“Man falls from the pursuit of the ideal of plain living and high thinking the moment he wants to multiply his daily wants. History gives ample proof of this. Man's happiness really lies in contentment. He who is discontented, however much he possesses, becomes a slave to his desires. And there is really no slavery equal to that of the desires. All the sages have declared from the house-tops that man can be his own worst enemy as well as his best friend. To be free or to be a slave lies in his own hands. And what is true for the individual is true for society.”
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About this quote
Every new thing you decide you can't live without hands a little of your freedom over to it. Contentment isn't about owning much; it's about not being ruled by the next acquisition. Someone who keeps multiplying needs stays restless no matter how full their hands get, while a settled mind is the real source of ease.
When to use it
- A person trims their wishlist and finds the raise they got now feels like plenty.
- A shopper cancels three subscriptions and notices their days don't feel any emptier.
- A family chooses a smaller home and frees up both money and weekends they never expected.