---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you are perfectly happy with what…"
description: "\"“When you are perfectly happy with what you have, it's absolutely unnecessary to crave new things. If you always want what you don't have, then you won..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/a-b-whelan-46681_happiness_when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-y_2099815.jpg"
---

#  When you are perfectly happy with what you have, it's…

![“When you are perfectly happy with what you have, it's absolutely unnecessary to crave new things. If you always want what you don't have, then you won't find happiness.” quote by A.B.Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/a-b-whelan-46681_happiness_when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-y_2099815.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/a-b-whelan-46681_happiness_when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-y_2099815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/a-b-whelan-46681_happiness_when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-y_2099815.jpg)

> ““When you are perfectly happy with what you have, it's absolutely unnecessary to crave new things. If you always want what you don't have, then you won't find happiness.””

[A.B.Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Contentment comes from appreciating what you have; constantly desiring more prevents true happiness.

**In simple terms:** Being satisfied with enough stops the endless craving for more.

Key Takeaway

Practice gratitude for current blessings.

Themes

contentment gratitude desire happiness

Mood

calm thoughtful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- daily gratitude practice
- budgeting
- mindful consumption
- goal setting

Key Concepts

mindfulness minimalism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “enough” look like for you?
- How can you balance appreciation with growth?

A Different Perspective

Focusing only on contentment may ignore healthy ambition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [New things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-things/)

## Related quotes

> [“The near-continuous stream of new information pumped out by the Web also plays to our natural tendency to “vastly overvalue what happens to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-carr/the-near-continuous-stream-of-new-information-pumped-out-by-the-web/)

[Nicholas Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-carr/)

> [“You can do anything you want to do, but you can not do all the things you want to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-glint/you-can-do-anything-you-want-to-do-but-you-can-not-do-all-the-things/)

Hans Glint

> [It's not only the things I want, football is a business and you know how it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-vela/it-s-not-only-the-things-i-want-football-is-a-business-and-you-know/)

[Carlos Vela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-vela/)

> [Men weary as much of not doing the things they want to do as of doing the things they do not want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/men-weary-as-much-of-not-doing-the-things-they-want-to-do-as-of-doing/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Never let the things you want make you forget the things you already have!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-let-the-things-you-want-make-you-forget-the-things-you-already/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There are things we want, and things we may have… Sanity lies in knowing the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/there-are-things-we-want-and-things-we-may-have-sanity-lies-in/)

[Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/)

> [Such a muddy line between the things you want/And the things you have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/such-a-muddy-line-between-the-things-you-want-and-the-things-you-have/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [3 things I want in a relationship: Eyes that won't cry, lips than won't lie, and love that won't die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/3-things-i-want-in-a-relationship-eyes-that-won-t-cry-lips-than-won-t/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [When it comes to family, sometimes you have to deal with things that you may not want to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-bailey/when-it-comes-to-family-sometimes-you-have-to-deal-with-things-that/)

[Cynthia Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-bailey/)

> [The league wants certain things. They want certain guys. I'm just not one of them. But I can't help the way I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-miller/the-league-wants-certain-things-they-want-certain-guys-i-m-just-not/)

[Reggie Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-miller/)

> [Don't do to others the things that you do not want you to do to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/don-t-do-to-others-the-things-that-you-do-not-want-you-to-do-to-you/)

[Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/)

> [I don't have an agenda. I don't have things I want to get to or something. I have like a broad, slim grasp of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-latvala/i-don-t-have-an-agenda-i-don-t-have-things-i-want-to-get-to-or/)

[Dick Latvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-latvala/)

> [“Sarah drew a deep breath and released it slowly, waiting for her voice to steady before she spoke. “It’s a ve ry good story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/sarah-drew-a-deep-breath-and-released-it-slowly-waiting-for-her-voice/)

[Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/)

> [“Nobody ever feels just one way about another person, Margo. We're so much more complicated than that. I can see a million things you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-ribar/nobody-ever-feels-just-one-way-about-another-person-margo-we-re-so/)

[Lindsay Ribar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-ribar/)

> [Most people seek after what they do not possess and are enslaved by the very things they want to acquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/most-people-seek-after-what-they-do-not-possess-and-are-enslaved-by/)

[Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/)

## More by A.B.Whelan

> [“I don’t know who those other people are and what they did to you, but I’m not one of them,” I whispered, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/i-don-t-know-who-those-other-people-are-and-what-they-did-to-you-but/)

[A.B.Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/)

