We are never content with our lot.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story 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
May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
—Irish Blessing
You convey too great a compliment when you say that I have earned the right to the presidential nomination. No man can establish such an obligation upon any part of the American people. My country owes me no debt. It gave me, as it gives every boy and girl, a chance. It gave me schooling, independence of action, opportunity for service and honor. In no other land could a boy from a country village, without inheritance or influential friends, look forward with unbounded hope. My whole life has taught me what America means. I am indebted to my country beyond any human power to repay.
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) 31st American President
Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see. Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles.
—Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858–1901) American Presbyterian Minister, Writer
If thou wouldst be happy… have an indifference for more than what is sufficient.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
Was it always my nature to take a bad time and block out the good times, until any success became an accident and failure seemed the only truth?
—Lillian Hellman (1905–84) American Playwright, Dramatist, Memoirist
I have gout, asthma, and seven other maladies, but am otherwise very well.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault-finder will find faults even in Paradise. Love your life.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Not he who has little, but he who wishes more, is poor.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
When we lose one blessing, another is often, most unexpectedly, given in its place.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
Be grateful for yourself… be thankful.
—William Saroyan (1908–81) American Playwright, Novelist
In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
It is not customary to love what one has.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes.
—Henry J. Kaiser (1882–1967) American Industrialist
One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
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
The private and personal blessings we enjoy, the blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity, deserve the thanksgiving of a whole life.
—Jeremy Taylor
We are content to forgo joy when pain is also lost.
—Latin Proverb
You can’t appreciate home till you’ve left it, money till it’s spent, your wife till she’s joined a woman’s club, nor Old Glory till you see it hanging on a broomstick on the shanty of a consul in a foreign town.
—O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) (1862–1910) American Writer of Short Stories
For everything you have missed, you have gained something else; and for everything you gain, you lose something else.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
He who is contented is rich.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
He who is greedy is always in want.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
A good memory is one that can remember the day’s blessings and forget the day’s troubles
—Indian Proverb
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
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 way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Think of the ills from which you are exempt.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive. Having been alive, it won’t be so hard in the end to lie down and rest.
—Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) American Jazz Singer, Actress, Writer
If there’s no bread, cakes are very good.
—Spanish Proverb
Over a period of time it’s been driven home to me that I’m not going to be the most popular writer in the world, so I’m always happy when anything in any way is accepted.
—Stephen Sondheim (b.1930) American Musician, Composer, Songwriter
How can they say my life is not a success? Have I not for more than sixty years got enough to eat and escaped being eaten?
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage.
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
—Karl Barth (1886–1968) Swiss Reformed Theologian, Author
Sufficiency’s enough for men of sense.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God.
—William Law (1686–1761) English Clergyman
Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Life is hard. Next to what?
—Unknown
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
Nothing raises the price of a blessing like its removal; whereas, it was its continuance which should have taught us its value.
—Hannah More
Let him who has enough wish for nothing more.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
A visitor comes with ten blessings, eats one, and leaves nine.
—Persian Proverb
The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Four blessings upon you – Older whiskey – Younger women – Faster horses – More money
—Anonymous
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
Seek not proud wealth; but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly, yet have not any abstract or friarly contempt of it.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
I seek the utmost pleasure and the least pain.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
May you get to Heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you’re dead.
—Irish Proverb
How many things there are which I do not want.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher