--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The passions we cannot control are the…" description: "\"The passions we cannot control are the ones that define us.\" — Simon Van Booy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/simon-van-booy-2946_desire_the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-o_2740305.png" --- # The passions we cannot control are the ones that define us. ![“The passions we cannot control are the ones that define us.” quote by Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/simon-van-booy-2946_desire_the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-o_2740305.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/simon-van-booy-2946_desire_the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-o_2740305.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/simon-van-booy-2946_desire_the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-o_2740305.png) > “The passions we cannot control are the ones that define us.” [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that uncontrolled passions shape identity, implying they are integral to self‑definition. **In simple terms:** Passions define us when unchecked. Key Takeaway Channel passions constructively. Themes identity emotion control Mood introspective thoughtful Type psychological literary When to use this quote - therapy - creative writing - personal growth Key Concepts psychology of desire self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How do passions influence choices? - Can they be balanced? A Different Perspective May ignore harmful effects of excess. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control Ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-ones-3023063/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ones/) [Ones Define](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ones-define-2482119/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passions/) [Passions Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passions-control-696458/) ## Related quotes > [Virtue does not consist in the absence of the passions, but in the control of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/virtue-does-not-consist-in-the-absence-of-the-passions-but-in-the/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [“Sometimes the things that don't seem like much much, become the very ones that define us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibiana-krall/sometimes-the-things-that-don-t-seem-like-much-much-become-the-very/) [Bibiana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibiana-krall/) > [If the future's looking dark, We're the ones who have to shine. If there's no one in control, We're the ones who draw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/if-the-future-s-looking-dark-we-re-the-ones-who-have-to-shine-if-2/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [If the future's looking dark, we're the ones who have to shine. 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Passions spin the plot: We are betrayed by what is false within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meredith/in-tragic-life-god-wot-no-villain-need-be-passions-spin-the-plot-we/) [George Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meredith/) > [In music the passions enjoy themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-music-the-passions-enjoy-themselves/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The life of a good man was a continual warfare with his passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-life-of-a-good-man-was-a-continual-warfare-with-his-passions/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) ## More by Simon Van Booy > [“I think we keep these moments of rejection and acceptance very close. I think we carry them always, like cracked shells from which a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/i-think-we-keep-these-moments-of-rejection-and-acceptance-very-close/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [I suppose the key to a good life is to gently overlook the truth and hope that at any moment we can all be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/i-suppose-the-key-to-a-good-life-is-to-gently-overlook-the-truth-and/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [“When he smiles, they mostly look away. But Martin likes to think they carry his smile for a few blocks – that even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/when-he-smiles-they-mostly-look-away-but-martin-likes-to-think-they/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [Succes is really nothing more than the record of failure. To be successful means you must be willing to fail more than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/succes-is-really-nothing-more-than-the-record-of-failure-to-be/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [I wonder if things can happen too early or too late or if everything happens at exactly the right time. If so, how sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/i-wonder-if-things-can-happen-too-early-or-too-late-or-if-everything/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [Should you ever feel too lonely...listen for the roar of the sea- for in it are all those who've been and all those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/should-you-ever-feel-too-lonely-listen-for-the-roar-of-the-sea-for-in/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [But say you do find the right people - how do you love them without smothering them?...How do you not suffocate them with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/but-say-you-do-find-the-right-people-how-do-you-love-them-without/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [We touched with a softness that pushed through the skin into memory, like arms plunged into a river - we could feel the weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/we-touched-with-a-softness-that-pushed-through-the-skin-into-memory/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [When I was in my early twenties, I fell in love at least 20 times a day. You have to be with someone where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/when-i-was-in-my-early-twenties-i-fell-in-love-at-least-20-times-a/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [“It had rained, she said, and I imagined the beads of small water on the windshield like a thousand eyes, or each drop a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/it-had-rained-she-said-and-i-imagined-the-beads-of-small-water-on-the/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [The most frustrating part of trying to direct everything is not that it alienates you from people who genuinely want to help, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/the-most-frustrating-part-of-trying-to-direct-everything-is-not-that/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [Writers are often alone when they work. Hours pass in silence as one long moment; light fades as day turns back to face the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/writers-are-often-alone-when-they-work-hours-pass-in-silence-as-one/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [“Music is only a mystery to people who want it explained. Music and love are the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/music-is-only-a-mystery-to-people-who-want-it-explained-music-and/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [Death is the most sophisticated form of beauty, and the most difficult to accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/death-is-the-most-sophisticated-form-of-beauty-and-the-most-difficult/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [Hands have their own language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/hands-have-their-own-language/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) [Explore all 144 Simon Van Booy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) ## 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": "The passions we cannot control are the ones that define us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Van Booy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-ones-that-define-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-ones-that-define-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/simon-van-booy-2946_desire_the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-o_2740305.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/simon-van-booy-2946_desire_the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-o_2740305.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/simon-van-booy-2946_desire_the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-o_2740305.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The passions we cannot control are the ones that define us.” — Simon Van Booy", "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": "Simon Van Booy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The passions we cannot control are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-ones-that-define-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/the-passions-we-cannot-control-are-the-ones-that-define-us/#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 } } ] } ```