--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're surrounded by Universal Desire…" description: "\"“We're surrounded by Universal Desire. It's not happiness; it's desire. And desires are never satisfied, because once they are, they cease to be desire..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paulo-coelho-10_happiness_we-re-surrounded-by-universal-desire-it_2075912.jpg" --- # We're surrounded by Universal Desire. It's not happiness… ![“We're surrounded by Universal Desire. It's not happiness; it's desire. And desires are never satisfied, because once they are, they cease to be desires” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paulo-coelho-10_happiness_we-re-surrounded-by-universal-desire-it_2075912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paulo-coelho-10_happiness_we-re-surrounded-by-universal-desire-it_2075912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paulo-coelho-10_happiness_we-re-surrounded-by-universal-desire-it_2075912.jpg) > ““We're surrounded by Universal Desire. It's not happiness; it's desire. And desires are never satisfied, because once they are, they cease to be desires”” [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## 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 perpetual; satisfaction ends desire, so true fulfillment lies beyond fleeting wants. **In simple terms:** Desire never fully satisfies. Key Takeaway Seek deeper purpose beyond desire. Themes desire fulfillment philosophy human nature Mood contemplative philosophical Type thought‑provoking inspirational When to use this quote - career ambitions - consumerism - personal goals - spiritual practice Key Concepts impermanence contentment spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance desire with contentment? - What lasting values guide you beyond momentary wants? A Different Perspective Desire can drive harmful excess. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cease Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease-desires-4030782/) [Desire Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-desires-1228996/) [Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-desire-1699864/) [Universal Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-desire-2557422/) ## Related quotes > [“A desire of desires: the melancholy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-desire-of-desires-the-melancholy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always ask God to give you what you deserve, not what you desire. It's because your desires may be few, but you deserve a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/always-ask-god-to-give-you-what-you-deserve-not-what-you-desire-it-s/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Boredom: the desire for desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/boredom-the-desire-for-desires/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Your body is made of two things: your will to do, your ego, and the physical form you have received from the prakriti, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/your-body-is-made-of-two-things-your-will-to-do-your-ego-and-the/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“God," in these pages, becomes a way to express our universal desire to know and to comprehend the sacred.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-pollack/god-in-these-pages-becomes-a-way-to-express-our-universal-desire-to/) [Rachel Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-pollack/) > [It's a universal desire to love and to be loved and, despite trying circumstances, to still fight for the good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiya-sircar/it-s-a-universal-desire-to-love-and-to-be-loved-and-despite-trying/) [Tiya Sircar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiya-sircar/) > [Every form of happiness if one, every desire is driven by the same motor--by our love for a single value, for the highest potentiality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/every-form-of-happiness-if-one-every-desire-is-driven-by-the-same/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [What's hold fast to us that keeps us from reaching out for the love and happiness we desire...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-mccoy/what-s-hold-fast-to-us-that-keeps-us-from-reaching-out-for-the-love/) [Diana McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-mccoy/) > [We all need to demand the happiness for ourselves we desire. Fight for it. Wrestle it out of the clenched fist of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/we-all-need-to-demand-the-happiness-for-ourselves-we-desire-fight-for/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [“Is this the happiness you seek?” he whispered hoarsely. “Tell me now, and I will give it to you.” He moved down her body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-london/is-this-the-happiness-you-seek-he-whispered-hoarsely-tell-me-now-and/) [Julia London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-london/) > [It is one of my sources of happiness never to desire a knowledge of other people's business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolley-madison/it-is-one-of-my-sources-of-happiness-never-to-desire-a-knowledge-of/) [Dolley Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolley-madison/) > [All you can possibly need or desire is already yours.Call your desires into being by imagining and feeling your wish fulfilled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-goddard/all-you-can-possibly-need-or-desire-is-already-yours-call-your/) [Neville Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-goddard/) > [There are many objects of desire, and therefore many desires. Some are born with us, hunger, yearning, and pride of place, and some are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-davenport/there-are-many-objects-of-desire-and-therefore-many-desires-some-are/) [Guy Davenport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-davenport/) > [Desire nothing, give up all desires and be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/desire-nothing-give-up-all-desires-and-be-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are urges and urges; you are exploding with urges, desires. You don't have one desire, you