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
He is rich that is satisfied.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
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
One must bless the new moon when it is visible in the sky.
—French Proverb
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 is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it.
—Irish Blessing
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
The happiness which is lacking makes one think even the happiness one has unbearable.
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
He is well paid that is well satisfied.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We are never content with our lot.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Some troubles, like a protested note of a solvent debtor, bear interest.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
Moderation is the key to lasting enjoyment.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Be grateful for yourself… be thankful.
—William Saroyan (1908–81) American Playwright, Novelist
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
What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
An easy thing, O Power Divine, To thank thee for these gifts of Thine, For summer’s sunshine, winter’s snow, For hearts that kindle, thoughts that glow; but when shall I attain to this. To thank Thee for the things I miss?
—Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823–1911) American Social Reformer, Clergyman
Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.
—Robert Quillen (1887–1948) American Journalist, Humorist
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
A visitor comes with ten blessings, eats one, and leaves nine.
—Persian Proverb
Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Life is hard. Next to what?
—Unknown
Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses, and disappointments; but let us have patience, and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Seeds of discouragement will not grow in the thankful heart.
—Anonymous
The covetous man is always poor.
—Claudian (c.370–c.404 CE) Roman Poet
You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Happiness is the resultant of the relative strengths of positive and negative feelings rather than an absolute amount of one or the other.
—Norman Bradburn (b.1933) American Social Scientist
Enough is as good as a feast.
—Anonymous
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