If we get everything that we want, we will soon want nothing that we get.
—Vernon Luchies (1927–2012) American Clergyman
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The best way for a person to have happy thoughts is to count his blessings and not his cash.
—Unknown
The superiority of the distant over the present is only due to the mass and variety of the pleasures that can be suggested, compared with the poverty of those that can at any time be felt.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Long only for what you have.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
Were a man to order his life by the rules of true reason, a frugal substance joined to a contented mind is for him great riches.
—Lucretius (c.99–55 BCE) Roman Epicurean Poet, Philosopher
For greed, all nature is too little.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Be satisfied, and pleased with what thou art, Act cheerfully and well thy allotted part; Enjoy the present hour, be thankful for the past, And neither fear, nor wish, the approaches of the last.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
You will live wisely if you are happy in your lot.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
We are no longer happy so soon as we wish to be happier.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
While you fear missing a meal, you aren’t fully aware of the meals you do eat.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given.
—Elisabeth Elliot (b.1926) American Christian Author, Speaker
He who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first installment on his debt.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Adversity has the same effect on a man that severe training has on the pugilist: it reduces him to his fighting weight.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
To be upset over what you don’t have is to waste what you do have.
—Ken Keyes Jr. (1921–95) American Personal Growth Author
Whoever is not in his coffin and the dark grave, let him know he has enough.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
If you desire many things, many things will seem but a few.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Death is really a great blessing for humanity without it there could be no real progress. People who lived for ever would not any hamper and discourage the young, but they would themselves lack sufficient Stimulus to be creative.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
Greed, like the love of comfort, is a kind of fear.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
When life’s problems seem overwhelming, look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself fortunate.
—Ask Ann Landers (1918–2002) American Advice Columnist
The great blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach; but we shut our eyes, and, like people in the dark, we fall foul upon the very thing e search for, without finding it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
Oh, my friend, it’s not what they take away from you that counts—it’s what you do with what you have left.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
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
Great blessings come from heaven; small blessings come from man.
—Chinese Proverb
Life is hard. Next to what?
—Unknown
To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage.
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
There is no banquet but some dislike something in it.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian