--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The intellect of most persons is…" description: "\"The intellect of most persons is harnessed by innumerable wants. Such a life is, from the spiritual point of view the lowest type of human existence. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/meher-baba-2986_contentment_the-intellect-of-most-persons-is-harness_2378414.jpg" --- # The intellect of most persons is harnessed by innumerable… ![“The intellect of most persons is harnessed by innumerable wants. Such a life is, from the spiritual point of view the lowest type of human existence. The highest type of human existence is free from all wants; and it is characterised by sufficiency or contentment.” quote by Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/meher-baba-2986_contentment_the-intellect-of-most-persons-is-harness_2378414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/meher-baba-2986_contentment_the-intellect-of-most-persons-is-harness_2378414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/meher-baba-2986_contentment_the-intellect-of-most-persons-is-harness_2378414.jpg) > “The intellect of most persons is harnessed by innumerable wants. Such a life is, from the spiritual point of view the lowest type of human existence. The highest type of human existence is free from all wants; and it is characterised by sufficiency or contentment.” [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A life driven by endless desires is spiritually low; true fulfillment comes from freedom from wants and contentment. **In simple terms:** Desires lower us; contentment lifts us. Key Takeaway Seek contentment, reduce cravings. Themes spirituality contentment desire human nature Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - mindfulness practice - minimalist living - stress reduction Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What desires dominate your life? - How can you practice contentment daily? A Different Perspective Contentment may be hard to achieve in consumerist societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-highest-2380253/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Intellect Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect-persons-4856548/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Lowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lowest/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Sufficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficiency/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The intellect of most persons is harnessed by innumerable wants. From the spiritual point of view, such a life is the lowest type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-intellect-of-most-persons-is-harnessed-by-innumerable-wants-from/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [ Ethical existence \[is\] the highest manifestation of spirituality. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethical-existence-is-the-highest-manifestation-of-spirituality/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Happy is the man who can endure the highest and lowest fortune. He who has endured such vicissitudes with equanimity has deprived misfortune of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/happy-is-the-man-who-can-endure-the-highest-and-lowest-fortune-he-who/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“The flat is small, with only a sliver of ocean view from the bedroom window, but I pay for it myself—not from the family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/the-flat-is-small-with-only-a-sliver-of-ocean-view-from-the-bedroom/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [The myth of the self-sufficient individual and of the self-sufficient, protected, and protective familytells us that those who need help are ultimately inadequate. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/the-myth-of-the-self-sufficient-individual-and-of-the-self-sufficient/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [We in the West seem to have made a fetish out of complete individual self-sufficiency, of not needing help, of being completely private except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/we-in-the-west-seem-to-have-made-a-fetish-out-of-complete-individual/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [In many cases, mathematics is an escape from reality. The mathematician finds his own monastic niche and happiness in pursuits that are disconnected from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-ulam/in-many-cases-mathematics-is-an-escape-from-reality-the-mathematician/) [Stanislaw Ulam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-ulam/) > [“Should it happen, that your partner leaves you for someone else with more money. To where later you strike it richer than the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/should-it-happen-that-your-partner-leaves-you-for-someone-else-with/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-requisites-of-government-are-that-there-be-sufficiency-of-food/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [No, no; 'tis all men's office to speak patience To those that wring under the load of sorrow, But no man's virtue nor sufficiency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/no-no-tis-all-men-s-office-to-speak-patience-to-those-that-wring/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [We need to develop a sense of sufficiency to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kumar/we-need-to-develop-a-sense-of-sufficiency-to-be-happy/) [Satish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kumar/) > [Self-sufficiency is the enemy of salvation. If you are self-sufficient, you have no need of God. If you have no need of God, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nicholson/self-sufficiency-is-the-enemy-of-salvation-if-you-are-self-sufficient/) [William Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-nicholson/) > [Annual earnings in the fast-food industry are well below the income needed for self-sufficiency, and fast-food industry jobs are also much less likely than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rolf/annual-earnings-in-the-fast-food-industry-are-well-below-the-income/) [David Rolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rolf/) > [Development of character consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/development-of-character-consists-solely-in-moving-toward-self/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) ## More by Meher Baba > [The seeker asking, Where is God? Is really God saying, Where indeed is the seeker!