--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Desire by itself is not wrong. It is life…" description: "\"“Desire by itself is not wrong. It is life itself, the urge to grow in knowledge and experience. It is the choices you make that are wrong. To imagine ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/roger-walsh-37782_desire_desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life_3057161.jpg" --- # Desire by itself is not wrong. It is life itself, the urge… ![“Desire by itself is not wrong. It is life itself, the urge to grow in knowledge and experience. It is the choices you make that are wrong. To imagine that some little thing—food, sex, power, fame—will make you happy is to deceive oneself. Only something as vast and deep as your real self can make…” quote by Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/roger-walsh-37782_desire_desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life_3057161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/roger-walsh-37782_desire_desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life_3057161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/roger-walsh-37782_desire_desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life_3057161.jpg) > ““Desire by itself is not wrong. It is life itself, the urge to grow in knowledge and experience. It is the choices you make that are wrong. To imagine that some little thing—food, sex, power, fame—will make you happy is to deceive oneself. Only something as vast and deep as your real self can make you truly and lastingly happy. —Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj,”” [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) ## 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 natural and drives growth, but happiness comes from aligning with one's true self, not external achievements. **In simple terms:** Desire fuels growth; true happiness is inner. Key Takeaway Seek inner alignment over external gains. Themes self‑growth happiness inner truth materialism desire Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal development - spiritual practice - career decisions - relationship choices Key Concepts non‑duality self‑realization psychology Questions to Reflect On - What inner values guide your choices? - How do you differentiate true desire from fleeting cravings? A Different Perspective External successes may not satisfy deeper needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Knowledge and experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-and-experience/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Real self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-self/) ## Related quotes > [All you want is to be happy. All your desires, whatever they may be, are longing for happiness. Basically, you wish yourself well...desire by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/all-you-want-is-to-be-happy-all-your-desires-whatever-they-may-be-are/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [All of my life I have always had the urge to do things better than anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-of-my-life-i-have-always-had-the-urge-to-do-things-better-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“the ten thousand things To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-louis/the-ten-thousand-things-to-study-the-self-is-to-forget-the-self-to/) Miriam Louis > [The role of an artist is to awaken the deep life urge that is already in every person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-mortifee/the-role-of-an-artist-is-to-awaken-the-deep-life-urge-that-is-already/) Ann Mortifee > [“Question: You seem to advise me to be self-centered to the point of egoism. Must I not yield even to my interest in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nisargadatta-maharaj/question-you-seem-to-advise-me-to-be-self-centered-to-the-point-of/) [Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“For the first time, she felt it: this was the freedom her brother had sought. There was life in London. There was life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kadish/for-the-first-time-she-felt-it-this-was-the-freedom-her-brother-had/) [Rachel Kadish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kadish/) > [“The desire of wrong things leads to wickedness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-desire-of-wrong-things-leads-to-wickedness/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We are acting on our desire; there is nothing wrong. Just remember if it does not pan out, if our desires go unfulfilled, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-kest/we-are-acting-on-our-desire-there-is-nothing-wrong-just-remember-if/) [Bryan Kest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-kest/) > [Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-your-nature-it-is-not-wrong-to-desire-it-what-is-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I’ve wanted you from the moment we met, and if you think sitting next to me in your bra doesn’t overwhelm me with desire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-ve-wanted-you-from-the-moment-we-met-and-if-you-think-sitting-next/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“To deceive oneself is worse than to deceive others." These harsh words pierced me to the core.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichi-suzuki/to-deceive-oneself-is-worse-than-to-deceive-others-these-harsh-words/) [Shinichi Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichi-suzuki/) > [“The worry simply means: you are clinging with something which is no more and you are avoiding that which is. That is worry. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-worry-simply-means-you-are-clinging-with-something-which-is-no/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [It is in the ability to deceive oneself that the greatest talent is shown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-in-the-ability-to-deceive-oneself-that-the-greatest-talent-is/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [One does not deceive oneself about the consequences of one's acts; one deceives oneself about the ease with which one can live with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-does-not-deceive-oneself-about-the-consequences-of-one-s-acts-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/nothing-is-so-easy-as-to-deceive-oneself-for-what-we-wish-we-readily/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) ## More by Roger Walsh > [“Above all, be patient. Transforming yourself and your life is a gradual process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/above-all-be-patient-transforming-yourself-and-your-life-is-a-gradual/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“Like the swan flying north in its yearly migration, the true human being moves powerfully forward in one direction, toward Truth alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/like-the-swan-flying-north-in-its-yearly-migration-the-true-human/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“Life is not always easy, but it can be ecstatic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/life-is-not-always-easy-but-it-can-be-ecstatic/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“Our lives are rich with opportunities and our challenge is to live them to the full. All of us can be the creative artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/our-lives-are-rich-with-opportunities-and-our-challenge-is-to-live/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“The inertia of a lifetime is not undone in a day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/the-inertia-of-a-lifetime-is-not-undone-in-a-day/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“Renounce and rejoice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/renounce-and-rejoice/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“We keep hearing from advertisers, “You can have it all.” What they don’t tell us is that having it all is never enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/we-keep-hearing-from-advertisers-you-can-have-it-all-what-they-don-t/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“we are not only more than we imagined but more than we can imagine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/we-are-not-only-more-than-we-imagined-but-more-than-we-can-imagine/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“We have underestimated ourselves tragically. We are sadly mistaken when we see ourselves as merely temporary bodies instead of timeless spirit; as separate, suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/we-have-underestimated-ourselves-tragically-we-are-sadly-mistaken/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“Much of education is oriented towards making a living rather then making a life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/much-of-education-is-oriented-towards-making-a-living-rather-then/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) > [“Life Contains Inevitable Difficulties Life is not only short, but difficult. There are times of great joy, love, triumph, and delight, moments when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/life-contains-inevitable-difficulties-life-is-not-only-short-but/) [Roger Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) [Explore all 12 Roger Walsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/) ## 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 > [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": "“Desire by itself is not wrong. It is life itself, the urge to grow in knowledge and experience. It is the choices you make that are wrong. To imagine that some little thing—food, sex, power, fame—will make you happy is to deceive oneself. Only something as vast and deep as your real self can make you truly and lastingly happy. —Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roger Walsh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life-itself-the-urge-to-grow-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life-itself-the-urge-to-grow-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/roger-walsh-37782_desire_desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life_3057161.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/roger-walsh-37782_desire_desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life_3057161.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/roger-walsh-37782_desire_desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life_3057161.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Desire by itself is not wrong. It is life itself, the urge to grow in knowledge and experience. It is the…” — Roger Walsh", "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": "Roger Walsh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-walsh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Desire by itself is not wrong....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life-itself-the-urge-to-grow-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-walsh/desire-by-itself-is-not-wrong-it-is-life-itself-the-urge-to-grow-in/#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 } } ] } ```