June 30

On Discontentment

Many a worldling is satiated, but not one is satisfied. TD103:5

“This is the miraculous mistake of man,—that he is always beginning to live; but he never does live; he always intends to be satisfied, but he never is; he always means to sit down in content, but that period never arrives. He always has something to vex him, but still hopes the day shall come when he shall be vexed no more.” (247.179)

“As to money, every man will have enough when he has a little more, but contentment with his gains comes to no man.” (1222.146)

“Discontentment is a bottomless bog into which if one world were cast it would quiver and heave for another.” (1222.147)

“When the vulture of dissatisfaction has once fixed its talons in the breast it will not cease to tear at your vitals.” (1222.147)

“I do believe that there are some Christians whom God himself will never satisfy until he takes them to heaven.” (2860.579)

“Possibly you are dissatisfied because you cannot bring the contents of your pocket up to the height of your wishes; but if you bring your wishes down to the level of the contents of your pocket, you will be satisfied with what you now have.” (2987.238)

“We are all for pronouncing our neighbour’s lot happier than our own. As Young says of mortality, “All men think all men mortal but themselves,” we are apt to think all men happy but ourselves.” (3054.409)