#pines

philosophes qui ont pu autrefois se soustraire de l'empire de la fortune, et, malgré les douleurs et la pauvreté, disputer de la félicité avec leurs dieux. Car s'occupant sans cesse à considérer les bornes qui leur étaient prescrites par la nature, ils se persuadaient si parfaitement que rien n'était en leur pouvoir que leurs pensées, que cela seul était suffisant pour les empêcher d'avoir aucune affection pour d'autres choses; et ils disposaient d'elles si absolument qu'ils avaient en cela quelque raison de s'estimer plus riches, et plus puissants, et plus libres, et plus heureux qu'aucun des autres hommes, qui, n'ayant point cette philosophie, tant favorisés de la nature et de la fortune qu'ils puissent être, ne disposent jamais ainsi de tout ce qu'ils veulent. (partie 3, para 4) ↗

— René Descartes

#reason #thinking #wealth #wisdom #nature

Too often when we say we feel joyful, we’re really feeling manic. There is a frenetic nature to our joy, a whiff of panic; we’re afraid the moment might end abruptly. But then there are other moments when our joy is more solidly grounded. I am not speaking of a transcendental moment, of bliss, but something less. ↗

— Eric Weiner

#travel #nature

I had everything I could possibly want -- yet I was failing to appreciate it. Bogged down in petty complaints and passing crises, weary of struggling with my own nature, I too often failed to comprehend the splendor of what I had. ↗

— Gretchen Rubin

#happiness #nature

Be like the flower, content with its nature. ↗

— Seth D.

#contentment #desire #happiness #identity #living

-Quieres ser feliz -dijo Nandita-. Es lo que quiere todo el mundo. Solo que no sabes qué cosa te hará feliz. -¿Y eso es raro? -La felicidad es lo más natural del mundo cuando la tienes, y cuando no, es lo más lento, extraño e imposible. Es como aprender un idioma extranjero: puedes pensar en todas las palabras, pero no podrás hablar hasta que te armes de valor y las digas en voz alta. -¿Y si las dices mal? -Pues entonces simplemente le habrás pedido al camarero un tazón de elefantes de biblioteca... ↗

— Dan Wells

#life #nature

There are two ways to ruin any chances of leading a happy life. The first is to chase a goal twenty-four hours a day, day after day, and gladly give up all the little laughs and joys that life has to offer in exchange for that ever-elusive moment of jubilation. The second way is far worse, in that it NEVER fails. You know what it is, Sam? Falling in love with someone who chases a goal twenty four hours a day. ↗

— Ali Sheikh

#happiness #love #relationships #love

The true measure of a man is how he treats you when others are not looking. ↗

— Alessandra Torre

#love #marriage #relationships #relationships-love #respecting-others

Now I'll give you some advice, since you been asking for it. Happiness is like them plants you been yapping about. Sometimes it's growing right in your own backyard and you don't even know it. ↗

— Cathie Pelletier

#relationships #wisdom #relationship

جدارة الرسالات السامية تقاس عادة بما تحققه من سعادة للبشر تتمثل أول ما تتمثل في الأخذ بيد المضطهدين ↗

— نجيب محفوظ

#humanity #oppression #religion #religion

How can one explain this trend towards a more colorless and shallow life? Well, the work was easier, if less healthy, and it brought in more money, more leisure, and perhaps more entertainment. A day in the country is long and hard. And yet the fruits of their present life were worthless compared to a single coin of their former life: a rest in the evening and a rural festivity. That they no longer knew the old kind of happiness was obvious from the discontentment which spread over their features. Soon dissatisfaction, prevailing over all their other moods, became their religion. ↗

— Ernst Jünger

#happiness #satisfaction #work #money