--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since beings desire to exist, because to…" description: "\"Since beings desire to exist, because to exist is a good thing: they desire the One without which they cannot exist.\" — Nicholas of Cusa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_desire_since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to_1360017.png" --- # Since beings desire to exist, because to exist is a good… ![“Since beings desire to exist, because to exist is a good thing: they desire the One without which they cannot exist.” quote by Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_desire_since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to_1360017.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_desire_since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to_1360017.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_desire_since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to_1360017.png) > “Since beings desire to exist, because to exist is a good thing: they desire the One without which they cannot exist.” [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Existence is desired because it is inherently good; the ultimate source of existence is essential and cannot be absent. **In simple terms:** Existence is good; we need the ultimate source. Key Takeaway Recognize the fundamental drive to exist. Themes existence philosophy desire Mood contemplative inquisitive Type theilosophical spiritual When to use this quote - spiritual practice - existential reflection - creative inspiration Key Concepts metaphysics ontology the One Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing a fundamental desire shape your actions? - What does 'the One' represent for you? A Different Perspective The concept of 'the One' may be abstract for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beings Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-desire-1166497/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-exist-2597571/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Exist Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-exist-271284/) [Exist Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-good-506799/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) ## Related quotes > [I desire therefore I exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/i-desire-therefore-i-exist/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [We've decided what we are. That's the dream. When the dream fades, it's not that we don't exist. How could we not exist since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/we-ve-decided-what-we-are-that-s-the-dream-when-the-dream-fades-it-s/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In reality, time and space exist in you. You do not exist in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/in-reality-time-and-space-exist-in-you-you-do-not-exist-in-them/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [As to the gods, I have no means of knowing either that they exist or do not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/protagoras/as-to-the-gods-i-have-no-means-of-knowing-either-that-they-exist-or/) [Protagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/protagoras/) > [Human beings desire comfort and familiarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-mensa/human-beings-desire-comfort-and-familiarity/) [Vic Mensa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-mensa/) > [What unites all beings is their desire for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/what-unites-all-beings-is-their-desire-for-happiness/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“All beings desire pleasure, a surcease of need or want, and there is no shame in that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-l-king/all-beings-desire-pleasure-a-surcease-of-need-or-want-and-there-is-no/) [Sherri L. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-l-king/) > [The deepest hunger in human beings is the desire to be appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-deepest-hunger-in-human-beings-is-the-desire-to-be-appreciated/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“So the will's desire for death is not a desire for nonexistence, but a desire for peace. When someone wrongly believes that he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/so-the-will-s-desire-for-death-is-not-a-desire-for-nonexistence-but-a/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Adrian's tone suggested that the desire for something was all it took. They all live with endless possibilities, leave their homes for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aminatta-forna/adrian-s-tone-suggested-that-the-desire-for-something-was-all-it-took/) [Aminatta Forna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aminatta-forna/) > [The fundamental desire of life is the desire to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-fundamental-desire-of-life-is-the-desire-to-exist/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Now: the first requirement of stability in a human being was that the said human being should really desire to exist. This is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/now-the-first-requirement-of-stability-in-a-human-being-was-that-the/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Good can exist in bad, and bad can exist in good. It's not black and white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jeffery/good-can-exist-in-bad-and-bad-can-exist-in-good-it-s-not-black-and/) [Sarah Jeffery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jeffery/) > [Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/good-can-exist-without-evil-whereas-evil-cannot-exist-without-good/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [One quality in a person doesn't rule out any other quality. They can exist side by side, good and terrible. Socrates said it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/one-quality-in-a-person-doesn-t-rule-out-any-other-quality-they-can/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) ## More by Nicholas of Cusa > [God says to man: 'Be thou thyself, and I shall be thine.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/god-says-to-man-be-thou-thyself-and-i-shall-be-thine/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [All visible things would not claim as their king some color of their region, which is actually among the visible things of this region,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/all-visible-things-would-not-claim-as-their-king-some-color-of-their/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [There are not many beginnings but there is a single Beginning, prior to multitude. But if you were to say that the beginnings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/there-are-not-many-beginnings-but-there-is-a-single-beginning-prior/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [Within itself the soul sees all things more truly than as they exist in different things outside itself. And the more it goes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/within-itself-the-soul-sees-all-things-more-truly-than-as-they-exist/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [Divinity is in all things in such a way that all things are in divinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/divinity-is-in-all-things-in-such-a-way-that-all-things-are-in/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [In humility alone lies true greatness, and knowledge and wisdom are profitable only in so far as our lives are governed by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/in-humility-alone-lies-true-greatness-and-knowledge-and-wisdom-are/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [All we know of the truth is that the absolute truth, such as it is, is beyond our reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/all-we-know-of-the-truth-is-that-the-absolute-truth-such-as-it-is-is/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [You are therefore able to run on this path, on which God is found above all vision, hearing, taste, touch, smell, speech, sense, rationality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/you-are-therefore-able-to-run-on-this-path-on-which-god-is-found/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [Thou art merciful; when all my endeavour is turned toward Thee because all Thy endeavour is turned toward me; when I look unto Thee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/thou-art-merciful-when-all-my-endeavour-is-turned-toward-thee-because/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [Through itself the soul arrives at all harmony that is perceptible in otherness-just as through what is internal the soul arrives at what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/through-itself-the-soul-arrives-at-all-harmony-that-is-perceptible-in/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [We see that God has implanted in all things a natural desire to exist with the fullest measure of existence that is compatible with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/we-see-that-god-has-implanted-in-all-things-a-natural-desire-to-exist/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [The rational is apprehended through the intellect, however, the intellect is not found in the region of the rational; the intellect is as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/the-rational-is-apprehended-through-the-intellect-however-the/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [All things are in the intended endpoint, and this mode of being is called will or desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/all-things-are-in-the-intended-endpoint-and-this-mode-of-being-is/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [ Every angle acknowledges that it is a likeness of true angularity, for \[each angle\] is angle not insofar as angle exists in itself but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/every-angle-acknowledges-that-it-is-a-likeness-of-true-angularity-for/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [For reason's measurements, which attain unto temporal things, do not attain unto things that are free from time-just as hearing does not attain unto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/for-reason-s-measurements-which-attain-unto-temporal-things-do-not/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) [Explore all 47 Nicholas of Cusa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Since beings desire to exist, because to exist is a good thing: they desire the One without which they cannot exist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicholas of Cusa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to-exist-is-a-good-thing-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to-exist-is-a-good-thing-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_desire_since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to_1360017.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_desire_since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to_1360017.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_desire_since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to_1360017.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Since beings desire to exist, because to exist is a good thing: they desire the One without which they…” — Nicholas of Cusa", "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": "Nicholas of Cusa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Since beings desire to exist, because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to-exist-is-a-good-thing-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/since-beings-desire-to-exist-because-to-exist-is-a-good-thing-they/#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 } } ] } ```