---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of all Discourse , governed by desire of…"
description: "\"Of all Discourse , governed by desire of Knowledge, there is at last an End , either by attaining, or by giving over.\" — Thomas Hobbes"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/thomas-hobbes-1127_desire_of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-k_1888025.jpg"
---

#  Of all Discourse , governed by desire of Knowledge, there…

![“Of all Discourse , governed by desire of Knowledge, there is at last an End , either by attaining, or by giving over.” quote by Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/thomas-hobbes-1127_desire_of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-k_1888025.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/thomas-hobbes-1127_desire_of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-k_1888025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/thomas-hobbes-1127_desire_of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-k_1888025.jpg)

> “Of all Discourse , governed by desire of Knowledge, there is at last an End , either by attaining, or by giving over.”

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Desire for knowledge drives discourse, which ends either in mastery or surrender.

**In simple terms:** Knowledge pursuit ends in mastery or giving up.

Key Takeaway

Seek understanding, avoid surrender.

Themes

philosophy knowledge desire discourse

Mood

analytical serious

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

- academic study
- personal growth
- intellectual debate

Key Concepts

epistemology human nature limits

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives your learning?
- When is it okay to stop?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on knowledge can cause paralysis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attaining/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Discourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discourse/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/)

## Related quotes

> [Knowledge is in the end based on acknowledgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/knowledge-is-in-the-end-based-on-acknowledgement/)

[Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/)

> [Knowledge has its end in itself, apart from any idea of life and propagation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-de-gourmont/knowledge-has-its-end-in-itself-apart-from-any-idea-of-life-and/)

[Remy de Gourmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-de-gourmont/)

> [People are beginning to realize that self-knowledge is not an end in itself. It's for the purpose of better relationships, so that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-james/people-are-beginning-to-realize-that-self-knowledge-is-not-an-end-in/)

[Jennifer James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-james/)

> [Belief is not the beginning of knowledge - it is the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/belief-is-not-the-beginning-of-knowledge-it-is-the-end/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Acquisition of knowledge is not the end, but the means to the end; the end consists in the attainment, thanks to this knowledge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/acquisition-of-knowledge-is-not-the-end-but-the-means-to-the-end-the/)

[Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/)

> [“start something, with a knowledge to end it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-sagar/start-something-with-a-knowledge-to-end-it/)

[Krishna Sagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-sagar/)

> [By consequence, or train of thoughts, I understand that succession of one thought to another which is called, to distinguish it from discourse in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/by-consequence-or-train-of-thoughts-i-understand-that-succession-of/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [There are two ways of attaining an important end, force and perseverance; the silent power of the latter grows irresistible with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/there-are-two-ways-of-attaining-an-important-end-force-and/)

[Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/)

> [“No living being, right upto attaining moksha, has deliberately done anything,’. Understand just this one sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/no-living-being-right-upto-attaining-moksha-has-deliberately-done/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [For most people, attaining the intellectual clarity and emotional detachment that investing requires is tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-spier/for-most-people-attaining-the-intellectual-clarity-and-emotional/)

[Guy Spier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-spier/)

> [“For remember, ever, that Mind in its entirety is ever the Builder. For it is step by step, line by line, precept upon precept,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/for-remember-ever-that-mind-in-its-entirety-is-ever-the-builder-for/)

[Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/)

> [We must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness, since, if that be present, we have everything, and, if that be absent, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-must-exercise-ourselves-in-the-things-which-bring-happiness-since/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To be human is to seek perfection, and find joy in never attaining it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/to-be-human-is-to-seek-perfection-and-find-joy-in-never-attaining-it/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [“Whatever it is in life that is worth attaining, there must be something that is provoking an individual to go for that thing passionately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/whatever-it-is-in-life-that-is-worth-attaining-there-must-be/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [Philosophy attempts, not to discover new truths about the world, but to gain a clear view of what we already know and believe about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dummett/philosophy-attempts-not-to-discover-new-truths-about-the-world-but-to/)

