Quotes About Contentment

One man prays thus: How shall I be able to lie with that woman? Do thou pray thus: How shall I not desire to lie with her? Another prays thus: How shall I be released from this? Pray thou: How shall I not desire to be released? Another thus: How shall I not lose my little son? Thou thus: How shall I not be afraid to lose him? In fine, turn thy prayers this way, and see what comes.

To-day I have got out of all trouble, or rather I have cast out all trouble, for it was not outside, but within and in my opinions.

Everywhere and continually it is in your power to be reverently content with your present circumstance, to behave to men who are present with you according to right and to handle skillfully the present impression, that nothing you have not mastered may cross the threshold of the mind.

contenting thyself with heroical truth, thou shalt live happily; and

49. It doesn't bother you that you weigh only x or y pounds and not three hundred. Why should it bother you that you have only x or y years to live and not more? You accept the limits placed on your body. Accept those placed on your time.

Think not so much of what thou hast not as of what thou hast: but of the things which thou hast select the best, and then reflect how eagerly they would have been sought, if thou hadst them not. At the same time, however, take care that thou dost not through being so pleased with them accustom thyself to overvalue them, so as to be disturbed if ever thou shouldst not have them.

Treat what you don't have as nonexistent. Look at what you have, the things you value most, and think of how much you'd crave them if you didn't have them. But be careful. Don't feel such satisfaction that you start to overvalue them—that it would upset you to lose them.

if thou holdest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with thy present activity according to nature, and with heroic truth in every word and sound which thou utterest, thou wilt live happy. And there is no man who is able to prevent this.

The mind in itself has no needs, except for those it creates itself. Is undisturbed, except for its own disturbances. Knows no obstructions, except those from within.

Otro segundo principio es el de saber qué cosas dependen de nosotros y qué cosas no, y cifrar la felicidad en las primeras.

my soul, the time I trust will be, when thou shalt be good, simple, single, more open and visible, than that body by which it is enclosed. Thou wilt one day be sensible of their happiness, whose end is love, and their affections dead to all worldly things. Thou shalt one day be full, and in want of no external thing: not seeking pleasure from anything, either living or insensible

No imagines las cosas ausentes como ya presentes antes bien, selecciona entre las presentes las mas favorables y a la vista de esto, recuerda como las buscarías si no estuvieran presentes. Pero al mismo tiempo ten precaución, no vaya a ser que por complacerte hasta tal punto en su disfrute te habitúes a sobrestimarlas, de manera que, si alguna vez no estuvieran presentes, pudieras sentirte inquieto

Instead of boasting or moaning, rest content knowing that you are a small part of the universe, and treasure the moment of eternity that you have been given. * * *

No imagines las cosas ausentes como ya presentes antes bien, selecciona entre las presentes las más favorables y a la vista de esto, recuerda como las buscarías si no estuvieran presentes. Pero al mismo tiempo ten precaución, no vaya a ser que por complacerte hasta tal punto en su disfrute te habitúes a sobrestimarlas, de manera que, si alguna vez no estuvieran presentes, pudieras sentirte inquieto

And don't go expecting Plato's Republic; be satisfied with even the smallest progress, and treat the outcome of it all as unimportant.

I have to go to work—as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I'm going to do what I was born for—the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?

Estás viendo qué pocas son las cosas que debe uno dominar para poder vivir una vida próspera y respetuosa con la divinidad, porque los dioses no exigirán nada más al que mantenga esto.

A man might have applied that to him, which is recorded of Socrates, that he knew how to want, and to enjoy those things, in the want whereof, most men show themselves weak; and in the fruition, intemperate: but to hold out firm and constant, and to keep within the compass of true moderation and sobriety in either estate, is proper to a man, who hath a perfect and invincible soul; such as he showed himself in the sickness of Maximus.

To live happily is an inward power of the soul, when she is affected with indifferency, towards those things that are by their nature indifferent.

Thou art an old man; no longer let this be a slave, no longer be pulled by the strings like a puppet to unsocial movements, no longer either be dissatisfied with thy present lot, or shrink from the future.

No que toca a tua sede por livros, apressa-te em repudiá-la para que não venhas a morrer em murmúrios e resmungos, mas sim de uma maneira propícia e autêntica e agradecendo de coração aos deuses.8

Start praying like this and you'll see. Not "some way to sleep with her"—but a way to stop wanting to. Not "some way to get rid of him"—but a way to stop trying. Not "some way to save my child"—but a way to lose your fear. Redirect your prayers like that, and watch what happens.

I am happy, though this has happened to me, because I continue free from pain, neither crushed by the present nor fearing the future

Our task is this: to play our role to the best of our ability, then depart in contentment and gratitude, praying only that that the Playwright is pleased with our performance. Have you read the first book in this series?