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-seeker-asking-where-is-god-is-really-god-saying-where-indeed-is/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Seek a reality deeper than the changing forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/seek-a-reality-deeper-than-the-changing-forms/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Art, when inspired with love, leads to higher realms. Love art and that art will open for you the inner life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/art-when-inspired-with-love-leads-to-higher-realms-love-art-and-that/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The best way to cleanse the heart and prepare for the stilling of the mind is to lead a normal, worldly life. Living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-best-way-to-cleanse-the-heart-and-prepare-for-the-stilling-of-the/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [As you all become more intimate with Me, with opportunities to come closer to Me, all that is good and bad within you comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/as-you-all-become-more-intimate-with-me-with-opportunities-to-come/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Let not the dirt of the sanskaras of your thoughts and deeds touch you, by surrendering every thought and act at the feet of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/let-not-the-dirt-of-the-sanskaras-of-your-thoughts-and-deeds-touch/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Those who constantly want something will never feel happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/those-who-constantly-want-something-will-never-feel-happy/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Love and forgiveness is not for the faint-hearted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/love-and-forgiveness-is-not-for-the-faint-hearted/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The best course for My lover is to remember Me wholeheartedly as much as one can…and leave the rest to Me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-best-course-for-my-lover-is-to-remember-me-wholeheartedly-as-much/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The purpose of life is to realize God within ourselves. This can be done even whilst attending to our worldly duties...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-realize-god-within-ourselves-this-can-be/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [God alone is real, nothing matters but love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/god-alone-is-real-nothing-matters-but-love-for-god/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [There is no higher or lower goal. There is only one goal, Self-Realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/there-is-no-higher-or-lower-goal-there-is-only-one-goal-self/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Sometimes our weakness is considered strength, and we take delight in borrowed greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/sometimes-our-weakness-is-considered-strength-and-we-take-delight-in/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [God alone is real, and all else is illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/god-alone-is-real-and-all-else-is-illusion/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Those who speculate from the shore about the ocean shall know only its surface, but those who would know the depths of the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/those-who-speculate-from-the-shore-about-the-ocean-shall-know-only/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) [Explore all 143 Meher Baba quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) ## More Contentment quotes > [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/) > [I may not have everything I want in life but I have all I will ever need to make my life complete, my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-not-have-everything-i-want-in-life-but-i-have-all-i-will-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can find as much happiness at the bottom of the ladder of success as you can at the top, then you understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/if-you-can-find-as-much-happiness-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-of/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [There are two sorts of content; one is connected with exertion, the other with habits of indolence. The first is a virtue; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/there-are-two-sorts-of-content-one-is-connected-with-exertion-the/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) > [“When we perform at our highest level of potential, we are content. Because we have given I best in what we enjoy doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/when-we-perform-at-our-highest-level-of-potential-we-are-content/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/money-is-made-at-christmas-out-of-holly-and-mistletoe-but-who-save/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [My crown is in my heart, not on my head; not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor to be seen: my crown is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-crown-is-in-my-heart-not-on-my-head-not-decked-with-diamonds-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Most of us are not content with our lot because we want a lot more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianette-carbito/most-of-us-are-not-content-with-our-lot-because-we-want-a-lot-more/) [Marianette Carbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianette-carbito/) > [Pleasure simply brings more craving, but the problem is that we try to get contentment through pleasure. True contentment can only come through service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/pleasure-simply-brings-more-craving-but-the-problem-is-that-we-try-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Every human always wants more. We're never satisfied. True happiness doesn't come until we're fully satisfied with what we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-human-always-wants-more-we-re-never-satisfied-true-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I was so nearly happy. There remained only a tiny something, something unexplained and inexplicable that buzzed in my ear when the lights were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-rooney/i-was-so-nearly-happy-there-remained-only-a-tiny-something-something/) [Jennie Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-rooney/) > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [One often learns more from ten days of agony than ten years of contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/one-often-learns-more-from-ten-days-of-agony-than-ten-years-of/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [Stop complaining and start accepting, everything happens for a reason, you may not notice the importance of the things that you have now, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemantsmarty/stop-complaining-and-start-accepting-everything-happens-for-a-reason/) [Hemantsmarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemantsmarty/) > [True intimacy is the experience of real acceptance and authentic vulnerability without feeling the need to apologize or fear rejection. The freedom to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-blake-michiels/true-intimacy-is-the-experience-of-real-acceptance-and-authentic/) [Jordan Blake Michiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-blake-michiels/) [Browse all 1,355 Contentment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The intellect of most persons is harnessed by innumerable wants. Such a life is, from the spiritual point of view the lowest type of human existence. 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