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
May we never let the things we can’t have, or don’t have, or shouldn’t have, spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have. As we value our happiness, let us not forget it, for one of the greatest lessons in life is learning to be happy without the things we cannot or should not have.
—Richard L. Evans (1906–71) American Mormon Religions Leader
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
He who is contented is rich.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Nothing will content him who is not content with a little.
—Greek Proverb
Welcome everything that comes to you, but do not long for anything else.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
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
Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude.
—Joseph Wood Krutch (1893–1970) American Writer, Critic, Naturalist
Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Greed’s worst point is its ingratitude.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
He is incapable of a truly good action who finds not a pleasure in contemplating the good actions of others.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Let him who has enough wish for nothing more.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
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
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 may not amount to much, but at least I am unique.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
There is satiety in all things, in sleep, and love-making, in the loveliness of singing and the innocent dance.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
Poor and content is rich, and rich enough; but riches endless is as poor as winter to him that ever fears he shall be poor.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Ignorant men don’t know what good they hold in their hands until they’ve flung it away.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
He is well paid that is well satisfied.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
Moderation is the key to lasting enjoyment.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
It is not customary to love what one has.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Contentment is worth more than riches.
—German Proverb
There must be more to life than having everything.
—Maurice Sendak (1928–2012) American Illustrator, Writer of Children’s Books
It’s not easy to find your own way when you believe that you need love, approval, appreciation, or anything from your family. It’s particularly hard when you want them to see things your way.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
If I had a prayer, it would be this: “God, spare me from the desire for love, approval, or appreciation. Amen”.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
For greed, all nature is too little.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
Avarice is as destitute of what it has as poverty is of what it has not.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
The greatest wealth is contentment with a little.
—Unknown
When we cannot get what we love, we must love what is within our reach.
—French Proverb
Happy is the man who can do only one thing; in doing it, he fulfills his destiny.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
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
He is rich that is satisfied.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Hold on to the center and make up your mind to rejoice in this paradise called life.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Next to excellence is the appreciation of it.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
Anyone is to be pitied who has just sense enough to perceive his deficiencies.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
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
If only every man would make proper use of his strength and do his utmost, he need never regret his limited ability.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only which gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price on its goods.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
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
A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
For if there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
I have the greatest of all riches: that of not desiring them.
—Eleonora Duse (1859–1924) Italian Actress
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
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
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