The superiority of the distant over the present is only due to the mass and variety of the pleasures that can be suggested, compared with the poverty of those that can at any time be felt.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Try to live the life of the good man who is more than content with what is allocated to him.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
May we never let the things we can’t have, or don’t have, or shouldn’t have, spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have. As we value our happiness, let us not forget it, for one of the greatest lessons in life is learning to be happy without the things we cannot or should not have.
—Richard L. Evans (1906–71) American Mormon Religions Leader
So long as we can lose any happiness, we possess some.
—Booth Tarkington (1869–1946) American Novelist, Dramatist
My crown is in my heart, not on my head, Nor decked with diamonds and Indian stones, Nor to be seen: My crown is called content: A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom; for we never know what is enough until we know what is more than enough.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
The private and personal blessings we enjoy, the blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity, deserve the thanksgiving of a whole life.
—Jeremy Taylor
What is the proper limit for wealth? It is, first, to have what is necessary; and, second, to have what is enough.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth is unhappy, though he is master of the world.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
Happy thou art not; for what thou hast not, still thou striv’est to get; and what thou hast, forget’est.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A prudent man will think more important what fate has conceded to him, than what it has denied.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
We are very much what others think of us. The reception our observations meet with gives us courage to proceed, or damps our efforts.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
To be upset over what you don’t have is to waste what you do have.
—Ken Keyes Jr. (1921–95) American Personal Growth Author
The happiness which is lacking makes one think even the happiness one has unbearable.
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
Sufficiency’s enough for men of sense.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
A little praise goes a great ways.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
We must never undervalue any person.—The workman loves not to have his work despised in his presence. Now God is present everywhere, and every person is his work.
—Francis de Sales (1567–1622) French Catholic Saint
Whatever are the benefits of fortune, they yet require a palate fit to relish and taste them.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
I would rather be able to appreciate things I can not have than to have things I am not able to appreciate.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Greed’s worst point is its ingratitude.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Nothing will content him who is not content with a little.
—Greek Proverb
The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Too much is unwholesome.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
More than enough is too much.
—Unknown
Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Welcome everything that comes to you, but do not long for anything else.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
We should allow others’ excellences, to preserve a modest opinion of our own.
—Isaac Barrow
Agur said, “Give me neither poverty nor riches”; and this will ever be the prayer of the wise. Our incomes should be like our shoes: if too small, they will gall and pinch us, but if too large, they will cause us to stumble and to trip. But wealth, after all, is a relative thing, since he that has little, and wants less, is richer than he that has much, but wants more. True contentment depends not upon what we have; a tub was large enough for Diogenes, but a world was too little for Alexander.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist