The more we value things, the less we value our selves. — We should devote ourselves to being self-sufficient and must not depend upon the external rating by others for our happiness. So it is true that the more we value things, the less we value our self. The more we depend upon others for esteem, the less we are self-sufficient.

when cruising in an empty ship, if you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least.

Ain't one limb enough?

Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one's voice.

Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already.

Never in any case say I have lost such a thing, but I have returned it. Is your child dead? It is a return. Is your wife dead? It is a return. Are you deprived of your estate? Is not this also a return?

When someone asks us where we want to be in our lives, the last thing that occurs to us is to look down at our feet and say, 'Here, I guess, since this is where I am.'

Our problem with desire is that we want too little.

Most people are as happy as they want to be.

We can afford all that we need; but we can not afford all [that] we want.

We will never be happy until we make God the source of our fulfillment and the answer to our longings. He is the only one who should have power over our souls.

All men are in search of happiness. . . . This is the motive for men's every action, even those who are going to hang themselves.