Changed Quote by William Braxton Irvine
“You are currently experiencing desire; otherwise, you wouldn't be reading these words. Even if you are reading them at the behest of someone else, you are motivated by your desire to please that person. And if you stop reading, you will not do so because you have stopped desiring but because your desires have changed.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of Living, 2009
Desire drives attention; when desire shifts, our focus changes, explaining why we continue or stop an activity.
In simple terms: Desire determines what we pay attention to.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and align actions with current desires.
Themes
motivation
desire
attention
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- goal setting
- habit formation
- learning new skills
Key Concepts
Philosophy
psychology
behavioral economics
Questions to Reflect On
- What current desire is shaping your actions?
- How can you sustain motivation when desires change?
A Different Perspective
Desire may be fleeting, leading to inconsistent commitment.
![“I also suspect that many workers in this field [molecular biology] and related fields have been strongly motivated by the desire, rarely actually expressed, to refute vitalism.” quote by Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/81f/francis-crick-8439_biology_i-also-suspect-that-many-workers-in-this_502423.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
