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 greatest wealth is to live content with little, for there is never want where the mind is satisfied.
—Lucretius (c.99–55 BCE) Roman Epicurean Poet, Philosopher
To be content with life—or to live merrily, rather—all that is required is that we bestow on all things only a fleeting, superficial glance; the more thoughtful we become the more earnest we grow.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Submission is the only reasoning between a creature and its maker and contentment in his will is the best remedy we can apply to misfortunes.
—William Temple (1881–1944) British Clergyman, Theologian
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach.
—Lin Yutang (1895–1976) Chinese Author, Philologist
Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He who is content. Who is that? Nobody.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Content has a kindly influence on the soul of man, in respect of every being to whom he stands related. It extinguishes all murmuring, repining, and ingratitude toward that Being who has allotted us our part to act in the world. It destroys all inordinate ambition; gives sweetness to the conversation, and serenity to all the thoughts; and if it does not bring riches, it does the same thing by banishing the desire of them.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
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
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
Great is he who enjoys his earthenware as if it were plate, and not less great is the man to whom all his plate is no more than earthenware.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
He that is never satisfied with anything, satisfies no one.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Being “contented” ought to mean in English, as it does in French, being pleased. Being content with an attic ought not to mean being unable to move from it and resigned to living in it; it ought to mean appreciating all there is in such a position.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
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
Let us believe neither half of the good people tell us of ourselves, nor half the evil they say of others.
—Jean Antoine Petit-Senn (1792–1870) Swiss Poet
People are never free of trying to be content.
—Murray Bookchin (1921–2006) Social Ecologist, Anarchist, Trade-Union Organizer
The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real state, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
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 Sunday well-spent brings a week of content.
—Common Proverb
There are some days when I think I’m going to die from an overdose of satisfaction.
—Salvador Dali (1904–89) Spanish Painter
Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for not having much to care for; and with obscurity, for being unenvied.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
There’s naught, no doubt, so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization.
—Eugene V. Debs (1855–1926) American Socialist, Union Leader
Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won’t have to hunt for happiness.
—William Ewart Gladstone (1809–98) English Liberal Statesman, Prime Minister
If you are content, you have enough to live comfortably.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
If all were gentle and contented as sheep, all would be as feeble and helpless.
—John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) American Catholic Clergyman, Educator, Essayist, Biographer
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
Since we cannot get what we like, let us like what we can get.
—Spanish Proverb
My motto is: Contented with little, yet wishing for more.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
To have what we want is riches; but to be able to do without is power.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
The noblest mind the best contentent has.
—Edmund Spenser (1552–99) English Poet
I am always content with what happens; for I know that what God chooses is better than what I choose.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I’d rather be a few pounds heavier and enjoy life than be worried all the time.
—Drew Barrymore (b.1975) American Actress, Producer, Director
Contentment produces, in some measure, all those effects which the alchemist ascribes to what he calls the philosopher’s stone; and if it does not bring riches, it does the same thing by banishing the desire of them. If it cannot remove the disquietudes arising from a man’s mind, body, or fortune, it makes him easy under them.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Nobody got anywhere in the world by simply being content.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
One who is contented with what he has done will never become famous for what he will do.—He has lain down to die, and the grass is already growing over him.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
All our discontents spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.
—Daniel Defoe (1659–1731) English Writer, Journalist, Pamphleteer
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
Contentment is not happiness. An oyster may be contented. Happiness is compounded of richer elements.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Contentment is, after all, simply refined indolence.
—Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796–1865) Canadian Author, Humorist, Businessperson, Judge
That happy state of mind, so rarely possessed, in which we can say, “I have enough,” is the highest attainment of philosophy. Happiness consists, not in possessing much, but in being content with what we possess. He who wants little always has enough.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
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 Painter, Artist
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 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
One should be either sad or joyful. Contentment is a warm sty for eaters and sleepers.
—Eugene O’Neill (1888–1953) American Playwright
An ounce of cheerfulness is worth a pound of sadness to serve God with.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian