My God, give me neither poverty nor riches, but whatsoever it may be thy will to give, give me, with it, a heart that knows humbly to acquiesce in what is thy will.
—Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–81) German Writer, Philosopher
A man who finds no satisfaction in himself, seeks for it in vain elsewhere.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world; and if, in the present life, his happiness arises from the subduing of his desires, it will arise in the next from the gratification of them.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
A sound mind in a sound body, is a short, but full description of a happy state in this World: he that has these two, has little more to wish for; and he that wants either of them, will be little the better for anything else.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
You traverse the world in search of happiness, which is within the reach of every man. A contented mind confers it on all.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
That blessed mood in which the burthen of the mystery, in which the heavy and the weary weight of all this unintelligible world is lightened.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
If you are content, you have enough to live comfortably.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Whether happiness may come or not, one should try and prepare one’s self to do without it.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The noblest mind the best contentent has.
—Edmund Spenser (1552–99) English Poet
My motto is: Contented with little, yet wishing for more.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
Nine requisites for contented living: Health enough to make work a pleasure. Wealth enough to support your needs. Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them. Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them. Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished. Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor. Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others. Faith enough to make real the things of God. Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Always do one thing less than you think you can do.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
If the book is good, is about something that you know, and is truly written, and reading it over you see that this is so, you can let the boys yip and the noise will have that pleasant sound coyotes make on a very cold night when they are out in the snow and you are in your own cabin that you have built or paid for with your work.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
I am content with what I have, little be it, or much.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
Happy is the man who can endure the highest and lowest fortune. He who has endured such vicissitudes with equanimity has deprived misfortune of its power.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
People are never free of trying to be content.
—Murray Bookchin (1921–2006) Social Ecologist, Anarchist, Trade-Union Organizer
There is a sense in which a man looking at the present in the light of the future, and taking his whole being into account, may be contented with his lot: that is Christian contentment.—But if a man has come to that point where he is so content that he says, “I do not want to know any more, or do any more, or be any more,” he is in a state in which he ought to be changed into a mummy!—Of all hideous things a mummy is the most hideous; and of mummies, the most hideous are those that are running about the streets and talking.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
I come to the office each morning and stay for long hours doing what has to be done to the best of my ability. And when you’ve done the best you can, you can’t do any better. So when I go to sleep I turn everything over to the Lord and forget it.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
Contentment is not happiness. An oyster may be contented. Happiness is compounded of richer elements.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
A Sunday well-spent brings a week of content.
—Common Proverb
For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
I look back on my life like a good day’s work; it is done and I am satisfied with it.
—Grandma Moses (1860–1961) American Folk Artist, Centenarian
It is much easier in many ways for me-and for other Presidents, I think, who felt the same way-when Congress is not in town.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
It is a great blessing to possess what one wishes, said one to an ancient philosopher.—It is a greater still, was the reply, not to desire what one does not possess.
—William Temple (1881–1944) English Theologian, Archbishop
If two angels were sent down from heaven, one to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street, they would feel no inclination to change employments.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
Contentment does not consist in heaping up more fuel, but in taking away some fire.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
To have what we want is riches; but to be able to do without is power.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Contentment is, after all, simply refined indolence.
—Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796–1865) Canadian Author, Humorist, Jurist
Leave a Reply