There cannot be self-restraint in the absence of desire: when there is no adversary, what avails thy courage? Hark, do not castrate thyself, do not become a monk: chastity depends on the existence of lust.

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.

There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it.

Our desires always increase with our possessions. The knowledge that something remains yet unenjoyed impairs our enjoyment of the good before us.

We grow weary of those things (and perhaps soonest) which we most desire.

If there is nothing left to desire, there is everything to fear, an unhappy state of happiness.

Discontents do arise from our desires oftener than from our needs.

Three basic desires of man-to be loved, to be secure, to be valuable.

I count him braver who conquers his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over self.

Where desire doth bear the sway, The heart must rule, the head obey.