Quotes About Contentment

I am not good at noticing when I'm happy, except in retrospect.

Throughout history--even a hundred years ago, even fifty--it was discontent that was considered the threat to society, the defiance of natural law, the danger that had to be exterminated at all costs. Now it's contentment,

I had forgotten even how to want something slow, something soft, something with wide spaces and its own sure-footed swaying rhythms.

If you're perfectly happy with what you've got–specially if what you've got isn't even all that spectacular–then you're dangerous. You're breaking all the rules, you're undermining the sacred economy, you're challenging every assumption that society's built on.

I think you've got something there," said Daniel. "Not jealousy, after all: fear. It's a fascinating state of affairs. Throughout history—even a hundred years ago, even fifty—it was discontent that was considered the threat to society, the defiance of natural law, the danger that had to be exterminated at all costs. Now it's contentment. What a strange reversal.

I am not good at noticing when I'm happy, except in retrospect. My gift, or fatal flaw, is for nostalgia

am not good at noticing when I'm happy, except in retrospect. My gift, or fatal flaw, is for nostalgia. I have sometimes been accused of demanding perfection, of rejecting heart's desires as soon as I get close enough that the mysterious impressionistic gloss disperses into plain solid dots, but the truth is less simplistic than that. I know very well that perfection is made up of frayed, off-struck mundanities.

That suits me down to the ground.

A Retir'd Friendship Here let us sit and bless our Starres Who did such happy quiet give, As that remov'd from noise of warres. In one another's hearts we live. Why should we entertain a feare? Love cares not how the world is turn'd. If crouds of dangers should appeare, Yet friendship can be unconcern'd. We weare about us such a charme, No horrour can be our offence; For mischief's self can doe no harme To friendship and to innocence. Katherine Philips

It's occurred to him that he might have an undiscovered talent for letting things be.

You asked me what I wanted. I spent a lot of time asking myself the same thing. By a year or two ago, I had come to the conclusion that I truly wanted only two things in this world: the company of my friends, and the opportunity for unfettered thought.

He feels no urge to understand the stars better; he's contented with them as they are.

Plenty of people think the same thing. All of them are teenagers, mentally if not physically. Only teenagers think boring is bad. Adults, gown men and women who've been around the block a few times, know that boring is a gift straight from God.

Only teenagers think boring is bad. Adults, grown men and women who've been around the block a few times, know that boring is a gift straight from God. Life has more than enough excitement up its sleeve, ready to hit you with as soon as you're not looking, without you adding to the drama.

He'd forgotten what it felt like to surrender to the comfort of tranquility.

and their days make no story for they were good and joyful and without event

He used to think things like, This organic soymilk will make me healthy and that'll make my brain work better and that'll improve my writing . Also things like, The less I eat the less money I spend on publicly owned companies the less pain and suffering will exist in the world . Now he thinks things like, It is impossible to be happy . Why would anyone think that?

I don't like happy people," Andrew said. "They're already happy; they don't need to be liked." "Wow, so selfless," Mark said. "You're a saint. I commend your selflessness. Amazing.

I don't like happy people," Andrew said. "They're already happy; they don't need to be liked.

Better stop short than fill to the brim. Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt. Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it. Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow. Retire when the work is done. This is the way of heaven.

It's wonderful," his mother says, and I feel something old and familiar course through my blood. It fills all four chambers of my heart, and I think maybe, just maybe, it's happiness.

I realized that part of my struggle was in wishing things were different:

Greater contentment is to be found in letting go of our hopes and fears than in any clinging. These reflections on the natural laws that affect us can inspire us to turn toward spiritual practice as a refuge.

By becoming mindful we can drop the compulsion to try to make disturbing thoughts go away, to agitate ourselves by worrying, or to try to make things better or in any way different. We can be with life just as it is, observing completely what happens, without immediately trying to change it.