---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury…"
description: "\"“Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, expresses it this way: “To desire my joy is to desire the joy of the one I desire: my search for enjoyment t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/wesley-hill-47693_desire_rowan-williams-archbishop-of-canterbury_1096556.jpg"
---

#  Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, expresses it…

![“Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, expresses it this way: “To desire my joy is to desire the joy of the one I desire: my search for enjoyment through the…presence of another is a longing to be enjoyed…&#91;Romantic&#93; partners ‘admire’ in each other ‘the lineaments of gratified desire’. We are…” quote by Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/wesley-hill-47693_desire_rowan-williams-archbishop-of-canterbury_1096556.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/wesley-hill-47693_desire_rowan-williams-archbishop-of-canterbury_1096556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/wesley-hill-47693_desire_rowan-williams-archbishop-of-canterbury_1096556.jpg)

> ““Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, expresses it this way: “To desire my joy is to desire the joy of the one I desire: my search for enjoyment through the…presence of another is a longing to be enjoyed…\[Romantic\] partners ‘admire’ in each other ‘the lineaments of gratified desire’. We are pleased because we are pleasing.””

[Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/)

## About This Quote

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

Desiring another’s joy links to wanting one’s own joy; love is reciprocal fulfillment and mutual pleasure.

**In simple terms:** Wanting joy for a partner means wanting joy for yourself.

Key Takeaway

Seek mutual fulfillment in relationships.

Themes

love reciprocity joy desire

Mood

reflective intimate

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- romantic partnership
- friendship
- collaboration

Key Concepts

interpersonal dynamics mutual satisfaction

Questions to Reflect On

- How does mutual joy differ from codependency?
- What boundaries protect healthy reciprocity?

A Different Perspective

May overlook personal boundaries or self‑care.

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[Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-joy-2862408/) [Desire Pleased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-pleased-2862410/) [Gratified Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratified-desire-2172650/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Longing Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing-enjoyed-2862409/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

## Related quotes

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> [Desire joy and thank God for it. Renounce it, if need be, for other's sake. That's joy beyond joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/desire-joy-and-thank-god-for-it-renounce-it-if-need-be-for-other-s/)

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> [“You can desire joy, and hope for it, but joy has a mind of its own and won’t let itself be pressured or stressed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matias-dalsgaard/you-can-desire-joy-and-hope-for-it-but-joy-has-a-mind-of-its-own-and/)

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> [Ardent desire for knowledge, in fact, is the one motive attracting and supporting investigators in their efforts; and just this knowledge, really grasped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/ardent-desire-for-knowledge-in-fact-is-the-one-motive-attracting-and/)

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> [Carving is a source of joy to the artist. . . . To attack the raw material, gradually to extract a shape out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristide-maillol/carving-is-a-source-of-joy-to-the-artist-to-attack-the-raw-material/)

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> [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/)

## More by Wesley Hill

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[Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/)

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