When something does not insist on being noticed, when we aren’t grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull by a presence or an event, we take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.
—Cynthia Ozick (b.1928) American Novelist, Short-story Writer, Essayist
Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do which must be done, whether you like it or not.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
Be glad of life because it gives you to chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.
—Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) American Author, Educator, Clergyman
Be content with what thou hast received, and smooth thy frowning forehead.
—Hafez (1325–89) Persian Poet, Mystic
Yes, there is a Nirvanah; it is in leading your sheep to a green pasture, and in putting your child to sleep, and in writing the last line of your poem.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
I thank you God for this most amazing day; for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Poet, Writer, Painter
Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make.
—Bill Veeck (1914–86) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
The beginning of men’s rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart.
—Francis Schaeffer (1912–84) American Presbyterian Religious Leader, Theologian, Philosopher
He who is greedy is always in want.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
The proud man counts his newspaper clippings, the humble man his blessings.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
Most of my major disappointments have turned out to be blessings in disguise. So whenever anything bad does happen to me, I kind of sit back and feel, well, if I give this enough time, it’ll turn out that this was good, so I shan’t Worry about it too much.
—William Gaines (1922–92) American Publisher
The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The happiness of any given life is to be measured not by its joys and pleasures, but by the extent to which it has been free from suffering, from positive evil.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
All fortune belongs to him who has a contented mind.
—The Panchatantra Indian Collection of Fables and Folktales
Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes.
—Henry J. Kaiser (1882–1967) American Industrialist
Were a man to order his life by the rules of true reason, a frugal substance joined to a contented mind is for him great riches.
—Lucretius (c.99–55 BCE) Roman Epicurean Poet, Philosopher
So long as we can lose any happiness, we possess some.
—Booth Tarkington (1869–1946) American Novelist, Dramatist
Happiness lies, first of all, in health.
—George William Curtis (1824–92) American Essayist, Public Speaker, Editor, Author
A man should always consider how much he has more than he wants and how much more unhappy he might be than he really is.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
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
That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Be grateful for yourself… be thankful.
—William Saroyan (1908–81) American Playwright, Novelist
God alone fully understands what each one of us needs; we make mistakes continually and pray for things which would be harmful to us if we received them. Afterwards we see our mistakes and realize that God is good and wise in not giving us these things, even though we plead ever so earnestly for them.
—Ole Hallesby (1879–1961) Norwegian Lutheran Theologian
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
If you desire many things, many things will seem but a few.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
—Karl Barth (1886–1968) Swiss Reformed Theologian, Author
If we get everything that we want, we will soon want nothing that we get.
—Vernon Luchies (1927–2012) American Clergyman
Moderation is the key to lasting enjoyment.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
What you really value is what you miss, not what you have.
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet
There is no banquet but some dislike something in it.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
I have gout, asthma, and seven other maladies, but am otherwise very well.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
Who is content with nothing possesses all things.
—Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic
It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given.
—Elisabeth Elliot (b.1926) American Christian Author, Speaker
To be able to dispense with good things is tantamount to possessing them.
—Jean-Francois Regnard (1655-1709) French Dramatist
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.
—Elizabeth Bibesco (1897–1945) English Poet, Short Story Writer, Novelist
No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
An easy thing, O Power Divine, To thank thee for these gifts of Thine, For summer’s sunshine, winter’s snow, For hearts that kindle, thoughts that glow; but when shall I attain to this. To thank Thee for the things I miss?
—Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823–1911) American Social Reformer, Clergyman
There must be more to life than having everything.
—Maurice Sendak (1928–2012) American Illustrator, Writer of Children’s Books
Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses, and disappointments; but let us have patience, and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
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
I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.
—Hebrew Proverb
Our earnest prayer is that God will graciously vouchsafe prosperity, happiness, and peace to all our neighbors, and like blessings to all the peoples and powers of the earth.
—William McKinley (1843–1901) American Republican Statesman, 25th President
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
Too much is unwholesome.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
To be content with little is hard; to be content with much is impossible.
—Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Austrian Novelist
To be alive, to be able to see, to walk… it’s all a miracle. I have adapted the technique of living life from miracle to miracle.
—Arthur Rubinstein (1888–1982) Polish-Born American Pianist
The true way to gain much, is never to desire to gain too much. He is not rich that possesses much, but he that covets no more; and he is not poor that enjoys little, but he that wants too much.
—Francis Beaumont (1584–1616) English Dramatist
The covetous man is always poor.
—Claudian (c.370–c.404 CE) Roman Poet
It is not customary to love what one has.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding the third.
—Marge Piercy (b.1936) American Poet, Novelist, Social Activist
I have the greatest of all riches: that of not desiring them.
—Eleonora Duse (1859–1924) Italian Actress
Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
He is rich that is satisfied.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Some troubles, like a protested note of a solvent debtor, bear interest.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
This only grant me, that my means may lie too low for envy, for contempt too high.
—Abraham Cowley (1618–67) English Poet, Essayist
While you fear missing a meal, you aren’t fully aware of the meals you do eat.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
If thou covetest riches, ask not but for contentment, which is an immense treasure.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
He who limps still walks.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
God punishes us mildly by ignoring our prayers and severely by answering them.
—Richard J. Needham (1912–96) Canadian Humorist, Columnist, Writer
In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
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
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
The real tragedy of life is not being limited to one talent, but in failing to use that one talent.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
A patient, humble temper gathers blessings that are marred by the peevish and overlooked by the aspiring.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
Welcome everything that comes to you, but do not long for anything else.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
The greedy man is incontinent with a whole world set before him.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see. Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles.
—Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858–1901) American Presbyterian Minister, Writer
Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
The average man is rich enough when he has a little more than he has got.
—William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English Anglican Clergyman, Priest, Mystic
The world is full of people looking for spectacular happiness while they snub contentment.
—Doug Larson (1926–2017) American Columnist
Philosophy can add to our happiness in no other manner but by diminishing our misery; it should not pretend to increase our present stock, but make us economists of what we are possessed of. Happy were we all born philosophers; all born with a talent of thus dissipating our own cares by spreading them upon all mankind.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
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
The end of pain we take as happiness.
—Giacomo Leopardi (1798–1837) Italian Poet, Essayist, Philosopher
Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–72) American Jewish Rabbi
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
Blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds, and though a late, a sure reward succeeds.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
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
The happiest is he who suffers the least pain; the most miserable, he who enjoys the least pleasure.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Anyone is to be pitied who has just sense enough to perceive his deficiencies.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
Bacchus’ blessings are a treasure; Drinking is the soldier’s pleasure.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
I am convinced, the longer I live, that life and its blessings are not so entirely unjustly distributed as when we are suffering greatly we are inclined to suppose.
—Mary Todd Lincoln (1818–82) American First lady
Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.
—Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–81) Russian Novelist, Essayist, Writer
The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.
—Robert Quillen (1887–1948) American Journalist, Humorist
You can be happy indeed if you have breathing space from pain.
—Giacomo Leopardi (1798–1837) Italian Poet, Essayist, Philosopher
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
There is this difference between the two temporal blessings — health and money; money is the most envied, but the least enjoyed; health is the most enjoyed, but the least envied; and this superiority of the latter is still more obvious when we reflect that the poorest man would not part with health for money, but that the richest would gladly part with all his money for health.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage.
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet