---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tell myself: There is only one true…"
description: "\"“I tell myself: There is only one true thing in our world, to satisfy one's heart, to feel and go to the bottom of all one's feelings, to desire and go..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/william-stevens-101723_desires_i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thi_494176.jpg"
---

#  I tell myself: There is only one true thing in our world…

![“I tell myself: There is only one true thing in our world, to satisfy one's heart, to feel and go to the bottom of all one's feelings, to desire and go to the bottom of all one's desires. Finally to live one's life, one's sincere life outside of all lies and all conventions before sinking into…” quote by William Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/william-stevens-101723_desires_i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thi_494176.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/william-stevens-101723_desires_i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thi_494176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/william-stevens-101723_desires_i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thi_494176.jpg)

> ““I tell myself: There is only one true thing in our world, to satisfy one's heart, to feel and go to the bottom of all one's feelings, to desire and go to the bottom of all one's desires. Finally to live one's life, one's sincere life outside of all lies and all conventions before sinking into unavoidable nothingness.””

[William Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stevens/)

## About This Quote

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

True fulfillment comes from deep self‑knowledge, following genuine desires, and living authentically beyond societal masks.

**In simple terms:** Live authentically, follow true desires.

Key Takeaway

Seek inner truth, live sincerely.

Themes

self‑discovery authenticity desire meaning existence

Mood

reflective motivational

Type

desires:1 life:1 satisfy:1 feelings desire:1 satisfy heart:1 world satisfy:1

When to use this quote

- personal counseling
- spiritual practice
- creative expression

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What core desire guides you?
- How do you stay true amid pressure?

A Different Perspective

Pure authenticity can clash with social expectations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) [Feelings Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-desire-1794776/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Satisfy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfy/) [Satisfy Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfy-heart-2173514/) [World Satisfy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-satisfy-2324425/)

## Related quotes

> [If I find in myself desires in which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-find-in-myself-desires-in-which-nothing-in-this-world-can/)

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

> [Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poemen/do-not-give-your-heart-to-that-which-does-not-satisfy-your-heart/)

[Poemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poemen/)

> [Suppose you could be hooked up to a hypothetical 'experience machine' that, for the rest of your life, would stimulate your brain and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/suppose-you-could-be-hooked-up-to-a-hypothetical-experience-machine/)

[Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/)

> [At the core of all human behavior, the good feelings we all want are more or less the same. Therefore, what we get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/at-the-core-of-all-human-behavior-the-good-feelings-we-all-want-are/)

[Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/)

> [God bless you and utterly satisfy your heart...with Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/god-bless-you-and-utterly-satisfy-your-heart-with-himself/)

[Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/)

> [Does the world satisfy thee? Then thou hast thy reward &amp; portion in this life; make much of it, for thou shalt know no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/does-the-world-satisfy-thee-then-thou-hast-thy-reward-portion-in-this/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [“If you find yourself with a desire that no experience in this world can satisfy, then the most probable explanation is that you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-you-find-yourself-with-a-desire-that-no-experience-in-this-world/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cs-lewis/if-we-find-ourselves-with-a-desire-that-nothing-in-this-world-can/)

[CS Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cs-lewis/)

> [“The world cannot satisfy the heart, because the heart is too large for the object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-vernon-mcgee/the-world-cannot-satisfy-the-heart-because-the-heart-is-too-large-for/)

[J. Vernon McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-vernon-mcgee/)

> [Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-majella/who-except-god-can-give-you-peace-has-the-world-ever-been-able-to/)

[Gerard Majella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-majella/)

> [If people believe the world is here to satisfy them, whenever they begin to encounter their limitations, they become unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/if-people-believe-the-world-is-here-to-satisfy-them-whenever-they/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [“Whenever you name something in creation as the thing that will satisfy you, you are asking that thing to be your personal savior. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/whenever-you-name-something-in-creation-as-the-thing-that-will/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“After all, the three of us were young. It wasn’t just about the pleasure of the flesh. No, it wasn’t that simple. The flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/after-all-the-three-of-us-were-young-it-wasn-t-just-about-the/)

[Irene Nemirovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/)

> [If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-i-find-in-myself-a-desire-which-no-experience-in-this-world-can/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [“Marketing's illusive promise is that this one product will change your life, make you feel more sexy, satisfy all your heart's desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-g-durand/marketing-s-illusive-promise-is-that-this-one-product-will-change/)

[L G Durand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-g-durand/)

## More by William Stevens

> [“Music is feeling, then not sound; And thus it is what i feel, Here in this room, desiring you, Thinking of your blue- shadowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stevens/music-is-feeling-then-not-sound-and-thus-it-is-what-i-feel-here-in/)

[William Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stevens/)

[Explore all 2 William Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stevens/)

## More Desires quotes

> [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/)

[Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/)

> [A lot of times, my work is looked at very much on the surface. It's very easy to just want to put something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/a-lot-of-times-my-work-is-looked-at-very-much-on-the-surface-it-s/)

[Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/)

> [“The best way to achieve a wonderful life is to have wonderful desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-best-way-to-achieve-a-wonderful-life-is-to-have-wonderful-desires/)

[Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/)

> [“My third maxim was to endeavour always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and change my desires rather than the order of the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/my-third-maxim-was-to-endeavour-always-to-conquer-myself-rather-than/)

[René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/)

> [Our desires have a way of getting bigger with our incomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/our-desires-have-a-way-of-getting-bigger-with-our-incomes/)

[Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/)

> [“The Heart Desires to Be Free”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-belmer/the-heart-desires-to-be-free/)

[Cynthia Belmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-belmer/)

> [“Desires and wishes don’t lead to success. Plans and efforts do. Create a vision, chalk out an action plan, put in your best efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roopleen/desires-and-wishes-don-t-lead-to-success-plans-and-efforts-do-create/)

[Roopleen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roopleen/)

> [“We could not be fulfilled if we weren't inauthentic some of the time—inauthentic, that is, in relation to such things as our passing desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-could-not-be-fulfilled-if-we-weren-t-inauthentic-some-of-the-time/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [My intentions go one way, my desires another. Thus I feel both self-indulgent and deprived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/my-intentions-go-one-way-my-desires-another-thus-i-feel-both-self/)

[Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/)

> [The best kind of wealth is to give up inordinate desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-best-kind-of-wealth-is-to-give-up-inordinate-desires/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [“I never get writer's block. My secret...I have purring cats in surround sound while I write...best white noise on the planet." R.Rose when asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-rose/i-never-get-writer-s-block-my-secret-i-have-purring-cats-in-surround/)

[R. Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-rose/)

> [“The desires of the flesh leads to sin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-desires-of-the-flesh-leads-to-sin/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [It is a happy circumstance that when nature gives us true burning desires, she also gives us the means to satisfy them. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-seykota/it-is-a-happy-circumstance-that-when-nature-gives-us-true-burning/)

[Ed Seykota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-seykota/)

> [“You can become even a co-creator of this universe... an assurance coming from the Ancient Wisdom; provided you bear an appropriate WILL...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-kumar/you-can-become-even-a-co-creator-of-this-universe-an-assurance-coming/)

[Dinesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-kumar/)

> [“I want to have a lasting experience of God', I told him. 'Sometimes I feel like I understand the divinity of this world, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-want-to-have-a-lasting-experience-of-god-i-told-him-sometimes-i/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

[Browse all 1,202 Desires quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I tell myself: There is only one true thing in our world, to satisfy one's heart, to feel and go to the bottom of all one's feelings, to desire and go to the bottom of all one's desires. Finally to live one's life, one's sincere life outside of all lies and all conventions before sinking into unavoidable nothingness.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Stevens"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stevens/i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thing-in-our-world-to-satisfy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Desires"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stevens/i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thing-in-our-world-to-satisfy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/william-stevens-101723_desires_i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thi_494176.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/william-stevens-101723_desires_i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thi_494176.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/william-stevens-101723_desires_i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thi_494176.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I tell myself: There is only one true thing in our world, to satisfy one's heart, to feel and go to the…” — William Stevens",
                "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": "William Stevens",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stevens/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I tell myself: There is only...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stevens/i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thing-in-our-world-to-satisfy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stevens/i-tell-myself-there-is-only-one-true-thing-in-our-world-to-satisfy/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
