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About this quote

What does it mean?
Being dissatisfied with what you have means you will also be dissatisfied with what you wish to obtain.
In plain terms
If you aren't happy with what you have, you won't be happy with what you get.
What can you take from it?
Cultivate contentment to avoid endless longing.

Where it applies

  • financial goals
  • career ambitions
  • relationship expectations

Putting it to work

  • practice gratitude
  • set realistic expectations

Questions to consider

  • What does contentment mean to you?
  • How does desire drive your decisions?

Another view

Contentment can be hard to achieve in a consumer-driven society.

More from Socrates

  1. He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.

    Permalink to quote #50

  2. I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.

    Permalink to quote #52

  3. Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love.

    Permalink to quote #49

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