Desire is a strong force that shapes human experience, which drives you toward your goals, dreams, and connections with others.
Quotes about desire capture the intensity of longing, whether for success, love, or personal development.
They reflect on the passions that fuel ambition, the struggles that come with unachieved desires, and the courage it takes to pursue what we you want in life.
Top Desire Quotes
Desire is a powerful driving force behind human action, shaping our goals, ambitions, and motivations. These quotes reflect the strength of desire and its role in pushing us toward growth and fulfillment.
“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” – Confucius
“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.” – Napoleon Hill
“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.” – Ayn Rand
“Life contains but two tragedies. One is not to get your heart’s desire; the other is to get it.” – George Bernard Shaw
“Desire creates the power.” – Raymond Holliwell
“The intensity of your desire governs the power with which the force is directed.” – John McDonald
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis
“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire.” – Robert Kiyosaki
“What we insistently desire, over time, is what we become.” – Neal A. Maxwell
“Desire is the compass of the heart; it points us in the direction of our dreams.” – Unknown
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Desire Quotes on Passion and Ambition
Desire is often intertwined with passion and ambition, pushing us beyond our comfort zones and toward our greatest potential. These quotes capture the essence of desire as a catalyst for achievement and personal growth.
“Passion is a laser beam. If you can get a handle on that energy, you can use it to light the way forward and burn through obstacles. That’s the power of desire.” – Danielle LaPorte
“The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire, not things we fear.” – Brian Tracy
“If people have a basic understanding of right from wrong, possess a strong desire to better themselves and persist in their cause, they can break the chain of any negative environment.” – Dave Pelzer
“You can have anything you want if you want it badly enough. You must want it with an inner exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world.” – Sheila Graham
“Desire is the fire that fuels the pursuit of excellence.” – Unknown
“Necessity is the emotional drive that makes great performance a must instead of a preference. Unlike weaker desires that make you want to do something, necessity demands that you take action.” – Brendon Burchard
“If you care enough for a result, you will most certainly attain it.” – William James
“What does it take to be a champion? Desire, dedication, determination, concentration, and the will to win.” – Patty Berg
“It sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities but its own talents.” – Eric Hoffer
“Desire is the pulse of life; it’s what keeps us moving forward.” – Unknown
Desire Quotes on Love and Longing
Desire often plays a complex role in love and longing. It stirs the heart and mind, leading to both joy and pain. These quotes reflect the intense emotions tied to yearning and unfulfilled desires.
“In the depths of my soul, I crave a love that sets me on fire.” – Unknown
“My desire for love is like a flame that never ceases to burn within me.” – Rumi
“To yearn for someone is to know both the joy and the pain of love.” – Unknown
“Every beat of my heart whispers your name, aching for the love that is still out of reach.” – Karen Salmansohn
“Desire and longing are the whips of God.” – Anna Wickham
“Longing for someone is both a curse and a blessing. It brings pain and sorrow, but also the promise of a love so profound that it can never be extinguished.” – Unknown
“The ache in my heart is a constant reminder of the love I so desperately desire.” – Robert Bly
“Your desire for love is a journey into the unknown, driven by the heart’s deepest need.” – Rumi
“My soul longs for a love that surpasses all boundaries, a love that is infinite and everlasting.” – Unknown
“Love and longing are intertwined, leading us on a path that is as fulfilling as it is sorrowful.” – Haruki Murakami
Desire Quotes on Success and Achievement
Desire is also a driving force behind ambition and success. These quotes highlight how desire propels individuals to reach their goals and achieve greatness.
“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.” – Napoleon Hill
“Your desires must be disciplined, and what you want to happen in time, sacrificed.” – Rumi
“Success is born out of desire, determination, and perseverance.” – Unknown
“The strength of your desire, if from habit, can either drive you toward greatness or entrap you in mediocrity.” – Rumi
“Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” – Bill Bradley
“Desire is the fire that ignites the engine of achievement.” – Napoleon Hill
“The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment to the desire for success.” – Tony Robbins
“What you desire, with consistent action, becomes your destiny.” – Deepak Chopra
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Ambition fueled by desire creates success that no obstacle can hold back.” – Unknown
Desire Quotes on Unfulfilled Dreams and Regret
Desire is a powerful force, but unfulfilled dreams often lead to a deep sense of regret and introspection. These quotes capture the essence of longing and the bittersweet pain of what could have been.
“There is no heavier burden than an unfulfilled potential.” – Charles M. Schulz
“Why do you dream? Because there are so many desires unfulfilled, and to live with unfulfilled desires is painful.” – Rajneesh (Osho)
“The pain of regret is a testament to the depth of our desires.” – Daniel H. Pink
“We always long for the forbidden things and desire what is denied us.” – Francois Rabelais
“Regret is the price we pay for our inability to appreciate the present.” – Anonymous
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire and how you handle disappointment along the way.” – Robert Kiyosaki
“All cravings are the mind seeking salvation or fulfillment in external things and in the future as a substitute for the joy of Being.” – Eckhart Tolle
“The more unfulfilled you are, the bigger a future you have.” – Rajneesh (Osho)
“Regret reminds us that forgiveness and redemption are within our grasp.” – Daniel H. Pink
These quotes reflect on how unfulfilled dreams shape our understanding of desire, often leading to reflection, growth, and the desire for redemption.
Desire Quotes on Temptation and Control
Temptation, like desire, can either drive us forward or lead us astray. These quotes explore the balance between controlling desire and the inevitable pull of temptation.
“Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained.” – William Blake
“Out of need springs desire, and out of desire springs the energy and the will to win.” – Denis Waitley
“Desire and hope will push us on toward the future.” – Michel de Montaigne
“How helpless we are, like netted birds, when we are caught by desire!” – Belva Plain
“Temptation comes from the lure of our own desires.” – James 1:14, The Bible
“The desire to win is born in most of us. The will to win is a matter of training.” – Margaret Thatcher
“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” – Mario Andretti
“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.” – Oscar Wilde
“Plant the seed of desire in your mind, and it forms a nucleus with the power to attract to itself everything needed for its fulfillment.” – Robert Collier
“What we insistently desire, over time, is what we become.” – Neal A. Maxwell
Desire Quotes on Personal Growth and Fulfillment
Desire is the driving force behind personal growth. It pushes us to seek more out of life and continuously strive to become the best versions of ourselves. These quotes emphasize how desire fuels our journey toward fulfillment and inner peace.
“There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.” – Ronald Reagan
“Growth begins when we begin to accept our own weakness.” – Jean Vanier
“The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.” – Earl Nightingale
“Happiness is a state of inner fulfillment.” – Matthieu Ricard
“Don’t go through life, grow through life.” – Eric Butterworth
“If you devote yourself entirely to a noble pursuit, there is no way you cannot find beauty and fulfillment.” – Daniel Gillies
“The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“You cannot grow unless you are willing to change. And you will not change unless you change something you do every day.” – John Maxwell
“Growth is painful, but it’s necessary for us to evolve.” – Sarah McLachlan
“Making progress in life is the biggest sense of fulfillment.” – Anonymous
These quotes demonstrate that desire is an essential catalyst for personal growth, pushing us to strive for fulfillment and contentment in our lives.
Desire Quotes on Determination and Willpower
Desire alone is not enough to achieve success—it must be combined with determination and willpower. These quotes remind us that with strong desire and unrelenting willpower, we can overcome any obstacle in our path to success.
