Socrates on contentment
"He who is not contented with what he has,
would not be contented with what he would like to have."
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Today's 365 post: girls on a dock
Joshua's 365 post: Secrets
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Today's 365 post: girls on a dock
Joshua's 365 post: Secrets
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Nice quote. It reminds me of reading in "The Millionaire Next Door" that nearly everyone surveyed, regardless of their income, felt they would be completely happy with their money if they doubled their salary. THEN they'd be content. Instead, this is a great reminder that we need to live and be happy and content with what we have.
Great quote. Reminds me of every year when the "what are you grateful for?" question is asked at Thanksgiving or Christmas and I answer that I am grateful that I have enough.
Thanks for these words today.
I agree ... to a point. I could never be content if I didn't have essential Liberties or say enough food to eat. I think when it comes to physical goods we should strive to be content with what we have but that doesn't mean that we can't aspire to better ourselves to live better.
I think the real key is priorities. I don't care that my wallet is made out of a recycled USPS envelope (on the contrary I think it's kind of cool) so I didn't need to spend $20 on a nice crisp new leather one. With each dollar my wife and I save, the more we have to put towards redoing our kitchen or paying off our mortgage. Skimp on the stuff that doesn't matter and save for the stuff that does.
Can I add one? From Charles Wagner (a French pastor and author of The Simple Life, late 1800s, early 1900s), "If there are people at once rich and content, be assured that they are content because they know how to be so, not because they are rich."
I have been both discontented and contented in the exact same living/financial situation. For me, the difference has been expressing thanks to God ... even when I don't feel so thankful ... if I do this regularly (read: daily! Just on Thanksgiving isn't enought!) I find that I start noticing all that I have and not worrying about what I don't have.
Agreed! Prayer seems to put it all in perspective for me each night. 🙂
So true!
Perfect!
Amen to that!
Each night at bedtime, we name 3 things that we are thankful for from that day. I LOVE to hear my son name off some of the most simple, small things that he is thankful for. It makes my heart smile to know that he is happy, content and feels blessed with his day even when it's not filled with big adventures, getting "stuff" or going places.
Thank you!
I love this quote! It's so very true! I watch so many people try to spend themselves to happiness, and they just seem to get more and more discontent.
That is just not necessarily true !
Well, like almost anything, it's not true in every single case. But I do think, as a rule, people who can't be content with a little won't be able to be content with a lot (assuming we're talking here about things other than the very necessities of life like clean water.)
A dissatisfied heart with a $50,000 income isn't guaranteed to become satisfied with a $100,000 income. And the statistics bear this out...once people reach a level past poverty/very low income, more money doesn't make them happier.
This speaks Volumes because it is true. I have a friend who was studying philosophy in college. She was at my house visiting and I found Socrates so interesting I read almost her entire college book.
I often get caught in the mindset of..."If I just had this..." a lot but now
I see that it isn't about what you DON'T have it's about what you DO have. 🙂
Wise man that Socrates (though I can only think of him in his appearance in Bill and Ted...). Thanks for sharing!
How true.