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About this quote

What does it mean?
Excessive desire for external things masks the internal feeling of worthlessness.
In plain terms
Wanting things is often a way to hide feeling bad about yourself.
What can you take from it?
Desire can be a distraction from self-doubt.

Where it applies

  • consumerism
  • personal crisis
  • social comparison

Putting it to work

  • assess true needs
  • work on self-worth
  • reduce want

Questions to consider

  • What do you think will make you happy?
  • Why do you want that?

Another view

Desire is also a natural human drive for improvement.

More from Eric Hoffer

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  3. People whose lives are barren and insecure seem to show a greater willingness to obey than people who are self-sufficient and self-confident. To the frustrated…

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