True happiness is to understand our duties toward God and man; to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence on the future; not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears, but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is abundantly sufficient.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
You can never get enough of the things you don’t need, because the things you don’t need can never satisfy.
—Marvin J. Ashton (1915–94) American Mormon Religious Leader
That spot of earth has special charms for me, in which a limited income produces happiness, and moderate wealth abundance.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
It is books that teach us to refine our pleasures when young, and to recall them with satisfaction when we are old.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
There is a great satisfaction in building good tools for other people to use.
—Freeman Dyson (1923–2020) American Theoretical Physicist, Author
Unless each day can be looked back upon by an individual as one in which he has had some fun, some joy, some real satisfaction, that day is a loss.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
If we are suffering illness, poverty, or misfortune, we think we shall be satisfied on the day it ceases. But there too, we know it is false; so soon as one has got used to not suffering one wants something else.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
No sooner is your ocean filled, than he grumbles that it might have been of better vintage. Try him with half of a Universe, of an Omnipotence, he sets to quarrelling with the proprietor of the other half, and declares himself the most maltreated of men. Always there is a black spot in our sunshine: it is even as I said, the Shadow of Ourselves.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Enough is better than too much.
—German Proverb
Personal satisfaction is the most important ingredient of success.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
I’d rather be dead than singing “Satisfaction” when I’m forty-five.
—Mick Jagger (b.1943) English Rock Singer, Songwriter
I am easily satisfied with the very best.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
There is no satisfaction in any good without a companion.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
To be able to look back upon one’s past life with satisfaction is to live twice.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
God gave us a world unfinished, so that we might share in the joys and satisfaction of creation.
—Unknown
Our greatest joy and satisfaction comes from the act of giving.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
A man should always consider how much he has more than he wants…
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Action itself, so long as I am convinced that it is right action, gives me satisfaction.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
the spring, the summer,
The chilling autumn, angry winter, change
Their wonted liveries; and the mazed world
By their increase, now knows not which is which.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
—Unknown
The idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone, All centuries but this, and every country but his own.
—W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) English Dramatist, Librettist, Poet, Illustrator
Whether you find satisfaction in life depends not on your tale of years, but on your will.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Human life may be regarded as a succession of frontispieces. The way to be satisfied is never to look back.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
knowledge is hidden by selfish desire—hidden by this unquenchable fire for self-satisfaction.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
If everybody was satisfied with himself, there would be no heroes.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
A flippant, frivolous man may ridicule others, may controvert them, scorn them; but he who has any respect for himself seems to have renounced the right of thinking meanly of others.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
How I relate to my inner self influences my relationships with all others. My satisfaction with myself and my satisfaction with other people are directly proportional.
—Sue Atchley Ebaugh
A fierce unrest seethes at the core, of all existing things:, it was the eager wish to soar, that gave the gods their wings.
—Don Marquis (1878–1937) American Humorist, Journalist, Author
Only man clogs his happiness with care, destroying what is with thoughts of what may be.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
In a land which is fully settled, most men must accept their local environment or try to change it by political means; only the exceptionally gifted or adventurous can leave to seek his fortune elsewhere. In America, on the other hand, to move on and make a fresh start somewhere else is still the normal reaction to dissatisfaction and failure.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Those who seek for much are left in want of much. Happy is he to whom God has given, with sparing hand, as much as is enough.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
You cannot satisfy the whole world and your father.
—French Proverb
Many have too much, but none enough.
—Danish Proverb
Perhaps no sin so easily besets us as a sense of self-satisfied superiority to others.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
As long as a woman can look ten years younger than her own daughter, she is perfectly satisfied.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Enough is as good as a feast.
—Anonymous
He is very foolish who aims at satisfying all the world and his father.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Success is peace of mind, a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming, and not just in a physical way: seek ye first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be yours as well.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.
—Linus Pauling (1901–94) American Scientist, Peace Activist
You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
The chemistry of dissatisfaction is as the chemistry of some marvelously potent tar. In it are the building stones of explosives, stimulants, poisons, opiates, perfumes and stenches.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
It is of practical value to learn to like yourself. Since you must spend so much time with yourself you might as well get some satisfaction out of the relationship.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Self-satisfaction is the state of mind of those who have the happy conviction that they are not as other men.
—Margery Allingham (1904–66) English Detective-story Writer
He is rich that is satisfied.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian