Quotes about want
page 37

“This person realizes that staying home means blowing off everyone this person has ever known. But the desire to stay in is very strong. This person wants to run a bath and then read in bed.”

Miranda July (1974) American performance artist, musician and writer

Source: No One Belongs Here More Than You

Home, Strong, Reading, Personality

“Find out what your hero or heroine wants, and when he or she wakes up in the morning, just follow him or her all day..”

Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) American writer

“what's the matter?" he asked
"nothing"
"what do you want me to do for you?"
"i want you to be old. ten years older. twenty years older"
what she meant was: i want you to be weak. as weak as i am.”

Milan Kundera book The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Source: The Unbearable Lightness of Being

“The rule is that if they have a weapon and want to take you someplace else, it is so they can kill you slower--Peter”

Laurell K. Hamilton book The Harlequin

Source: The Harlequin

“Maybe getting around in life was nothing but map-reading. A skill that required practice. A key to unlock where you wanted to go. A legend to show where you were.”

Justina Chen (1968) American writer

Source: North of Beautiful

Life, Reading

“… for I know I shall be interrupted-- I shall want to be, really, because life is too exciting to sit still for long.”

Dodie Smith book I Capture the Castle

Source: I Capture the Castle

Life

“If I want more, I need to go and get it, demand it, take hold of it with all my might, and do the best I can with it.”

Melina Marchetta book On the Jellicoe Road

Source: On the Jellicoe Road

“You can feel that he wants to own you - not like an object but like a good dream he wants to keep having. He lets you know that you already own him.”

Melissa Bank book The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing

Source: The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing

Dreams, Feeling

“It'll take you eternities to get rid of me,' she adds sadly, which makes me jealous, I want her to say I'll never get rid of her - I wanta be chased till eternity till I catch her.”

Jack Kerouac book Big Sur

Source: Big Sur

“He wanted to think of words that would make some difference but there were none in any language he knew that were sufficient to the moment or that would change a single thing.”

Kent Haruf book Eventide

Source: Eventide

Thinking, Change

“If I want to play mind games, I'd buy a Rubik's cube. ~ Acheron, a character.”

Sherrilyn Kenyon (1965) Novelist

Variant: If I wanted to play mind games, I'd buy a Rubik's cube
Source: Acheron

Game

“And I would do it again. I love you, Jace Wayland-Herondale-Lightwood-whatever you want to call yourself. I don't care. I love you and I will always love you, and pretending it could be any other ways is just a waste of time.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Fallen Angels

Source: City of Fallen Angels

Love, Way, Time

“It’s a huge thing, this Shift, just as big as I imagined. My brain doesn’t want to think anymore; all of a sudden it wants to do.”

Ned Vizzini book It's Kind of a Funny Story

Source: It's Kind of a Funny Story

Imagination, Thinking

“You'd think getting chopped into a million pieces and cast into the darkest part of the Underworld would give him a subtle clue that nobody wanted him around.”

Rick Riordan book The Sea of Monsters

Source: The Sea of Monsters

Thinking, Parting

“I never wanted to be a painter; I wanted to be a tap dancer.”

Andy Warhol (1928–1987) American artist

“Merripen, despite his fear of heights, had often climbed a ladder to wash the second floor window for her. He had wanted her view of the outside world to be clear.
He had said the sky should always be blue for her.”

Lisa Kleypas (1964) American writer

Source: Seduce Me at Sunrise

World, Fear

“We wanted to define her, to wrap her up as we did each other, but we could not seem to get past "weird" and "strange" and "goofy." Her ways knocked us off balance.”

Jerry Spinelli book Stargirl

Source: Stargirl

Way, Past

“There's something about her," Caire said in a low voice. "She cares for everyone about her, yet neglects herself. I want to be the one who cares for her.”

Elizabeth Hoyt (1970) American writer

Source: Wicked Intentions

“I haven’t even really tried to win you over, Roza. When I want to, I can be very persuasive.”

Richelle Mead (1976) American writer

“But there was only one kiss that made me feel something stir deep inside. Only one that made me want more. But my head wound started bleeding and he made me lie down.”

Suzanne Collins book Catching Fire

Source: Catching Fire

Lie, Feeling, Kiss

“I do not have a psychiatrist and I do not want one, for the simple reason that if he listened to me long enough, he might become disturbed.”

James Thurber (1894–1961) American cartoonist, author, journalist, playwright

"Carpe Noctem, If You Can", Credos and Curios (1962)
From other writings

“Sex, whatever else it is, is an athletic skill. The more you practice, the more you can, the more you want to, the more you enjoy it, the less it tires you.”

Robert A. Heinlein book The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Source: The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Sex

“I'd missed Annabeth probably more than I wanted to admit.”

Rick Riordan book The Sea of Monsters

Source: The Sea of Monsters

“Yeah, that's exactly what I want. To help my girlfriend get her old boyfriend back." He turned away again, and I heard him mutter, "I needdrinks.”

Richelle Mead book Spirit Bound

Source: Spirit Bound

Help

“You don’t knock on the devil’s door, boy, unless you want him to answer. (Ravyn)”

Sherrilyn Kenyon (1965) Novelist

Source: Dark Side of the Moon

Boy

“You want to fly in jets, and I just want to fly"
-Baby Carlyle”

Cecily von Ziegesar (1970) American writer

Source: You Just Can't Get Enough

Baby, Flying

“The individual's duty is to do what he wants to do, to think whatever he likes, to be accountable to no one but himself, to challenge every idea and every person.”

Jean Paul Sartre book The Age of Reason

Source: The Age of Reason

Idea, Thinking, Personality

“I want to kiss her without counting the seconds. I want to hold her so long that I get to know her skin. I want, I want, I want.”

David Levithan (1972) American author and editor

Source: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Kiss

“If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for.”

Thomas Merton (1915–1968) Priest and author

Thinking

“Maybe we all just want to feel special, even for a little while, to be fooled for a bit into feeling something besides the truth of our own ordinariness.”

Deb Caletti (1963) American writer

Source: The Secret Life of Prince Charming

Truth, Fools, Feeling

“Saxton was indeed clear on things: Blay was still in love with Qhuinn— and probably always would be.
“Why?” he said to his lover.
“Because I want you for however long I have you.”

Jessica Bird (1969) U.S. novelist

Source: Lover Unleashed

Love, Lovers

“I don't think we have a future. I know we do. I want to marry you and have kids and be a stay-at-home writer dad while you take Boston journalism by storm. I want to wake up beside you every day for the rest of my life.”

Shannon Stacey (1972) american writer

Source: Exclusively Yours

Life, Home, Thinking, Future

“I can almost hear Haymitch groaning as I team up with this wispy child. But I want her. Because she's a survivor, and I trust her, and why not admit it? She reminds me of Prim.”

Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games

Source: The Hunger Games

“That boy is your company. And if he wants to eat up that tablecloth, you let him, you hear?”

Harper Lee book To Kill a Mockingbird

Source: To Kill a Mockingbird

Boy

“If you want to be successful, it's just this simple. Know what you are doing. Love what you are doing. And believe in what you are doing.”

Will Rogers (1879–1935) American humorist and entertainer

Love, Success

“Shut up, Axl!" he whispered fiercly. "If you want to break your neck, do it quietly or I'll break it for you.”

John Flanagan (1873–1938) Irish-American hammer thrower

Source: Erak's Ransom

“A scattered dream that's like a far-off memory… a far-off memory that's like a scattered dream… i want to line the pieces up… yours and mine.”

Shiro Amano (1976) Japanese manga artist

Source: Kingdom Hearts, Vol. 2

Dreams, Memory

“I want all of you, forever everyday. You and me everyday.”

Nicholas Sparks book The Notebook

Variant: I want all of you, forever, you and me, everyday
Source: The Notebook

Heart Touching, Wedding

“Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up ’cause they’re looking for ideas.”

Paula Poundstone (1959) American comedian

Idea

“I care about who you are, who you have been, who you want to be. I open myself to you to listen and learn about you. I cherish you, not just my fantasy of who you are, not just who I need you to be, but who you really are…”

Betty Berzon (1928–2006) American psychotherapist

Learning

“You can break a thing, but you cannot always guide it afterward into the shape you want.”

Holly Black (1971) American children's fiction writer

Source: Tithe

“I want to live my life so that my nights are not full of regrets.”

D.H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter

Life, Night

“You doona want to kill me, which is a good sign. Maybe this is your way of flirting?” (Garreth)”

Kresley Cole American writer

Source: Pleasure of a Dark Prince

Way

“I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.”

Toni Morrison (1931–2019) American writer

Reading

“I want leisure to read—an immense amount.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American novelist and screenwriter

Source: The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Reading

“I love you. And I don't want to lose you.”

Cassandra Clare book Clockwork Prince

Source: Clockwork Prince

Love, For Him, For Boyfriend

“Just friends, just friends. Standing there in the bookstore, watching Seth walk away, I half wondered how anyone could still use that line. But I knew why, of course. It was used because people still believed it. Or at least they wanted to.”

Richelle Mead (1976) American writer

Source: Succubus Blues

People

“I can’t tell you just how wonderful she is. I don’t want you to know. I don’t want any one to know.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald book This Side of Paradise

Source: This Side of Paradise

“Anything pretty,' Claire will tell you, 'it's only for sale because no one wants it.”

Chuck Palahniuk book Haunted

Source: Haunted

“Never give up what you want most for what you want today.”

Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) Mormon leader

“My relationship with my father had been on the proverbial fritz since the time I was fifteen and called the police to report him for child molesting. He had never molested me, but I wanted to have a party that weekend and needed him out of the house.”

Chelsea Handler (1975) American comedian, actress, author and talk show host

Source: My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands (2005)

Time, Housing

“You can choose to die. You can choose to run… but dying alone won't change a thing. Trust me on that one. If you really want things to change… you're going to have to live.”

Kazuya Minekura (1975) Japanese manga artist

Change

“Give me your honest opinion. I don't want truth with a veil on—I like naked ladies naked.”

Christina Stead book Miss Herbert

Source: Miss Herbert

Truth

“Dorian used to watch you like a starving man who wants meat. Now he looks at you like he wants seconds.”

Richelle Mead (1976) American writer

Source: Thorn Queen

“Love is scary: it changes; it can go away. That's the part of the risk. I don't want to be scared anymore.”

Jenny Han book To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Variant: Love is scary: it changes; it can go away. That's part of the risk.
Source: To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Love, Change, Parting

“… perversely, it is often more fun to want something than to have it.”

David Foster Wallace book Infinite Jest

Source: Infinite Jest

“Well. Like I said, I dont want to fight anymore. I dont want us to hate each other. And… well… I squeezed my eyes shut and then opened them. No matter how I fee about us… I want you to be happy”

Richelle Mead book Frostbite

Source: Frostbite

Hate, Happiness, Fight

“Who wants us?" Bianca demanded. "Because if you think you'll get a ransom, you're wrong. We don't have any family. Nico and I—" Her voice broke a little. "We've got no one but each other.”

Rick Riordan book The Titan's Curse

Source: The Titan's Curse

Family, Thinking

“Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.”

Jacqueline Wilson (1945) novelist

Learning, Heart

“I want to rip off your logic
and make passionate sense to you.”

Jeffrey McDaniel (1967) American writer

Sense, Passion

“There is no formula to relationships. They have to be negotiated in loving ways, with room for both parties, what they want and what they need, what they can do and what their life is like.”

Mitch Albom Tuesdays with Morrie

Source: Tuesdays with Morrie

Love, Life, Way

“I'm in a wild mood tonight. I want to go dance in the foam. I hear the banshees calling.”

Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) Novelist, screenwriter

Mood, Dance

“I just want to let you know that when I look into my future, I see nothing but you.” That’s what Chaz had whispered in my ear at some point during the wedding last night.

Then he’d whispered. “And you’re not even wearing Spanx.”

Meg Cabot (1967) Novelist

Wedding, Future, Night

“If 180 million people want to be undead, that’s their funeral, but I happen to like being alive.”

E.E. Cummings (1894–1962) American poet

People

“There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud”

Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) American writer and editor

“If you don't want to be noticed, you don't use a Star Destroyer.”

Timothy Zahn Heir to the Empire

Source: Heir to the Empire

Star

“Salary is no object: I want only enough to keep body and soul apart.”

Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist

New Yorker (4 February 1928)

Soul

“All right, two dozen house specials. Any chance one of you might want to live dangerously and try a vegetable? (Aimee)
Do we look like rabbits to you? (Fury)”

Sherrilyn Kenyon (1965) Novelist

Source: Bad Moon Rising

Chance, Housing

“Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.”

Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) American writer

Love, Life, Imagination

“Who wants to be used? I love to read, so books are my main friends. They're always available, always friendly, and always interesting, and they never make me choose sides.”

Lurlene McDaniel (1944) American writer

Love, Books, Reading

“I just want to be loved, is that so wrong?!”

Harvey Fierstein Torch Song Trilogy

Source: Torch Song Trilogy

Love

“I believe in only one thing: liberty; but I do not believe in liberty enough to want to force it upon anyone.”

H.L. Mencken (1880–1956) American journalist and writer

"Why Liberty?”, in the Chicago Tribune (30 January 1927)
1920s
Context: I believe that liberty is the only genuinely valuable thing that men have invented, at least in the field of government, in a thousand years. I believe that it is better to be free than to be not free, even when the former is dangerous and the latter safe. I believe that the finest qualities of man can flourish only in free air – that progress made under the shadow of the policeman’s club is false progress, and of no permanent value. I believe that any man who takes the liberty of another into his keeping is bound to become a tyrant, and that any man who yields up his liberty, in however slight the measure, is bound to become a slave.

“If you care about what you do and work hard at it, there isn't anything you can't do if you want to.”

Jim Henson (1936–1990) American puppeteer

Source: It's Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider

“I've found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more
chances, Be more active, Show up more often.”

Brian Tracy (1944) American motivational speaker and writer

Chance

“Who said anything about slicing you up?… I just wanted to carve a little Z on your forehead-- nothing serious.”

Hunter S. Thompson book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Source: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

“I love thee and thou art so lovely and so wonderful and so beautiful and it does such things to me to be with thee that I feel as though I wanted to die when I am loving thee.”

Ernest Hemingway book For Whom the Bell Tolls

Source: For Whom the Bell Tolls

Love, Beauty, Art, Feeling

“He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life looking like an extra from The Walking Dead.”

Rick Riordan book The House of Hades

Source: The House of Hades

Life, Dead

“His lips pressed against her forehead and she felt him smile against her skin. "Believe me… the only place in the world I want to be is wherever you are."

-Grant Morgan”

Lisa Kleypas (1964) American writer

Source: Someone to Watch Over Me

World, Smile

“A man's honor always seems to want to kill a woman to satisfy it.”

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935) American feminist, writer, commercial artist, lecturer and social reformer

Source: The Charlotte Perkins Gilman Reader

“But what if your obsession has nothing to do with drugs or thrills or money? What if what you want most in the world is to recapture the way life was a week, a month, a year ago-and you are willing to do whatever it takes?”

Jodi Picoult Perfect Match

Source: Perfect Match

Life, Money, World, Way

“If you want to be a writer, you have to write every day… You don't go to a well once but daily. You don't skip a child's breakfast or forget to wake up in the morning…”

Walter Mosley (1952) American writer

Forgetting

“Now that he wanted to feel like he was having a bad dream, he wasn't. He was having a bad reality, and that was something from which you could not wake.”

Stephen King (1947) American author

Dreams, Feeling, Reality

“Baby," she says in a harsh whisper, "in this world, lots of people will try to grind you down. They need you to be small so they can be big. You let them think whatever they want, but you make sure you get yours. You get yours.”

Holly Black book Red Glove

Source: Red Glove

People, World, Thinking, Baby

“On some days you get what you want, and on others, you get what you need.”

Hunter S. Thompson (1937–2005) American journalist and author

Source: Kingdom of Fear: Loathsome Secrets of a Star-Crossed Child in the Final Days of the American Century

“Never, never underestimate the power of desire. If you want to live badly enough, you can live. The great question, at least for me, was: How do I decide I want to live?”

Marya Hornbacher book Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia

Source: Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia

Question

“Old age means realizing you will never own all the dogs you wanted to.”

Joe Gores (1931–2011) American writer

Age, Dogs

“Revolution in Love’. Can you tell me what you mean by that? Do you want free love as against bourgeois marriage, or monogamy as against bourgeois promiscuity?”

Milan Kundera (1929–2023) Czech author of Czech and French literature

Source: Life is Elsewhere

Love, Marriage

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”

Jane Austen book Pride and Prejudice

Variant: It's a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
Source: Pride and Prejudice (1813)

Truth, Universe, Relationship, For Wife

“You're a girl. Someday you'll want to be a prisoner to someone other than yourself.”

Jodi Lynn Anderson American children's writer

Source: Tiger Lily

Girl

“His shoulder bumped mine again. "Can I ask you something?"
I didn't answer. He was going to ask me anyway. People don't say that if they don't want to pry something out of you.”

Lilith Saintcrow book Strange Angels

Source: Strange Angels

People