Desire Quote by Oscar Wilde
“In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”
About This Quote
Source Play: An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde, 1895
Desire and fulfillment are both sources of sorrow; lacking or attaining wishes bring pain.
In simple terms: Both want and get cause grief.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance, not extremes.
Themes
desire
contentment
philosophy
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career ambitions
- relationship expectations
- material success
- personal aspirations
Key Concepts
existentialism
human nature
paradox
Questions to Reflect On
- What do you truly need?
- Can contentment be achieved without desire?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on desire can cause endless dissatisfaction.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
