Desire Quotes
To understand the limitation of things, desire them.
"To understand the limitation of things, desire them."— Lao Tzu
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Meaning of this quote
Desire can expose the limits of what an object can satisfy. The saying invites reflection on craving and the difference between wanting and understanding.
Key takeaway:
Notice what a desire promises and what its object can actually provide.
Origin of the quote
A modern interpretive rendering associated with the opening of the Tao Te Ching.
Who actually said this?
Commonly attributedStenudd discusses the distance between this formulation and the ancient text. It should be labelled an interpretation, not a literal ancient quotation.
