Desire Quote by Terry Eagleton
““Language, the unconscious, the parents, the symbolic order: these terms in Lacan are not exactly synonymous, but they are intimately allied. They are sometimes spoken of by him as the ‘Other’ — as that which like language is always anterior to us and will always escape us, that which brought us into being as subjects in the first place but which always outruns our grasp. We have seen that for Lacan our unconscious desire is directed towards this Other, in the shape of some ultimately gratifying reality which we can never have; but it is also true for Lacan that our desire is in some way always received from the Other too. We desire what others — our parents, for instance — unconsciously desire for us; and desire can only happen because we are caught up in linguistic, sexual and social relations — the whole field of the ‘Other’ — which generate it.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Cambridge Companion to Lacan, 2004
Lacan views language, the unconscious, and the symbolic order as an “Other” that shapes desire and identity, always beyond full grasp.
In simple terms: Our desires are formed by an external symbolic system we can never fully control.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the influence of external symbols on your desires.
Themes
psychoanalysis
language
identity
desire
social relations
Mood
introspective
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
interpretive
When to use this quote
- therapeutic analysis
- literary criticism
- personal reflection
- social dynamics
Key Concepts
symbolic order
the Other
unconscious desire
subject formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the symbolic order shape your personal goals?
- Can you identify desires that originate from external expectations?
A Different Perspective
The Other is never fully knowable, limiting certainty about desire.
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