The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire read more

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.

Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty

Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty

It is right to be contented with what we have, but never with what we are.

It is right to be contented with what we have, but never with what we are.

One who is contented with what he has done will never become famous for what he will do. He has read more

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 over him.

Whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only increased my desire to be free, and read more

Whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only increased my desire to be free, and set me to thinking of plans to gain my freedom.

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of read more

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.

We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory.

We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory.

Try to be like the turtle -- at ease in your own shell.

Try to be like the turtle -- at ease in your own shell.

Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for read more

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.