--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am what I wanted and I want what I am." description: "\"I am what I wanted and I want what I am.\" — Meister Eckhart" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am_1057469.jpg" --- # I am what I wanted and I want what I am. ![“I am what I wanted and I want what I am.” quote by Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am_1057469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am_1057469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am_1057469.jpg) > “I am what I wanted and I want what I am.” [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One’s identity is both the result of past desires and the source of future aspirations, reflecting a unified self. **In simple terms:** Identity is shaped by past wishes and future goals. Key Takeaway Align past desires with present self. Themes identity desire self‑realization Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - goal setting - self‑reflection - life coaching Key Concepts philosophy spirituality psychology Questions to Reflect On - What desires have shaped you? - How can you become your ideal self? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex identity formation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-want-402428/) ## Related quotes > [When I was 17, I read a profile of Carol Leifer. Since then, I wanted to be her. I still want to be her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/when-i-was-17-i-read-a-profile-of-carol-leifer-since-then-i-wanted-to/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [The people you looked up to growing up, every great player has a signature shoe. That's why I wanted one. I want to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiggins/the-people-you-looked-up-to-growing-up-every-great-player-has-a/) [Andrew Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiggins/) > [“I wanted him to think about me as much as I thought about him. I wanted him to miss me when I wasn't around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/i-wanted-him-to-think-about-me-as-much-as-i-thought-about-him-i/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [I wanna make you feel wanted. I want to restore your faith in love and keep your heart safe and protected. I wanna love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wanna-make-you-feel-wanted-i-want-to-restore-your-faith-in-love-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I've wanted to want it. I should think it would be exciting to become a dissolute woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/i-ve-wanted-to-want-it-i-should-think-it-would-be-exciting-to-become/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Hanna, I don't know if I've ever wanted something more than I want you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-lauren/hanna-i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-ever-wanted-something-more-than-i-want-you/) [Christina Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-lauren/) > [“Fuck, I needed to tread carefully here. “You saw me, Eli. I think it was pretty obvious that I wanted you.” “Then why-” “Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/fuck-i-needed-to-tread-carefully-here-you-saw-me-eli-i-think-it-was/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [She had wanted more than she could have. She had wanted him, and more... she had wanted him to want her. In the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/she-had-wanted-more-than-she-could-have-she-had-wanted-him-and-more/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [I know I'm not what you always wanted. I am not perfect like you wanted. But I'm me, and that's all you should want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-i-m-not-what-you-always-wanted-i-am-not-perfect-like-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I truly want what you truly want-nothing different and nothing more. Don't you see that is My greatest gift to you? If I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/i-truly-want-what-you-truly-want-nothing-different-and-nothing-more/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Where do you draw the line, between love and greed? We never did know, we always wanted more. We want to take it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/where-do-you-draw-the-line-between-love-and-greed-we-never-did-know/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Being alone was what I wanted; being alone was not what I wanted. I didn’t want to want anything; I wanted to want everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/being-alone-was-what-i-wanted-being-alone-was-not-what-i-wanted-i/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [I had a lot of things I wanted to do… I want to be a teacher…I also want to be an astronaut…and also make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/i-had-a-lot-of-things-i-wanted-to-do-i-want-to-be-a-teacher-i-also/) [Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/) > [You want to be wanted, and you want people to rely on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/you-want-to-be-wanted-and-you-want-people-to-rely-on-you/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [“I never wanted to live so much as I did right then, hanging onto that rotting timber," Nick said. "I couldn't bear the thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-never-wanted-to-live-so-much-as-i-did-right-then-hanging-onto-that/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) ## More by Meister Eckhart > [God holds each of us by a string. When we sin, we cut the string. But God ties it up again, making a knot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/god-holds-each-of-us-by-a-string-when-we-sin-we-cut-the-string-but/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [When I think of God's Kingdom, I am compelled to be silent because of its immensity, because God's Kingdom is none other than God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/when-i-think-of-god-s-kingdom-i-am-compelled-to-be-silent-because-of/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Action and becoming are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/action-and-becoming-are-one/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Whoever wants to receive the body of our Lord does not need to scrutinize what they are feeling at the time or how great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/whoever-wants-to-receive-the-body-of-our-lord-does-not-need-to/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Nothing will be able to hinder us, if we desire and seek God alone, and take pleasure in nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/nothing-will-be-able-to-hinder-us-if-we-desire-and-seek-god-alone-and/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [ \[W\]e must come into a transformed knowing, an unknowing which comes not from ignorance but from knowledge. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/w-e-must-come-into-a-transformed-knowing-an-unknowing-which-comes-not/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [I need to be silent for awhile, worlds are forming in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/i-need-to-be-silent-for-awhile-worlds-are-forming-in-my-heart/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [One person who has mastered life is better than a thousand persons who have mastered only the contents of books, but no one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/one-person-who-has-mastered-life-is-better-than-a-thousand-persons/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“But where is this true possession of God, whereby we really possess him, to be found? This real possession of God is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/but-where-is-this-true-possession-of-god-whereby-we-really-possess/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [The most powerful prayer, one well-nigh omnipotent, and the worthiest work of all is the outcome of a quiet mind. The quieter it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/the-most-powerful-prayer-one-well-nigh-omnipotent-and-the-worthiest/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-we-seek-god-for-our-own-good-and-profit-we-are-not-seeking-god/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Our bodily food is changed into us, but our spiritual food changes us into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/our-bodily-food-is-changed-into-us-but-our-spiritual-food-changes-us/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“Concerning this desert, Jeremiah writes: ‘I will lead my beloved into the wilderness and will speak to her in her heart’ (Hosea 2:14) .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/concerning-this-desert-jeremiah-writes-i-will-lead-my-beloved-into/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [If the seal is pressed completely through the wax so that no wax remains without being impressed by the seal, then it becomes indistinguishably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-the-seal-is-pressed-completely-through-the-wax-so-that-no-wax/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Be ready at all times for the gifts of God, and always for new ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/be-ready-at-all-times-for-the-gifts-of-god-and-always-for-new-ones/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) [Explore all 301 Meister Eckhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am what I wanted and I want what I am.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meister Eckhart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am_1057469.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am_1057469.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am_1057469.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am what I wanted and I want what I am.” — Meister Eckhart", "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": "Meister Eckhart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am what I wanted and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/i-am-what-i-wanted-and-i-want-what-i-am/#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 } } ] } ```