Quotes About Contentment

would give it all up, all the success I have had as a writer, all of it I would give up—in a heartbeat I would give it up—for a family that was together and children who knew they were dearly loved by both their parents who had stayed together and who loved each other too.

way that was comfortable. Her house had been

I think there is no perfect way to live

It did not matter at this point; my life had unfolded as it had.

Had they known at these moments to be quietly joyful?

What did I ever do, Celia thought, to have such a wonderful, satisfying, happy life?

Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.

Better a crust of black bread than a mountain of paper confections, Better a daisy in earth than a dahlia cut and gathered, Better a cowslip with root than a prize carnation without it

Het is niks en het is alles. Meer stelt geluk nu eenmaal niet voor. Ik heb het gekend, daar gaat het om. Gek dat het geheugen zo veel minder indruk maakt dan ellende.

Het is misschien niet altijd nodig elk detail te kennen, ' ging hij verder en hij zwoer dat hij naar de toedracht rond ....... dood niet verder zou peuren. 'Het moet toch mogelijk zijn, Modja, denk je niet, een zaak te laten rusten zonder dat je hem volledig hebt begrepen.

De rust waarvan ik in een bibliotheek zo geniet bestaat niet alleen uit stilte. Al dat papier dempt ieder geluid, maar ook het ruisen van mijn gedachten. Hun ongedurigheid vindt troost in de overmacht aan kennis langs de wanden. Die is zoveel groter dan ooit in mijn hoofd zal passen. Dat kalmeert me en herinnert mij eraan dat ik niet per se alles hoef te weten en begrijpen. Zoveel is al opgeschreven en ik heb het allemaal binnen handbereik. Daar hoef ik mij dus niet meer mee bezig te houden.

Gewenning. Het lijkt verraderlijk veel op tevredenheid maar is het tegenovergestelde.

I stopped in the middle of that building and I saw — the sky. I saw the things that I love in this world. The work and the food and time time to sit and smoke. And I looked at the pen and said to myself, what the hell am I grabbing this for? Why am I trying to become what I don't want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am! Why can't I say that, Willy?

In Brooklyn I am content, the closest we can come to a sustained happiness.

There was a deep pleasure in simply knowing what happened to everyone at the end.

Contentment... is the soul's enjoyment of that peace that passes all understanding.

Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be felt if you don't set any condition.

When you cannot love or hate anymore, then where is the charm of life?

Satisfaction consists in freedom from pain, which is the positive element of life.

The two foes of human happiness are pain and boredom.

It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.

But so long as we are occupied with any other object than God Himself, there will be neither rest for the heart nor peace for the mind. But when we receive all that enters our lives as from His hand, then, no matter what may be our circumstances or surroundings—whether in a hovel, a prison-dungeon, or a martyr's stake—we shall be enabled to say, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places" (Ps. 16:6).

True happiness consists only in the enjoyment of God.

Anyone could live this life, he reflected, provided they had the sense to give up the other way of life.