Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for read more

Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for not having much to care for; and with obscurity, for being unenvied.

Merit is much more cheaply acknowledged than rewarded

Merit is much more cheaply acknowledged than rewarded

Try to be like the turtle -- at ease in your own shell.

Try to be like the turtle -- at ease in your own shell.

On their own merits modest men are dumb.

On their own merits modest men are dumb.

He that is well paid is well satisfied.

He that is well paid is well satisfied.

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once read more

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

There are two kinds of discontent in this world. The discontent that works, and the discontent that wrings its hands. read more

There are two kinds of discontent in this world. The discontent that works, and the discontent that wrings its hands. The first gets what it wants. The second loses what it has. There's no cure for the first, but success and there's no cure at all for the second.

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely
read more

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of th' unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin?

If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper read more

If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot.