"Hello, Kettle? This is Pot. You're black."

My son has this dramatic thing he does sometimes. An example:

He's playing a video game. I tell him to finish up, it's time for dinner. He whines that he wants to save his game. I tell him to save it, but instead, in dramatic fashion, he gets up from the couch and simply turns the system off. Then he whines as he heads upstairs that he had wanted to save his game first. I remind him that I told him to save the game, why didn't he save it? Wanting to continue his complaint of injustice in having his valuable gaming time interrupted by something as inconsequential as dinner, he whines again that he had wanted to save his game. And I say, with all wisdom and reason, "Then why would you do the opposite of what you really wanted to do?"

Hmm. Yes. Why would someone do that? My question brings to mind the paraphrased quote in the post title (from Phoebe Buffay in a conversation with Monica Geller on "Friends").

I say all the time: I want to be... thin. In shape. Able to wear flattering clothes. Healthy. But my actions are in opposition. I overeat. I don't exercise. I don't make wholesome food choices.

Well, I guess I want both. I want to be lazy and eat whatever I want in whatever quantity I want and be thin and in great shape and comfortable in a swimsuit. Obviously, that won't work. So which do I want more?

What a silly question ... of course, I want to lose weight and look/feel better!

Not according to  my actions. My actions reveal I want the opposite more.

I can wish and hope and dream all I want, but until I get my actions in line with my desires, nothing will change and I'll continue whining about what I really want and pouting about the injustice that I've had the ability to control all along.