" description: "\"There is something self-defeating in the too-conscious pursuit of pleasure.\" — Max Eastman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/max-eastman-21861_conscious_there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the_511267.jpg" --- # There is something self-defeating in the too-conscious… ![“There is something self-defeating in the too-conscious pursuit of pleasure.” quote by Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/max-eastman-21861_conscious_there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the_511267.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/max-eastman-21861_conscious_there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the_511267.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/max-eastman-21861_conscious_there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the_511267.jpg) > “There is something self-defeating in the too-conscious pursuit of pleasure.” [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overly conscious chasing of pleasure leads to self-defeat. **In simple terms:** Too much focus on pleasure harms you. Key Takeaway Seek balance, not obsessive pleasure. Themes psychology philosophy well‑being Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - addiction recovery - creative work - relationships Key Concepts pleasure self‑defeat mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What drives your pursuit of pleasure? - How can you enjoy without over‑thinking? A Different Perspective Pleasure can be a healthy motivator when moderate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Conscious Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-pursuit-4332706/) [Defeating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeating/) [Defeating Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeating-conscious-4332705/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Pursuit Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-pleasure-1278178/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Defeating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-defeating-663876/) ## Related quotes > [I witnessed first-hand the self-defeating results of putting yourself under so much pressure to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-birla/i-witnessed-first-hand-the-self-defeating-results-of-putting-yourself/) [Ananya Birla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-birla/) > [Revenge is self-defeating. It will eat away you until there is nothing left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bradford/revenge-is-self-defeating-it-will-eat-away-you-until-there-is-nothing/) [Chris Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bradford/) > [There is nothing worth having that can be obtained by nuclear war - nothing material or ideological - no tradition that it can defend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/there-is-nothing-worth-having-that-can-be-obtained-by-nuclear-war/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I think you'll find that one would be self-defeating." Jace said lightly shoving his feet into his boots. "We are bound, he and I.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-think-you-ll-find-that-one-would-be-self-defeating-jace-said/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Hinduism—indeed, most eastern religions—tells us that striving, even striving for happiness, is self-defeating. 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It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/i-have-absolutely-no-pleasure-in-the-stimulants-in-which-i-sometimes/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [All successful individuals have become such by hard work; by improving moments before they pass into hours, and hours that other people may occupy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/all-successful-individuals-have-become-such-by-hard-work-by-improving/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [It is one of history's greatest ironies that, over the centuries, the pursuit of pleasure has resulted in more pain than enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/it-is-one-of-history-s-greatest-ironies-that-over-the-centuries-the/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [Music is an individual pursuit - it is made to please yourself first. The pleasure of other people is a byproduct of the pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-dulli/music-is-an-individual-pursuit-it-is-made-to-please-yourself-first/) [Greg Dulli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-dulli/) ## More by Max Eastman > [The defining function of the artist is to cherish consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/the-defining-function-of-the-artist-is-to-cherish-consciousness/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [People who demand neutrality in any situation are usually not neutral but in favor of the status quo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/people-who-demand-neutrality-in-any-situation-are-usually-not-neutral/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [I don't know why it is we are in such a hurry to get up when we fall down. You might think we would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/i-don-t-know-why-it-is-we-are-in-such-a-hurry-to-get-up-when-we-fall/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [If one were loyal to one's nation only because it was good and true ... one would not be loyal to any nation but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/if-one-were-loyal-to-one-s-nation-only-because-it-was-good-and-true/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [Laughter is, after speech, the chief thing that holds society together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/laughter-is-after-speech-the-chief-thing-that-holds-society-together/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [Humor is the instinct for taking pain playfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/humor-is-the-instinct-for-taking-pain-playfully/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [A smile is the universal welcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/a-smile-is-the-universal-welcome/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [It is the ability to take a joke, not make one, that proves you have a sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/it-is-the-ability-to-take-a-joke-not-make-one-that-proves-you-have-a/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails. What puts man in a higher state of evolution is that he has got his laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/dogs-laugh-but-they-laugh-with-their-tails-what-puts-man-in-a-higher/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [Classic art was the art of necessity: modern romantic art bears the stamp of caprice and chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/classic-art-was-the-art-of-necessity-modern-romantic-art-bears-the/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [ He \[P.G.Wodehouse\] is I believe, the only man living who speaks with equal fluency the American and English languages. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/he-p-g-wodehouse-is-i-believe-the-only-man-living-who-speaks-with/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [Robert Benchley has a style that is weak and lies down frequently to rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/robert-benchley-has-a-style-that-is-weak-and-lies-down-frequently-to/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [Laughter puts your brain, your central nervous system and your whole being into a state of free play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/laughter-puts-your-brain-your-central-nervous-system-and-your-whole/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [Humor is a kind of emotional chaos told about calmly and quietly in retrospect.There is always a laugh in the utterly familiar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/humor-is-a-kind-of-emotional-chaos-told-about-calmly-and-quietly-in/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [Patriotism is one of the unalterable facts of man's nature. It is a virtue if you like it, and a vice if you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/patriotism-is-one-of-the-unalterable-facts-of-man-s-nature-it-is-a/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) [Explore all 28 Max Eastman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) ## More Conscious quotes > [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/) > [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [If you are not conscious of all of the different parts of yourself, the part of yourself that is the strongest will win out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/if-you-are-not-conscious-of-all-of-the-different-parts-of-yourself/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability To lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/repugnant-is-a-creature-who-would-squander-the-ability-to-lift-an-eye/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [The goal of the Creator is for each entity to make a conscious choice to again seek Oneness, out of our own free will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilcock/the-goal-of-the-creator-is-for-each-entity-to-make-a-conscious-choice/) [David Wilcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilcock/) > [I know one thing: that you can do a lot of things but if you don't educate people into conscious anarchism it gets frittered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-know-one-thing-that-you-can-do-a-lot-of-things-but-if-you-don-t/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [All black people who are even minimally conscious, black people who have ever experienced Europe's technological power crusading in the vanguard of a civilizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-nkosi/all-black-people-who-are-even-minimally-conscious-black-people-who/) [Lewis Nkosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-nkosi/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I don't think my paintings are self-conscious but you feel the consciousness of them. Without them being self-conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-don-t-think-my-paintings-are-self-conscious-but-you-feel-the/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) [Browse all 3,716 Conscious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is something self-defeating in the too-conscious pursuit of pleasure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Eastman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the-too-conscious-pursuit-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the-too-conscious-pursuit-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/max-eastman-21861_conscious_there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the_511267.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/max-eastman-21861_conscious_there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the_511267.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/max-eastman-21861_conscious_there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the_511267.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is something self-defeating in the too-conscious pursuit of pleasure.” — Max Eastman", "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": "Max Eastman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is something self-defeating in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the-too-conscious-pursuit-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the-too-conscious-pursuit-of/#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 } } ] } ```