God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?”
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
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
Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–72) American Jewish Rabbi
Old age is not a blessing.
—Russian Proverb
If there’s no bread, cakes are very good.
—Spanish Proverb
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 Elizabethan Dramatist
If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.
—Robert Quillen (1887–1948) American Journalist, Humorist
When the gods are angry with a man, they give him what he asks for.
—Greek Proverb
Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Life, like every other blessing, derives its value from its use alone. Not for itself, but for a nobler end the eternal gave it; and that end is virtue.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
More than enough is too much.
—Unknown
I am happy and content because I think I am.
—Alain-Rene Lesage (1668–1747) French Novelist, Dramatist
We risk all in being too greedy.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
There are men who are happy without knowing it.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
We exaggerate misfortune and happiness alike. We are never either so wretched or so happy as we say we are.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
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
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
You can be happy indeed if you have breathing space from pain.
—Giacomo Leopardi (1798–1837) Italian Poet, Essayist, Philosopher
The happiness which is lacking makes one think even the happiness one has unbearable.
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
Whoever gossips about his relatives has no luck and no blessing.
—Dutch Proverb
Contentment is worth more than riches.
—German Proverb
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.
—Irish Blessing
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
Too much is unwholesome.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
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
What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
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
Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
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
May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it.
—Irish Blessing