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
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
The half is greater than the whole.
—Hesiod (f.700 BCE) Greek Poet
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
Next to invention is the power of interpreting invention; next to beauty the power of appreciating beauty.
—Margaret Fuller (1810–50) American Feminist, Writer, Revolutionary
The use we make of our fortune determines as to its sufficiency. A little is enough if used wisely, and too much is not enough if expended foolishly.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
One appreciates that daily life is really good when one wakes from a horrible dream, or when one takes the first outing after a sickness. Why not realize it now?
—William Lyon Phelps (1865–1943) American Author, Critic, Scholar
Nothing in excess.
—Indian Proverb
For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
To be able to dispense with good things is tantamount to possessing them.
—Jean-Francois Regnard (1655–1709) French Dramatist
If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be content to take their own and depart.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
I knew I had no lyrical quality, a small vocabulary, little gift of metaphor. The original and striking simile never occurred to me. Poetic flights… were beyond my powers. On the other hand, I had an acute power of observation, and it seemed to me that I could see a great many things that other people missed. I could put down in clear terms what I saw… I knew that I should never write as well as I could wish, but I thought, with pains, that I could arrive at writing as well as my natural defects allowed.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
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
Sufficiency’s enough for men of sense.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
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
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
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
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
We always have enough to be happy if we are enjoying what we do have—and not worrying about what we don’t have.
—Ken Keyes Jr. (1921–95) American Personal Growth Author
Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?
—Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (1890–1995) American Philanthropist, Socialite
Man needs so little… yet he begins wanting so much.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
The happiness which is lacking makes one think even the happiness one has unbearable.
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
It ain’t so much trouble to get rich as it is to tell when we have got rich.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Take full account of the excellencies which you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
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
Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity. It becomes cheap as it becomes vulgar, and will no longer raise expectation or animate enterprise.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Be content with what thou hast received, and smooth thy frowning forehead.
—Hafez (1325–89) Persian Poet, Mystic
The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God.
—William Law (1686–1761) English Clergyman