contentment as true wealth
Here are 20 phrases or verses from various holy books that convey similar themes of contentment as true wealth, gratitude for what one has, and gaining perspective on one’s misfortunes by recognizing that others may face greater hardships. I’ve drawn from the Bible, Quran, Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist scriptures, and Jewish texts (including the Torah/Tanakh). These are variations emphasizing being satisfied with one’s lot, avoiding envy or excessive desire, and appreciating blessings amid suffering.
From the Bible
- “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
- “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” (Hebrews 13:5)
- “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)
- “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
- “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” (Proverbs 15:16)
- “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.” (Proverbs 19:23)
From the Quran
- “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.'” (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)
- “Indeed, We blessed Luqman with wisdom, [saying], ‘Be grateful to Allah, for whoever is grateful, it is only for their own good. And whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.'” (Surah Luqman 31:12)
- “O you who have believed, eat from the good [i.e., lawful] things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:172)
- “And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:18)
From the Bhagavad Gita
- “A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still—can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.” (Bhagavad Gita 2:70)
- “That person who abandons all material desires and lives free from a sense of greed, proprietorship, and egoism, attains perfect peace.” (Bhagavad Gita 2:71)
- “Such a liberated person is not attracted to material sense pleasure but is always in trance, enjoying the pleasure within. In this way the self-realized person enjoys unlimited happiness, for he concentrates on the Supreme.” (Bhagavad Gita 5:21)
- “O Arjun, noblest amongst men, that person who is not affected by happiness and distress, and remains steady in both, becomes eligible for liberation.” (Bhagavad Gita 2:15)
From Buddhist Scriptures
- “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” (Dhammapada 204)
- “From affection comes grief, from affection comes fear. For one freed from affection there is no grief, much less fear.” (Dhammapada 212-216, on perspective amid suffering)
- “There is suffering, there is a cause for suffering, there is an end of suffering, and there is a path of practice that leads to the end of suffering.” (The Four Noble Truths, core of Buddhist teaching on gaining perspective through understanding dukkha or unsatisfactoriness)
From Jewish Texts (Torah/Tanakh and Talmud)
- “Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot.” (Pirkei Avot 4:1, Ethics of the Fathers)
- “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors; you shall be happy and you shall prosper.” (Psalm 128:2)
- “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8-9)
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