Double, no triple, our troubles and we’d still be better off than any other people on earth. It is time that we recognized that ours was, in truth, a noble cause.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
You will live wisely if you are happy in your lot.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Prayers go up and blessings come down.
—Yiddish Proverb
How can they say my life is not a success? Have I not for more than sixty years got enough to eat and escaped being eaten?
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage.
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.
—Robert Quillen (1887–1948) American Journalist, Humorist
The tulip is, among flowers, what the peacock is among birds. A tulip lacks scent, a peacock has an unpleasant voice. The one takes pride in its garb, the other in its tail.
—French Proverb
Ask the gods nothing excessive.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Poet
A man can refrain from wanting what he has not, and cheerfully make the best of a bird in the hand.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
That which does not kill me makes me stronger.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
I have gout, asthma, and seven other maladies, but am otherwise very well.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
True contentment is a thing as active as agriculture. It is the power of getting out of any situation all that there is in it. It is arduous and it is rare.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
When we lose one blessing, another is often, most unexpectedly, given in its place.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
If you desire many things, many things will seem but a few.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
When the Gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
It is not customary to love what one has.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
To be satisfied with what one has; that is wealth. As long as one sorely needs a certain additional amount, that man isn’t rich.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Anyone is to be pitied who has just sense enough to perceive his deficiencies.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Adversity has the same effect on a man that severe training has on the pugilist: it reduces him to his fighting weight.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
If you can’t be thankful for what you receive, be thankful for what you escape.
—Unknown
Nothing in excess.
—Indian Proverb
Death is really a great blessing for humanity without it there could be no real progress. People who lived for ever would not any hamper and discourage the young, but they would themselves lack sufficient Stimulus to be creative.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
Haste has no blessing.
—African Proverb
The great blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach; but we shut our eyes, and, like people in the dark, we fall foul upon the very thing e search for, without finding it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
One of the blessings of being rich is the blessing to be charitable
—Indian Proverb
God punishes us mildly by ignoring our prayers and severely by answering them.
—Richard J. Needham (1912–96) Canadian Humorist, Columnist, Writer
For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
To be able to dispense with good things is tantamount to possessing them.
—Jean-Francois Regnard (1655–1709) French Dramatist
The summit of pleasure is the elimination of all that gives pain.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
In life so wretched? Isn’t it rather your hands which are too small, your vision which is muddied? You are the one who must grow up.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
The basis of optimism is sheer terror.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Four blessings upon you – Older whiskey – Younger women – Faster horses – More money
—Anonymous
Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
How many things there are which I do not want.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Over a period of time it’s been driven home to me that I’m not going to be the most popular writer in the world, so I’m always happy when anything in any way is accepted.
—Stephen Sondheim (b.1930) American Musician, Composer, Songwriter
Why do some people always see beautiful skies and grass and lovely flowers and incredible human beings, while others are hard-pressed to find anything or any place that is beautiful?
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
Here’s to a long life and a merry one
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer and another one.
—Unknown
No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don’t have.
—Woody Allen (b.1935) American Film Actor, Director
We are all of us richer than we think we are.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess, they would stop worrying. Would you sell both your eyes for a million dollars … or your two legs … or your hands … or your hearing? Add up what you do have, and you’ll find that you won’t sell them for all the gold in the world. The best things in life are yours, if you can appreciate yourself.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire.
—Irish Blessing
Whoever gossips about his relatives has no luck and no blessing.
—Dutch Proverb
The heart is great which shows moderation in the midst of prosperity.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
—Indian Proverb
We are never content with our lot.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer