--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some have sought to avoid suffering by…" description: "\"Some have sought to avoid suffering by avoiding desire. Thus they have only small desires and small sufferings, poor fools.\" — Peter J. Carroll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faa/peter-j-carroll-13919_avoiding_some-have-sought-to-avoid-suffering-by-a_2290165.jpg" --- # Some have sought to avoid suffering by avoiding desire… ![“Some have sought to avoid suffering by avoiding desire. Thus they have only small desires and small sufferings, poor fools.” quote by Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faa/peter-j-carroll-13919_avoiding_some-have-sought-to-avoid-suffering-by-a_2290165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faa/peter-j-carroll-13919_avoiding_some-have-sought-to-avoid-suffering-by-a_2290165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faa/peter-j-carroll-13919_avoiding_some-have-sought-to-avoid-suffering-by-a_2290165.jpg) > “Some have sought to avoid suffering by avoiding desire. Thus they have only small desires and small sufferings, poor fools.” [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding desire to prevent suffering leads to limited aspirations and trivial pain, which is foolish. **In simple terms:** Suppressing desire yields small goals and minor suffering. Key Takeaway Embrace desire for meaningful growth. Themes philosophy psychology desire suffering wisdom Mood thoughtful philosophical Type ethical personal When to use this quote - personal growth - creative pursuits - spiritual practice - risk taking Key Concepts existentialism self‑development hedonism Questions to Reflect On - Is desire always beneficial? - How to balance desire and contentment? A Different Perspective Desire can cause harm if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [When it comes to desire, it's not a matter of avoiding desire, but rather learning to discern those desires that are helpful and necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stryker/when-it-comes-to-desire-it-s-not-a-matter-of-avoiding-desire-but/) [Rod Stryker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stryker/) > [All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/all-men-seek-happiness-this-is-without-exception-whatever-different-2/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Avoiding pain causes endless suffering for you and others. Avoiding pain is really selfishness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/avoiding-pain-causes-endless-suffering-for-you-and-others-avoiding/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“If one's heart is small, all their sufferings even as large as a house can only be crammed in that small corner. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priest/if-one-s-heart-is-small-all-their-sufferings-even-as-large-as-a-house/) Priest > [“This is what you get in the suburbs, his mother said, the satisfaction of small desires. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/this-is-what-you-get-in-the-suburbs-his-mother-said-the-satisfaction/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [A small heart hath small desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/a-small-heart-hath-small-desires/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Some sell their dreams for small desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/some-sell-their-dreams-for-small-desires/) [Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/) > [He who doesn't get rid of the I won't be able to avoid suffering the same way that someone who doesn't get apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/he-who-doesn-t-get-rid-of-the-i-won-t-be-able-to-avoid-suffering-the/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/we-want-to-avoid-suffering-death-sin-ashes-but-we-live-in-a-world/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore, to love is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/to-love-is-to-suffer-to-avoid-suffering-one-must-not-love-but-then/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“Every time we make the decision to love someone, we open ourselves to great suffering, because those we most love cause us not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/every-time-we-make-the-decision-to-love-someone-we-open-ourselves-to/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The person who risk nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-f-buscaglia/the-person-who-risk-nothing-does-nothing-has-nothing-is-nothing-he/) Leo F. Buscaglia > [“But why all these questions? Because I'm in love and I'm afraid of suffering. Don't be afraid, the only way to avoid that suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-why-all-these-questions-because-i-m-in-love-and-i-m-afraid-of/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/the-person-who-risks-nothing-does-nothing-has-nothing-is-nothing-and/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel change, grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-person-who-risks-nothing-does-nothing-has-nothing-is-nothing-he/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) ## More by Peter J. Carroll > [All Philosophy is Biography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/all-philosophy-is-biography/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [ “\[A\] competent magician should have the ability to stand still at a bus stop with closed eyes and have the entire universe disappear apart… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/a-competent-magician-should-have-the-ability-to-stand-still-at-a-bus/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [“Conspiracy theory, like causality, works fantastically well as an explanatory model but only if you use it backwards. The fact that we cannot predict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/conspiracy-theory-like-causality-works-fantastically-well-as-an/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [Indeed, linear extrapolations make no large-scale sense in a universe that has spatial and temporal curvature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/indeed-linear-extrapolations-make-no-large-scale-sense-in-a-universe/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [In a stagnant environment the body-mind creates its own adversity – disease and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/in-a-stagnant-environment-the-body-mind-creates-its-own-adversity/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [That which is denied gains power, and seeks strange and unexpected forms of manifestation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/that-which-is-denied-gains-power-and-seeks-strange-and-unexpected/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [The only clear view is from atop the mountain of your dead selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/the-only-clear-view-is-from-atop-the-mountain-of-your-dead-selves/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [The conscious mind is a maelstrom of fleeting thoughts, images, sensations, feelings, conflicting desires, and doubts; barely able to confine its attention to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/the-conscious-mind-is-a-maelstrom-of-fleeting-thoughts-images/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [Only through absolute loyalty to each other can the few control the many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/only-through-absolute-loyalty-to-each-other-can-the-few-control-the/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [Science has brought us power and ideas but not the wisdom or responsibility to handle them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/science-has-brought-us-power-and-ideas-but-not-the-wisdom-or/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [Careful observation will confirm that virtually all spontaneous parapsychological events occur through some form of sleight of mind. It is invariably something hovering just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/careful-observation-will-confirm-that-virtually-all-spontaneous/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [So many people seem to spend their lives trying to appear normal, predictable and consistent to themselves and those that surround them. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/so-many-people-seem-to-spend-their-lives-trying-to-appear-normal/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [“Drugs have a long history of use in magic in various cultures, and usually in the context of either ecstatic communal rituals or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/drugs-have-a-long-history-of-use-in-magic-in-various-cultures-and/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [No left wing parties have any respect for liberal economic values; and most centre and right wing parties merely promote a paternalistic stateism. Does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/no-left-wing-parties-have-any-respect-for-liberal-economic-values-and/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [It has taken us two million years to elevate politics from the level of a monkey squabble, to a level comprehensible to a six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/it-has-taken-us-two-million-years-to-elevate-politics-from-the-level/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) [Explore all 48 Peter J. Carroll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) ## More Avoiding quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [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/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [I know a bit about taxation and the remarkable effort that goes in to avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-know-a-bit-about-taxation-and-the-remarkable-effort-that-goes-in-to/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) Raymond Briggs > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/a-day-can-really-slip-by-when-you-re-deliberately-avoiding-what-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [When someone starts Ignoring you, just back off without staying there with them Just to know the reason for avoiding..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/when-someone-starts-ignoring-you-just-back-off-without-staying-there/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [You know what takes effort? Being kind, being patient, being respectful, telling someone how you feel politely instead of just avoiding them for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/you-know-what-takes-effort-being-kind-being-patient-being-respectful/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It's all about being flexible, and avoiding choices whenever possible. Choices suck, they are inherently limiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-armstrong/it-s-all-about-being-flexible-and-avoiding-choices-whenever-possible/) Craig Armstrong > [In my personal life I'm very conservative. I've been married to the same person for nearly 50 years, I'm scrupulous about paying bills, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/in-my-personal-life-i-m-very-conservative-i-ve-been-married-to-the/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) Browse all 713 Avoiding quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some have sought to avoid suffering by avoiding desire. Thus they have only small desires and small sufferings, poor fools.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter J. 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