> [“The look in his eyes reminded me of myself. We were both alone in a new environment, trapped by our circumstances, and we both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/the-look-in-his-eyes-reminded-me-of-myself-we-were-both-alone-in-a/)

[A.B.Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/)

> [“Victor wrapped his fingers over my hand, pressing his face against my palm. “You’re the bravest girl I’ve ever met. I’m so incredibly proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/victor-wrapped-his-fingers-over-my-hand-pressing-his-face-against-my/)

[A.B.Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/)

> [“I looked at Victor, my heart swelling from the emotion. “When I die, please do the same ceremony for me,” I whispered, choking up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/i-looked-at-victor-my-heart-swelling-from-the-emotion-when-i-die/)

[A.B.Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/)

> [“See? Instead of thinking of a way to help my people, all I can think of is the smell of your hair and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/see-instead-of-thinking-of-a-way-to-help-my-people-all-i-can-think-of/)

[A.B.Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/)

> [“Oh, God … you’re so beautiful,” I said in a weak voice, my head enchanted. He smiled at me and turned to the thin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/oh-god-you-re-so-beautiful-i-said-in-a-weak-voice-my-head-enchanted/)

[A.B.Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/)

> [“Could it be that he felt sorry for me after all? Or that his hostile attitude was really a cover up, designed to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/could-it-be-that-he-felt-sorry-for-me-after-all-or-that-his-hostile/)

[A.B.Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/)

[Explore all 8 A.B.Whelan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/)

## More Crave quotes

> [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/)

[Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/)

> [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/)

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/)

> [Don't crave fame, do what you do and just apply. I don't think many of them here today are that interested in fashion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilson/don-t-crave-fame-do-what-you-do-and-just-apply-i-don-t-think-many-of/)

[Louise Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilson/)

> [“i crave goddamn difficult”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/i-crave-goddamn-difficult/)

[Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/)

> [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/)

[Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/)

> [I don’t know, I don’t know that I’m missing anything. I just think too much sometimes. Sometimes I’m even happy because I’m so engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/i-don-t-know-i-don-t-know-that-i-m-missing-anything-i-just-think-too/)

[Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/)

> [There are times when born hollandaise heads, as well as nouveaux turbot freaks and recherche escargotphiles alike crave the saignet abundance of a New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-greene/there-are-times-when-born-hollandaise-heads-as-well-as-nouveaux/)

[Gael Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-greene/)

> [“I never met a pig I didn't like. All pigs are intelligent, emotional, and sensitive souls. They all love company. They all crave contact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sy-montgomery/i-never-met-a-pig-i-didn-t-like-all-pigs-are-intelligent-emotional/)

[Sy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sy-montgomery/)

> [“A spark of every fire we seek is already within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/a-spark-of-every-fire-we-seek-is-already-within-us/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [“Why are we doomed to crave most that which we cannot have?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-are-we-doomed-to-crave-most-that-which-we-cannot-have/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Actually, if I don't eat healthy food I don't feel good. For me, I crave healthy food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cavallari/actually-if-i-don-t-eat-healthy-food-i-don-t-feel-good-for-me-i-crave/)

[Kristin Cavallari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cavallari/)

> [Human nature is full of riddles; . . . one of those riddles is: how is it that people who have been crushed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/human-nature-is-full-of-riddles-one-of-those-riddles-is-how-is-it/)

[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/)

> [The person we crave most to be with are the one who destroy us quickest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemantsmarty/the-person-we-crave-most-to-be-with-are-the-one-who-destroy-us/)

Hemantsmarty

> [Personally I crave not for 'independence', which I do not understand, but I long for freedom from the English yoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/personally-i-crave-not-for-independence-which-i-do-not-understand-but/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [I crave a love so deep that the ocean would be jealous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie/i-crave-a-love-so-deep-that-the-ocean-would-be-jealous/)

[Maggie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie/)

Browse all 504 Crave quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“When you are perfectly happy with what you have, it's absolutely unnecessary to crave new things. If you always want what you don't have, then you won't find happiness.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "A.B.Whelan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-you-have-it-s-absolutely/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Crave"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-you-have-it-s-absolutely/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/a-b-whelan-46681_happiness_when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-y_2099815.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/a-b-whelan-46681_happiness_when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-y_2099815.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/a-b-whelan-46681_happiness_when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-y_2099815.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When you are perfectly happy with what you have, it's absolutely unnecessary to crave new things. If you…” — A.B.Whelan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "A.B.Whelan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-whelan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“When you are perfectly happy with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-you-have-it-s-absolutely/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-whelan/when-you-are-perfectly-happy-with-what-you-have-it-s-absolutely/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
