--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be careful what you yearn for, because…" description: "\"Be careful what you yearn for, because that which you desire most will either complete you or destroy you, and you don't get to choose.\" — William Lashner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/william-lashner-11715_be-careful_be-careful-what-you-yearn-for-because-th_997723.jpg" --- # Be careful what you yearn for, because that which you… ![“Be careful what you yearn for, because that which you desire most will either complete you or destroy you, and you don't get to choose.” quote by William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/william-lashner-11715_be-careful_be-careful-what-you-yearn-for-because-th_997723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/william-lashner-11715_be-careful_be-careful-what-you-yearn-for-because-th_997723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/william-lashner-11715_be-careful_be-careful-what-you-yearn-for-because-th_997723.jpg) > “Be careful what you yearn for, because that which you desire most will either complete you or destroy you, and you don't get to choose.” [William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desires can be both fulfilling and destructive, and we often lack control over their outcomes. **In simple terms:** What you want can help or hurt you. Key Takeaway Choose desires wisely and accept uncertainty. Themes desire risk control Mood thoughtful serious Type cautionary psychological When to use this quote - relationship decisions - career moves - personal goals - risk assessment Key Concepts philosophy of choice psychology of longing Questions to Reflect On - What desire have you pursued without knowing the cost? - How can you mitigate potential negative effects of your wishes? A Different Perspective Not all outcomes are predictable; some desires may lead to unintended harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-careful/) [Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) [Careful Yearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful-yearn-2085931/) [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Don Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-choose/) [Yearn Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearn-desire-2085933/) ## Related quotes > [We yearn for the desire to triumph, and it almost never does in the greatest love stories because we're left yearning for it more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/we-yearn-for-the-desire-to-triumph-and-it-almost-never-does-in-the/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Be careful what you choose: You may get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/be-careful-what-you-choose-you-may-get-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [You don't choose your public; your public chooses you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/you-don-t-choose-your-public-your-public-chooses-you/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [You don't choose your nicknames they're granted to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-holland/you-don-t-choose-your-nicknames-they-re-granted-to-you/) [Kevin Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-holland/) > [I don't choose the songs; the songs choose me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/i-don-t-choose-the-songs-the-songs-choose-me/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [I don't choose roles. 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I always do. And life seems eager to exceed my expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/i-expect-to-lose-i-always-do-and-life-seems-eager-to-exceed-my/) [William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/) > [“Everyone has something to teach you, Duddleman, if you can bear to stay quiet enough to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/everyone-has-something-to-teach-you-duddleman-if-you-can-bear-to-stay/) [William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/) > [“Life is unbearably perverse; that which we most seek to avoid always becomes unavoidable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/life-is-unbearably-perverse-that-which-we-most-seek-to-avoid-always/) [William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/) [Explore all 57 William Lashner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/) ## More Be careful quotes > [Be careful. 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Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Well sometimes, culture can stifle talent, so you have to be careful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-williams/well-sometimes-culture-can-stifle-talent-so-you-have-to-be-careful/) [Monty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-williams/) > [And so we have to be careful with looking at additional stimulus that we don't provoke an increase in the bond rate and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-raines/and-so-we-have-to-be-careful-with-looking-at-additional-stimulus-that/) [Franklin Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-raines/) > [Be careful who you might trust the Devil was once an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-who-you-might-trust-the-devil-was-once-an-angel-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books-said-tessa-and-what-is-inside/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. 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