One ungrateful person, does an injury to all needy people.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
If I only have the will to be grateful, I am so.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The debt of gratitude we owe our mother and father goes forward, not backward. What we owe our parents is the bill presented to us by our children.
—Nancy Friday (1937–2017) American Feminist Author
If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.
—Frank A. Clark
What you really value is what you miss, not what you have.
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet
Gratitude—the meanest and most sniveling attribute in the world.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
Epicurus says, “gratitude is a virtue that has commonly profit annexed to it.” And where is the virtue that has not? But still the virtue is to be valued for itself, and not for the profit that attends it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Our favorite attitude should be gratitude.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Deficiency motivation doesn’t work. It will lead to a life-long pursuit of try to fix me. Learn to appreciate what you have and where and who you are.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American 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
He who is contented is rich.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Do you know what is more hard to bear than the reverses of fortune? It is the baseness, the hideous ingratitude of man.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
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
The beginning of men’s rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart.
—Francis Schaeffer (1912–84) American Presbyterian Religious Leader, Theologian, Philosopher
He who curbs his desires will always be rich enough.
—French Proverb
To be able to dispense with good things is tantamount to possessing them.
—Jean-Francois Regnard (1655–1709) French Dramatist
The correct prayer is never one of supplication but one of gratitude.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
The heart is great which shows moderation in the midst of prosperity.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
I knew I had no lyrical quality, a small vocabulary, little gift of metaphor. The original and striking simile never occurred to me. Poetic flights… were beyond my powers. On the other hand, I had an acute power of observation, and it seemed to me that I could see a great many things that other people missed. I could put down in clear terms what I saw… I knew that I should never write as well as I could wish, but I thought, with pains, that I could arrive at writing as well as my natural defects allowed.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Moderation is the key to lasting enjoyment.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
The real tragedy of life is not being limited to one talent, but in failing to use that one talent.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach.
—Demosthenes (384–322 BCE) Greek Statesman, Orator
What a miserable thing life is: you’re living in clover, only the clover isn’t good enough.
—Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) German Poet, Playwright, Theater Personality
The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
We count our miseries carefully, and accept our blessings without much thought.
—Chinese Proverb
Want is a growing giant whom the coat of Have was never large enough to cover.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
How many things there are which I do not want.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Thou who has given so much to me, give one thing more: a grateful heart.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Anyone is to be pitied who has just sense enough to perceive his deficiencies.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
We risk all in being too greedy.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.
—Hebrew Proverb
He is poor who does not feel content.
—Japanese Proverb
The use we make of our fortune determines as to its sufficiency. A little is enough if used wisely, and too much is not enough if expended foolishly.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
He who is greedy is always in want.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
O Lord, who lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Whatever I am offered in devotion with a pure heart—a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water—I accept with joy.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
Next to ingratitude, the most painful thing to bear is gratitude.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
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
For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.
—Jean Antoine Petit-Senn (1792–1870) Swiss Poet
I never complained of the vicissitudes of fortune, nor suffered my face to be overcast at the revolution of the heavens, except once when my feet were bare, and I had not the means of obtaining shoes. I came to the chief of Kufah in a state of much dejection, and saw there a man who had no feet. I returned thanks to God and acknowledged his mercies, and endured my want of shoes with patience, and exclaimed,
“Roast fowl to him thats sated will seem less
Upon the board than leaves of garden cress.
While, in the sight of helpless poverty,
Boiled turnip will a roasted pullet be.”
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
Let him who has enough wish for nothing more.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet