--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We always strive after what is forbidden…" description: "\"We always strive after what is forbidden, and desire the things refused us.\" — Ovid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ovid-276_desire_we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden_1184607.png" --- # We always strive after what is forbidden, and desire the… ![“We always strive after what is forbidden, and desire the things refused us.” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ovid-276_desire_we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden_1184607.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ovid-276_desire_we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden_1184607.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ovid-276_desire_we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden_1184607.png) > “We always strive after what is forbidden, and desire the things refused us.” [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forbidden desires intensify longing for what’s denied. **In simple terms:** Desire grows for what is forbidden. Key Takeaway Recognize and channel forbidden cravings. Themes desire forbidden longing Mood reflective intense Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - relationships - career ambitions - creative pursuits - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts mythology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What forbidden desire drives you? - How can you redirect it constructively? A Different Perspective May justify harmful pursuits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Forbidden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbidden/) [Forbidden Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbidden-desire-3488285/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Life changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-changing/) [Life changing experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-changing-experience/) [Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refused/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Strive Forbidden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive-forbidden-3488283/) [Things Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-refused-3488284/) ## Related quotes > [“Nitimur in vetitum" -- "We strive after the forbidden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-ovidius-naso/nitimur-in-vetitum-we-strive-after-the-forbidden/) [Publius Ovidius Naso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-ovidius-naso/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Anybody who has gone through a life-changing experience will tell you there is a different understanding of what is real and what is important,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delta-goodrem/anybody-who-has-gone-through-a-life-changing-experience-will-tell-you/) [Delta Goodrem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delta-goodrem/) > [I am humanly unable to correct my negative self-image until I encounter a life-changing experience with non-judgmental love bestowed upon me by a Person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/i-am-humanly-unable-to-correct-my-negative-self-image-until-i/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [A light heart lives long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-light-heart-lives-long/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/life-should-not-be-a-journey-to-the-grave-with-the-intention-of-3/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Outing someone is like ripping a butterfly from its cocoon. You can damage them for life and rob them of THEIR life changing experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-venn-brown/outing-someone-is-like-ripping-a-butterfly-from-its-cocoon-you-can/) [Anthony Venn-Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-venn-brown/) > [The man is happiest who lives from day to day and asks no more, garnering the simple goodness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-man-is-happiest-who-lives-from-day-to-day-and-asks-no-more/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Going to the Sahara Desert and meeting the Touareg band Tinariwen was a life-changing experience. All through that time, I have just carried on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-adams/going-to-the-sahara-desert-and-meeting-the-touareg-band-tinariwen-was/) [Justin Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-adams/) > [A testimony of the truth of the gospel does not come the same way to all people. Some receive it in a unique, life-changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/a-testimony-of-the-truth-of-the-gospel-does-not-come-the-same-way-to/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [In everything the ends well defined are the secret of durable success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cousin/in-everything-the-ends-well-defined-are-the-secret-of-durable-success/) [Victor Cousin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cousin/) > [When I want to read a novel, I write one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/when-i-want-to-read-a-novel-i-write-one/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Men spend their lives in anticipations,—in determining to be vastly happy at some period when they have time. But the present time has one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/men-spend-their-lives-in-anticipations-in-determining-to-be-vastly/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Music can always be a life-changing experience, for musicians and fans, or at least life-affecting, but it depends on to what degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/music-can-always-be-a-life-changing-experience-for-musicians-and-fans/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [And all may do what has by man been done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/and-all-may-do-what-has-by-man-been-done/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## More by Ovid > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Time is generally the best doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/time-is-generally-the-best-doctor/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I hate a woman who offers herself because she ought to do so, and cold and dry thinks of her sewing when making love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-hate-a-woman-who-offers-herself-because-she-ought-to-do-so-and-cold/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The sea's vast depths lie open to the fish; Wherever the breezes blow the bird may fly; So to the brave man every land's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-sea-s-vast-depths-lie-open-to-the-fish-wherever-the-breezes-blow/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Rare is the virtue that's not ruled by Fortune, That stands unshaken even when Fortune flees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/rare-is-the-virtue-that-s-not-ruled-by-fortune-that-stands-unshaken/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thus all things altered. Nothing dies. And here and there the unbodied spirit flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thus-all-things-altered-nothing-dies-and-here-and-there-the-unbodied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/how-little-is-the-promise-of-the-child-fulfilled-in-the-man/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Judgement of beauty can err, what with the wine and the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/judgement-of-beauty-can-err-what-with-the-wine-and-the-dark/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Leave war to others; 'tis Protesilaus' part of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/leave-war-to-others-tis-protesilaus-part-of-love/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Explore all 771 Ovid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## 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": "We always strive after what is forbidden, and desire the things refused us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ovid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden-and-desire-the-things/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden-and-desire-the-things/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ovid-276_desire_we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden_1184607.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ovid-276_desire_we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden_1184607.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ovid-276_desire_we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden_1184607.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We always strive after what is forbidden, and desire the things refused us.” — Ovid", "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": "Ovid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We always strive after what is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden-and-desire-the-things/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/we-always-strive-after-what-is-forbidden-and-desire-the-things/#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 } } ] } ```