have many desires. Not only that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-urges-and-urges-you-are-exploding-with-urges-desires-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Paulo Coelho > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/to-love-is-to-be-in-communion-with-the-other-and-to-discover-in-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Eat when it is time to eat. And walk when it is time to walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/eat-when-it-is-time-to-eat-and-walk-when-it-is-time-to-walk/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [People are reading more and writing more because of the internet. So the virtual world is a way for me to listen to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/people-are-reading-more-and-writing-more-because-of-the-internet-so/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Joy is like sex – it begins and ends. I want pleasure. I want to be contended, but happiness? I no longer fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/joy-is-like-sex-it-begins-and-ends-i-want-pleasure-i-want-to-be/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Trudi se da zivis, sjecanja su za starije ljude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/trudi-se-da-zivis-sjecanja-su-za-starije-ljude/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When someone leaves, it's because someone else is about to arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-someone-leaves-it-s-because-someone-else-is-about-to-arrive/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [She didn't need to understand the meaning of life; it was enough to find someone who did, and then fall asleep in his arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-didn-t-need-to-understand-the-meaning-of-life-it-was-enough-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The simpler the pose, the better; the more sober, the more beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-simpler-the-pose-the-better-the-more-sober-the-more-beautiful/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Explore all 3,665 Paulo Coelho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More Desires quotes > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [A lot of times, my work is looked at very much on the surface. It's very easy to just want to put something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/a-lot-of-times-my-work-is-looked-at-very-much-on-the-surface-it-s/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [“The best way to achieve a wonderful life is to have wonderful desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-best-way-to-achieve-a-wonderful-life-is-to-have-wonderful-desires/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“My third maxim was to endeavour always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and change my desires rather than the order of the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/my-third-maxim-was-to-endeavour-always-to-conquer-myself-rather-than/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Our desires have a way of getting bigger with our incomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/our-desires-have-a-way-of-getting-bigger-with-our-incomes/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [“The Heart Desires to Be Free”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-belmer/the-heart-desires-to-be-free/) [Cynthia Belmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-belmer/) > [“Desires and wishes don’t lead to success. Plans and efforts do. Create a vision, chalk out an action plan, put in your best efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roopleen/desires-and-wishes-don-t-lead-to-success-plans-and-efforts-do-create/) [Roopleen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roopleen/) > [“We could not be fulfilled if we weren't inauthentic some of the time—inauthentic, that is, in relation to such things as our passing desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-could-not-be-fulfilled-if-we-weren-t-inauthentic-some-of-the-time/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [My intentions go one way, my desires another. Thus I feel both self-indulgent and deprived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/my-intentions-go-one-way-my-desires-another-thus-i-feel-both-self/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The best kind of wealth is to give up inordinate desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-best-kind-of-wealth-is-to-give-up-inordinate-desires/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“I never get writer's block. My secret...I have purring cats in surround sound while I write...best white noise on the planet." R.Rose when asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-rose/i-never-get-writer-s-block-my-secret-i-have-purring-cats-in-surround/) [R. Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-rose/) > [“The desires of the flesh leads to sin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-desires-of-the-flesh-leads-to-sin/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [It is a happy circumstance that when nature gives us true burning desires, she also gives us the means to satisfy them. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-seykota/it-is-a-happy-circumstance-that-when-nature-gives-us-true-burning/) [Ed Seykota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-seykota/) > [“You can become even a co-creator of this universe... an assurance coming from the Ancient Wisdom; provided you bear an appropriate WILL...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-kumar/you-can-become-even-a-co-creator-of-this-universe-an-assurance-coming/) [Dinesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-kumar/) > [“I want to have a lasting experience of God', I told him. 'Sometimes I feel like I understand the divinity of this world, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-want-to-have-a-lasting-experience-of-god-i-told-him-sometimes-i/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) [Browse all 1,202 Desires quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We're surrounded by Universal Desire. It's not happiness; it's desire. 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