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title: The absence of desire is true happiness
created: 2024-11-18T09:18:12
modified: 2025-10-19T11:57:53
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> _“Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods.” ― Socrates_

> _[“Not wanting something is as good as having it.” — Naval Ravikant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyfUysrNaco&t=33s)_

> _“Desire is a contract that you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.” — Naval Ravikant_

> _“Desire makes slaves out of kings, while patience makes kings out of slaves.” ― Imam Al-Ghazali_

> _“Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of one’s desires, but by the removal of desire.” — Epictetus_

[@mansonSubtleArtNot2016]

> _[“The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one's negative experience is itself a positive experience. — Mark Manson, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F\*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life](https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/48297245-the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-f-ck-a-counterintuitive-approach-to-livi)_

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Wishful Thinking

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Materialism

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天高不算高，人心比天高

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Keep your mind aware and desire asleep.

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> _“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you.” — Peace Pilgrim_

[放下](the-art-of-quitting.md) 你要的東西，你就能得到任何東西。

You only lose what you cling to.

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# See Also

* [Miswanting](miswanting.md)
* [Emotional Freedom](emotional-freedom.md)