“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.” – Robert Kiyosaki
“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal—a commitment to excellence that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” – Mario Andretti
“Desire creates the power.” – Raymond Holliwell
“Out of need springs desire, and out of desire springs the energy and the will to win.” – Denis Waitley
“It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the converse is, in fact, true—will is a product of desire.” – Denis Diderot
“The desire to win is born in most of us. The will to win is a matter of training. The manner of winning is a matter of honor.” – Margaret Thatcher
“Desire and hope will push us on toward the future.” – Michel de Montaigne
“You can have anything you want if you want it badly enough.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Desire is the compass that leads us to our true purpose.” – Unknown
“What we insistently desire, over time, is what we become.” – Neal A. Maxwell
Desire Quotes on Risk and Reward
Desire often drives us to take risks, and with risks come potential rewards or losses. The following quotes highlight the delicate balance between risk and reward, reminding us that great achievements often require stepping outside our comfort zones.
“Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” – Denis Waitley
“If you’re not scared a lot, you’re not doing very much.” – Robin Sharma
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy
“Go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.” – Jimmy Carter
“You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
“The reward is in the risk.” – Rachel Cohn
“When you take risks, you learn that there will be times when you succeed, and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.” – Ellen DeGeneres
“Risk more than others think is safe. Dream more than others think is practical.” – Howard Schultz
“Progress always involves risks. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.” – Frederick Wilcox
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd
These quotes emphasize that taking risks is an essential part of personal and professional growth, offering rewards that go beyond the material and impact our lives in meaningful ways.
Desire Quotes on the Power of Attraction
The power of desire can often be understood through the lens of attraction, where our deepest longings pull us toward our goals or dreams. These quotes focus on how desire and attraction intertwine, creating powerful forces that shape our realities.
“Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity because if you’re passionate about something, you’re more willing to take risks.” – Yo-Yo Ma
“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and becomes nothing.” – Leo F. Buscaglia
“Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.” – Katherine Mansfield
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” – T.S. Eliot
“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal—a commitment to excellence—that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” – Mario Andretti
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair
“Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.” – H. Jackson Brown
“To live, to truly live, we must be willing to risk. To be nothing in order to find everything.” – Mandy Hale
Desire Quotes on Inner Conflict and Doubt
Desire is often entangled with inner conflict and doubt, creating a tension between what we want and the fears that hold us back. These quotes reflect the struggle of balancing our desires with the internal battles we face.
“Boredom is the inner conflict we suffer when we lose desire, when we lack a lacking.” – Robert McKee
“The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hecatombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love.” – Maximilian Kolbe
“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” – Sylvia Plath
“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Suzy Kassem
“Waiting is a state of mind. Basically, it means that you want the future; you don’t want the present. You unconsciously create inner conflict between your here and now, where you don’t want to be, and the projected future, where you want to be.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Where such men love they have no desire and where they desire they cannot love.” – Sigmund Freud
“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” – William Shakespeare
“Self-doubt is a persuasive mistress; careful not to shag her or you’ll never get your balls back.” – Dannika Dark
“You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“When in doubt, doubt the doubt!” – Deepak Chopra
Desire Quotes on Life’s Impermanence and Contentment
Desire often clashes with the understanding of life’s impermanence, and finding contentment can sometimes mean reconciling with what we cannot have. These quotes explore the balance between yearning and accepting life’s transience.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
“Life is about change. Sometimes it’s painful, sometimes it’s beautiful, but most of the time, it’s both.” – Kristin Kreuk
“When you hold out for high standards, people are impressed—but they don’t always like you for it. You’ll wrestle with inner conflict, torn between what you should do and what you want to do.” – Price Pritchett
“Long ago man formed an ideal conception of omnipotence and omniscience which he embodied in his gods. Whatever seemed unattainable to his desires… he attributed to these gods.” – Sigmund Freud
“Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.” – Steve Maraboli
“Be present. There’s nothing more important than the moment you are in now.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” – Norman Vincent Peale
“The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” – William James
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
“Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.” – Anonymous
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Final Thoughts
Desire quotes remind you of the strength and determination that come from pursuing what you truly want.
While desire can lead to both satisfaction and frustration, it is a force that drives personal development and ambition.
These quotes encourage you to embrace your desires with bravery and mindfulness.