If you desire many things, many things will seem but a few.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Let him who has enough wish for nothing more.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
It matters very little whether a man is discontented in the name of pessimism or progress, if his discontent does in fact paralyse his power of appreciating what he has got.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
If one should give me a dish of sand, and tell me there were particles of iron in it, I might look for them with my eyes, and search for them with my clumsy fingers, and be unable to detect them; but let me take a magnet and sweep through it; and how would it draw to itself the almost invisible particles by the mere power of attraction! The unthinkful heart, like my finger in the sand, discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day, and as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
Contemporaries appreciate the man rather than his merit; posterity will regard the merit rather than the man.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
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
Appreciation, whether of nature, or books, or art, or men, depends very much on temperament.—What is beauty or genius or greatness to one, is far from being so to another.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
The happiness which is lacking makes one think even the happiness one has unbearable.
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
When a nation gives birth to a man who is able to produce a great thought, another is born who is able to understand and admire it.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–72) American Jewish Rabbi
One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Greed’s worst point is its ingratitude.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Scarcity creates value.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
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
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
Independence may be found in comparative as well as in absolute abundance; I mean where a person contracts his desires within the limits of his fortune.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
The greatest wealth is contentment with a little.
—Unknown
Whatever you do, make it an offering to me—the food you eat, the sacrifices you make, the help you give, even your suffering.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
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
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
The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
In an audience of rough people a generous sentiment always brings down the house.—In the tumult of war both sides applaud a heroic deed.
—Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823–1911) American Social Reformer, Clergyman
Seeds of discouragement will not grow in the thankful heart.
—Anonymous
Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
Cherish your human connections: your relationships with friends and family.
—Barbara Bush (1925–2018) American First Lady
Too much is unwholesome.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist