Desire Quote by William Faulkner
““i give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire; it's rather excruciating-ly apt that you will use it to gain the reducto absurdum of all human experience which can fit your individual needs no better than it fitted his or his father's. i give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you might forget it now and then for a moment and not spend all your breath trying to conquer it. because no battle is ever won he said. they are not even fought. the field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner, 1929
The quote reflects on the futility of seeking absolute meaning, suggesting that striving for total control or conquest leads to self‑deception and that true insight comes from recognizing one's own limitations.
In simple terms: Seeking total control is futile; accept limits.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility and let go of grand conquest.
Themes
philosophy
existentialism
human nature
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
illusion
folly
despair
self‑deception
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to "forget" time?
- How can recognizing folly change our actions?
A Different Perspective
The notion of victory may be comforting but can mask deeper ignorance.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
