--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we want and what we need has been…" description: "\"What we want and what we need has been confused.\" — REM" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/rem-21433_confused_what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-c_2728393.jpg" --- # What we want and what we need has been confused. ![“What we want and what we need has been confused.” quote by REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/rem-21433_confused_what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-c_2728393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/rem-21433_confused_what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-c_2728393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/rem-21433_confused_what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-c_2728393.jpg) > “What we want and what we need has been confused.” [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The line points out that desires and necessities often become tangled, causing confusion. **In simple terms:** Desires and needs get mixed up. Key Takeaway Clarify what you truly need. Themes desire needs confusion Mood contemplative introspective Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal goals - budgeting - relationship expectations Key Concepts psychology prioritization Questions to Reflect On - What need are you neglecting? - How can you separate desire from necessity? A Different Perspective Needs can be overlooked in pursuit of wants. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confused/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Need Confused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-confused-2936332/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-need/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing in this world that I want or need, but you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-werlin/there-is-nothing-in-this-world-that-i-want-or-need-but-you/) [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) > [Sometimes all you ever want is someone to want and need you as much as you want and need them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/sometimes-all-you-ever-want-is-someone-to-want-and-need-you-as-much/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [People are going to want you, need you, take you, love you, hate you, play you, rate you, save you or break you. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-are-going-to-want-you-need-you-take-you-love-you-hate-you-play/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It takes you so long to realize who you need, and it's not always the person you want to need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-you-so-long-to-realize-who-you-need-and-it-s-not-always-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm at an all time low; we don't talk no more. I want you back I need you back, that's all I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-m-at-an-all-time-low-we-don-t-talk-no-more-i-want-you-back-i-need/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [What we want is not always what we need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/what-we-want-is-not-always-what-we-need/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [It's just when you want...no when you need people to be there for you They're not.. they're like a million miles away And when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-just-when-you-want-no-when-you-need-people-to-be-there-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People act on what they want more often than what they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goulston/people-act-on-what-they-want-more-often-than-what-they-need/) [Mark Goulston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goulston/) > [It is really want, rather than need, that drives the process of technological evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/it-is-really-want-rather-than-need-that-drives-the-process-of/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [People are going to want you, need you, exceed you, take you, love you, hate you, play you, rate you, save you, and break.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-jones/people-are-going-to-want-you-need-you-exceed-you-take-you-love-you/) [Cheyenne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-jones/) > [God's goal is not to get what you want; it is to get you what you need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-goal-is-not-to-get-what-you-want-it-is-to-get-you-what-you-need/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If you want me,show me if you need me,tell me if I'm worth it,fight for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-me-show-me-if-you-need-me-tell-me-if-i-m-worth-it-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [By and large, life will give you what you deserve and it doesn't give a damn what you like. So it is up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/by-and-large-life-will-give-you-what-you-deserve-and-it-doesn-t-give/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“Don't confuse what you want and what you need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-fine/don-t-confuse-what-you-want-and-what-you-need/) [Sarah Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-fine/) > [Wherever I am, let me never forget to distinguish want from need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/wherever-i-am-let-me-never-forget-to-distinguish-want-from-need/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## More by REM > [The information nation took their clues from all the sound bite gluttons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/the-information-nation-took-their-clues-from-all-the-sound-bite/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [My actions make me beautiful, and dignifying the flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/my-actions-make-me-beautiful-and-dignifying-the-flesh/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [I raised the walls and I will be the one to knock it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/i-raised-the-walls-and-i-will-be-the-one-to-knock-it-down/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [Not everyone can carry the weight of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/not-everyone-can-carry-the-weight-of-the-world/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/it-s-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it-and-i-feel-fine/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [Courage built a bridge, jealousy tore it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/courage-built-a-bridge-jealousy-tore-it-down/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [Another chance has been engaged to throw Thoureau and rearrange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/another-chance-has-been-engaged-to-throw-thoureau-and-rearrange/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [The world is collapsing around our ears, I turned up the radio, but I can't hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/the-world-is-collapsing-around-our-ears-i-turned-up-the-radio-but-i/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [That's me in the spot light, losing my religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/that-s-me-in-the-spot-light-losing-my-religion/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [I know this is vitriol, no solution, spleen venting, but I feel better having screamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/i-know-this-is-vitriol-no-solution-spleen-venting-but-i-feel-better/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [DJs communicate to the masses, sex and violent classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/djs-communicate-to-the-masses-sex-and-violent-classes/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [Little things, they can pull you under. Live your life filled with joy and wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/little-things-they-can-pull-you-under-live-your-life-filled-with-joy/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [Ugly girls know their fate, anybody can get laid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/ugly-girls-know-their-fate-anybody-can-get-laid/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [We are hope despite the times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/we-are-hope-despite-the-times/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [What position should I wear, cop an attitude? How can I convince her, that I'm invented too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/what-position-should-i-wear-cop-an-attitude-how-can-i-convince-her/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) [Explore all 29 REM quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) ## More Confused quotes > [The fact -- not theory -- that evolution has occurred and the Darwinian theory as to how it occurred have become so confused in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gaylord-simpson/the-fact-not-theory-that-evolution-has-occurred-and-the-darwinian/) [George Gaylord Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gaylord-simpson/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [I was a very protected and confused kid till 24. It was after then, that I started taking my life seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddharth-shukla/i-was-a-very-protected-and-confused-kid-till-24-it-was-after-then/) [Siddharth Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddharth-shukla/) > [I can picture certain things in my mind, while writing the script, but then I can also tell that everyone else might be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/i-can-picture-certain-things-in-my-mind-while-writing-the-script-but/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [America today is a confused society, caught up in a terror war, a culture war, and a media war, where honesty and professional standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/america-today-is-a-confused-society-caught-up-in-a-terror-war-a/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Well I'm trying to think what I put in... I think I put in 'why?' to see if I'd confuse the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/well-i-m-trying-to-think-what-i-put-in-i-think-i-put-in-why-to-see-if/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I am still searching for the expression of those confused sensations that we bring with us at birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/i-am-still-searching-for-the-expression-of-those-confused-sensations/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [If I look confused it is because I am thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/if-i-look-confused-it-is-because-i-am-thinking/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Rage is exciting, but leaves me confused and exhausted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/rage-is-exciting-but-leaves-me-confused-and-exhausted/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I believe that much of Hollywood is confused about Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/i-believe-that-much-of-hollywood-is-confused-about-israel/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [My senior thesis was a documentary. By the time I graduated from college, I thought I was going to make films, and my interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/my-senior-thesis-was-a-documentary-by-the-time-i-graduated-from/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [“Hold the freaking phone! I am clearly missing something here,” Lori said, still holding a confused expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/hold-the-freaking-phone-i-am-clearly-missing-something-here-lori-said/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) [Browse all 1,772 Confused quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confused/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we want and what we need has been confused.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "REM" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-confused/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confused" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-confused/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/rem-21433_confused_what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-c_2728393.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/rem-21433_confused_what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-c_2728393.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/rem-21433_confused_what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-c_2728393.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we want and what we need has been confused.” — REM", "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": "REM", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we want and what we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-confused/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/what-we-want-and-what-we-need-has-been-confused/#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 } } ] } ```