True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united.
—Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) German Philosopher, Linguist, Statesman
He has spent his life best who has enjoyed it most. God will take care that we do not enjoy it any more than is good for us.
—Samuel Butler
Heaven would indeed be heaven if lovers were there permitted as much enjoyment as they had experienced on earth.
—Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375) Italian Writer, Poet
Sleep, riches, health, and so every blessing, are not truly and fully enjoyed till after they have been interrupted.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
What looks like enjoyment is the sneer of contempt. That’s not a smile.
—Jack Kevorkian (1928–2011) American Pathologist, Euthanasia Activist
Man needs, for his happiness, not only the enjoyment of this or that, but hope and enterprise and change.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Everyone enjoys doing the kind of work for which he is best suited.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when all other pleasures fade.
—Anthony Trollope (1815–82) English Novelist
The one who plants the tree is not the one who will enjoy its shade.
—Chinese Proverb
A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
What we call creative work, ought not to be called work at all, because it isn’t. I imagine that Thomas Edison never did a day’s work in his last fifty years.
—Stephen Leacock (1869–1944) Canadian Political Scientist, Humorist
Life is pain and the enjoyment of love is an anesthetic.
—Cesare Pavese (1908–50) Italian Novelist, Poet, Critic, Translator
If you’ve enjoyed the dance, pay the musicians.
—German Proverb
The ultimate end of education is happiness or a good human life, a life enriched by the possession of every kind of good, by the enjoyment of every type of satisfaction.
—Mortimer J. Adler (1902–2001) American Philosopher, Educator
All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
There are, as is known, insects that die in the moment of fertilization. So it is with all joy: life’s highest, most splendid moment of enjoyment is accompanied by death.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
A slight daily unconscious luxury is hardly ever wanting to the dwellers in civilization; like the gentle air of a genial climate, it is a perpetual minute enjoyment.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
It is essential to our well-being, and to our lives, that we play and enjoy life. Every single day do something that makes your heart sing.
—Marcia Wieder
As long as I can focus on enjoying what I’m doing, having fun, I know I’ll play well.
—Steffi Graf (b.1969) German Tennis Player, Philanthropist
All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it.
—Samuel Butler
But the delights of solitude don’t only consist of dreaming. Next in enjoyment, I think, comes planning.
—Anna Neagle (1904–86) English Actress
Nobody can be successful if he doesn’t love his work, love his job.
—David Sarnoff (1891–1972) American Broadcaster, Businessman
I’m a firm believer that in the theory that people only do their best at things they truly enjoy. It is difficult to excel at something you don’t enjoy.
—Jack Nicklaus (b.1940) American Sportsperson
He, who cannot forgive a trespass of malice to his enemy, has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do. Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Gratitude is the memory of the heart; therefore forget not to say often, I have all I have ever enjoyed.
—Lydia Maria Child (1802–80) American Abolitionist, Writer
Concentration, Confidence, Competitive urge, Capacity for enjoyment.
—Arnold Palmer (b.1929) American Sportsperson
I always loved running—it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.
—Jesse Owens (1913–80) American Track-and-Field Athlete
No enjoyment, however inconsiderable, is confined to the present moment. A man is the happier for life from having made once an agreeable tour, or lived for any length of time with pleasant people, or enjoyed any considerable interval of innocent pleasure.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
I always remember that I have everything I need to enjoy my here and now, unless I am letting my consciousness be dominated by demands and expectations based on the dead past or the imagined future.
—Ken Keyes Jr. (1921–95) American Personal Growth Author
Learning is pleasurable but doing is the height of enjoyment.
—Novalis (1772–1801) German Romantic Poet, Novelist
We are at our very best, and we are happiest, when we are fully engaged in work we enjoy on the journey toward the goal we’ve established for ourselves. It gives meaning to our time off and comfort to our sleep. It makes everything else in life so wonderful, so worthwhile.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
If you’ve enjoyed a little and endured a lot, you’ve really done pretty well.
—Unknown
Our works and our play. All our pleasures experienced as the pleasure of love. What could be better that? To feel in one’s work the tender and flushed substance of one’s dearest concern.
—M. C. Richards (1916–99) American Poet, Potter, Writer
It so falls out that what we have we prize not to the worth whiles we enjoy it; but being lacked and lost, why then we rack the value; then we find the virtue that possession would not show us whiles it was ours.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Where a man can live, he can also live well.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.
—Ben Hogan (1912–97) American Golfer
Fill your life with as many moments and experiences of joy and passion as you humanly can. Start with one experience and build on it.
—Marcia Wieder
I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and more tempting. In like manner I make the most of my enjoyments; and though I do not cast my cares away, I pack them in as little compass as I can, and carry them as conveniently as I can for myself, and never let them annoy others.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
In our excessive involvement in the affairs of other countries, we are not only living off our assets and denying our own people the proper enjoyment of their resources; we are also denying the world the example of a free society enjoying its freedom to the fullest.
—J. William Fulbright (1905–95) American Political leader, Politician
To flatter and follow others, without being flattered and followed in turn, is but a state of half enjoyment.
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
Fastidious taste makes enjoyment a struggle.
—Mason Cooley (1927–2002) American Aphorist
The dynamics of capitalism is postponement of enjoyment to the constantly postponed future.
—Norman O. Brown (1913–2002) American Philosopher
For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly makes all other forms of success and achievement lose their importance by comparison.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
The lesson adults can learn here is that the world is filled with things for our enjoyment.
—Allen Klein (1931–2009) American Businessperson
I believe the right question to ask, respecting all ornament, is simply this; was it done with enjoyment, was the carver happy while he was about it?
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
No man is a success in business unless he loves his work.
—Florence Scovel Shinn (1871–1940) American Illustrator, Spiritual Writer
The pleasure of what we enjoy is lost by coveting more.
—Common Proverb