--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never a possession, always the possessor…" description: "\"Never a possession, always the possessor, with skin as pale as smoke, and eyes tawny and sharp as yellow wine: Desire is everything you've ever wanted...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/neil-gaiman-29_desire_never-a-possession-always-the-possessor_2366589.jpg" --- # Never a possession, always the possessor, with skin as… ![“Never a possession, always the possessor, with skin as pale as smoke, and eyes tawny and sharp as yellow wine: Desire is everything you've ever wanted. Whoever you are. Whatever you are. Everything.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/neil-gaiman-29_desire_never-a-possession-always-the-possessor_2366589.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/neil-gaiman-29_desire_never-a-possession-always-the-possessor_2366589.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/neil-gaiman-29_desire_never-a-possession-always-the-possessor_2366589.jpg) > “Never a possession, always the possessor, with skin as pale as smoke, and eyes tawny and sharp as yellow wine: Desire is everything you've ever wanted. Whoever you are. Whatever you are. Everything.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire is portrayed as an all‑encompassing force that drives identity, transcending physical form and societal labels. **In simple terms:** Desire drives everything we become. Key Takeaway Recognize desire’s power over choices. Themes identity desire power existence philosophy Mood intense thought‑provoking Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing - self‑reflection - relationship dynamics - artistic inspiration Key Concepts subjectivity human motivation metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What does desire reveal about self? - How can desire be harnessed responsibly? A Different Perspective Desire can be destructive if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) [Yellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yellow/) ## Related quotes > [It is good to be the possessor of some mountain-top experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/it-is-good-to-be-the-possessor-of-some-mountain-top-experience/) Vernon Johns > [“He who masters the small becomes the rightful possessor of the great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/he-who-masters-the-small-becomes-the-rightful-possessor-of-the-great/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Extensive powers not exercised as far as was necessary have, I believe, scarcely ever failed to ruin the possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/extensive-powers-not-exercised-as-far-as-was-necessary-have-i-believe/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt/unlimited-power-corrupts-the-possessor/) [William Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt/) > [Never have I thought that I was the happy possessor of a alent; my sole concern has been to save myself by work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/never-have-i-thought-that-i-was-the-happy-possessor-of-a-alent-my/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Riches get their value from the mind of the possessor; they are blessings to those who know how to use them, and curses to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/riches-get-their-value-from-the-mind-of-the-possessor-they-are/) [Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/) > [ \[O\]pulence is always the result of theft, if not committed by the actual possessor, then by his predecessors. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/o-pulence-is-always-the-result-of-theft-if-not-committed-by-the/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone that can detain them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the-possessor-alone-that-can/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/when-gold-and-jade-fill-the-hall-their-possessor-cannot-keep-them-safe/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [A man hath riches. Whence came they, and whither go they? for this is the way to form a judgment of the esteem which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jortin/a-man-hath-riches-whence-came-they-and-whither-go-they-for-this-is/) [John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) > [Riches either serve or govern the possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/riches-either-serve-or-govern-the-possessor/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [For a hundred and fifty years, in the pasture of dead horses, roots of pine trees pushed through the pale curves of your ribs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hall/for-a-hundred-and-fifty-years-in-the-pasture-of-dead-horses-roots-of/) [Donald Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-hall/) > [I have sat here happy in the gardens, Watching the still pool and the reeds And the dark clouds. . . . But though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-aldington/i-have-sat-here-happy-in-the-gardens-watching-the-still-pool-and-the/) [Richard Aldington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-aldington/) > [A basic ingredient in the manufacture of perfume, the attar-a heavy, pale-yellow oil stored in small metal drums-had been put up as collateral by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/a-basic-ingredient-in-the-manufacture-of-perfume-the-attar-a-heavy/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [To exaggerate the fairness of hair, I come even to orange tones, chromes and pale yellow ... I make a plain background of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/to-exaggerate-the-fairness-of-hair-i-come-even-to-orange-tones/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## 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": "Never a possession, always the possessor, with skin as pale as smoke, and eyes tawny and sharp as yellow wine: Desire is everything you've ever wanted. Whoever you are. Whatever you are. 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