Michael Dummett

## More by Thomas Hobbes

> [“Give an inch, he'll take an ell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/give-an-inch-he-ll-take-an-ell/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Do not that to another, which thou wouldst not have done to thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/do-not-that-to-another-which-thou-wouldst-not-have-done-to-thyself/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [For it is with the mysteries of our religion, as with wholesome pills for the sick, which swallowed whole, have the virtue to cure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-it-is-with-the-mysteries-of-our-religion-as-with-wholesome-pills/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Intemperance is naturally punished with diseases; rashness, with mischance; injustice; with violence of enemies; pride, with ruin; cowardice, with oppression; and rebellion, with slaughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/intemperance-is-naturally-punished-with-diseases-rashness-with/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [A man's conscience and his judgment is the same thing; and as the judgment, so also the conscience, may be erroneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/a-man-s-conscience-and-his-judgment-is-the-same-thing-and-as-the/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [He that is to govern a whole Nation , must read in himself, not this, or that particular man; but Mankind; which though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/he-that-is-to-govern-a-whole-nation-must-read-in-himself-not-this-or/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [If men are naturally in a state of war, why do they always carry arms and why do they have keys to lock their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/if-men-are-naturally-in-a-state-of-war-why-do-they-always-carry-arms/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Let a man (as most men do) rate themselves as the highest Value they can; yet their true Value is no more than it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/let-a-man-as-most-men-do-rate-themselves-as-the-highest-value-they/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [A free man is he that, in those things which by his strength and wit he is able to do, is not hindered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/a-free-man-is-he-that-in-those-things-which-by-his-strength-and-wit/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [“Covenants, without the sword, are but words and of no strength to secure a man at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/covenants-without-the-sword-are-but-words-and-of-no-strength-to/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Fear of things invisible in the natural seed of that which everyone in himself calleth religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/fear-of-things-invisible-in-the-natural-seed-of-that-which-everyone/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Because silver and gold have their value from the matter itself, they have first this privilege, that the value of them cannot be altered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/because-silver-and-gold-have-their-value-from-the-matter-itself-they/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [What reason is there that he which laboreth much, and, sparing the fruits of his labor, consumeth little, should be more charged than he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/what-reason-is-there-that-he-which-laboreth-much-and-sparing-the/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [The cause of Sense, is the External Body, or Object, which presseth the organ proper to each Sense, either immediately, as in theTaste and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-cause-of-sense-is-the-external-body-or-object-which-presseth-the/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [The characters of man's heart, blotted and confounded as they are with dissembling, lying, counterfeiting, and erroneous doctrines, are legible only to him that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-characters-of-man-s-heart-blotted-and-confounded-as-they-are-with/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

[Explore all 285 Thomas Hobbes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

## More Attaining quotes

> [Philosophy attempts, not to discover new truths about the world, but to gain a clear view of what we already know and believe about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dummett/philosophy-attempts-not-to-discover-new-truths-about-the-world-but-to/)

Michael Dummett

> [“Whatever it is in life that is worth attaining, there must be something that is provoking an individual to go for that thing passionately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/whatever-it-is-in-life-that-is-worth-attaining-there-must-be/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [To be human is to seek perfection, and find joy in never attaining it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/to-be-human-is-to-seek-perfection-and-find-joy-in-never-attaining-it/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [We must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness, since, if that be present, we have everything, and, if that be absent, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-must-exercise-ourselves-in-the-things-which-bring-happiness-since/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“For remember, ever, that Mind in its entirety is ever the Builder. For it is step by step, line by line, precept upon precept,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/for-remember-ever-that-mind-in-its-entirety-is-ever-the-builder-for/)

[Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/)

> [For most people, attaining the intellectual clarity and emotional detachment that investing requires is tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-spier/for-most-people-attaining-the-intellectual-clarity-and-emotional/)

[Guy Spier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-spier/)

> [“No living being, right upto attaining moksha, has deliberately done anything,’. Understand just this one sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/no-living-being-right-upto-attaining-moksha-has-deliberately-done/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [There are two ways of attaining an important end, force and perseverance; the silent power of the latter grows irresistible with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/there-are-two-ways-of-attaining-an-important-end-force-and/)

[Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/)

> [You have to be sure you want what you want, and there's no real way of knowing, other than attaining it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-to-be-sure-you-want-what-you-want-and-there-s-no-real-way-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Man can only be what he sees himself to be, and only attain what he sees himself attaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/man-can-only-be-what-he-sees-himself-to-be-and-only-attain-what-he/)

[Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/)

> [It is better to be unsuccessful pursuing a significant goal that being successful attaining an insignificant one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/it-is-better-to-be-unsuccessful-pursuing-a-significant-goal-that/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/a-human-being-is-not-attaining-his-full-heights-until-he-is-educated/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

> [Life is not accomplishing some special work but attaining to a degree of consciousness and inner freedom which is beyond all works and attainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/life-is-not-accomplishing-some-special-work-but-attaining-to-a-degree/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [“By the time most people figure out what they really want and how to go about attaining it, it’s usually too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/by-the-time-most-people-figure-out-what-they-really-want-and-how-to/)

[Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/)

> [Your fervent wishes can only find fulfillment if you succeed in attaining love and understanding of men, and animals, and plants, and stars, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/your-fervent-wishes-can-only-find-fulfillment-if-you-succeed-in/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

[Browse all 29 Attaining quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attaining/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Of all Discourse , governed by desire of Knowledge, there is at last an End , either by attaining, or by giving over.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Hobbes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-knowledge-there-is-at-last-an/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attaining"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-knowledge-there-is-at-last-an/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/thomas-hobbes-1127_desire_of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-k_1888025.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/thomas-hobbes-1127_desire_of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-k_1888025.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/thomas-hobbes-1127_desire_of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-k_1888025.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Of all Discourse , governed by desire of Knowledge, there is at last an End , either by attaining, or by…” — Thomas Hobbes",
                "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": "Thomas Hobbes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Of all Discourse , governed by...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-knowledge-there-is-at-last-an/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/of-all-discourse-governed-by-desire-of-knowledge-there-is-at-last-an/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```