--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As might be supposed, my parents were…" description: "\"As might be supposed, my parents were quite poor, but we somehow never seemed to lack anything we needed, and I never saw a trace of discontent or a fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/albert-j-nock-9816_cheerfulness_as-might-be-supposed-my-parents-were-qui_2235331.png" --- # As might be supposed, my parents were quite poor, but we… ![“As might be supposed, my parents were quite poor, but we somehow never seemed to lack anything we needed, and I never saw a trace of discontent or a failure in cheerfulness over their lot in life, as indeed over anything.” quote by Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/albert-j-nock-9816_cheerfulness_as-might-be-supposed-my-parents-were-qui_2235331.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/albert-j-nock-9816_cheerfulness_as-might-be-supposed-my-parents-were-qui_2235331.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/albert-j-nock-9816_cheerfulness_as-might-be-supposed-my-parents-were-qui_2235331.png) > “As might be supposed, my parents were quite poor, but we somehow never seemed to lack anything we needed, and I never saw a trace of discontent or a failure in cheerfulness over their lot in life, as indeed over anything.” [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contentment can arise despite material scarcity when values focus on non‑material fulfillment and gratitude. **In simple terms:** Gratitude outweighs material lack. Key Takeaway Cultivate gratitude over possessions. Themes contentment poverty gratitude values Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - family life - financial hardship - simple living - community support Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What truly satisfies you beyond wealth? - How can gratitude be practiced daily? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic issues of poverty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheerfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerfulness/) [Discontent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontent/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack/) [Lack Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-needed-4135464/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-quite-1686873/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-lack-1331709/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Supposed Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed-parents-1944534/) ## Related quotes > [I lack nothing. I only needed myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-lack-nothing-i-only-needed-myself/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [There's this mythology that parents are supposed to be parents 24/7 and are supposed to be completely fulfilled by their kids. That's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-s-this-mythology-that-parents-are-supposed-to-be-parents-24-7/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [How often do we not see children ruined through the virtues, real or supposed, of their parents?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/how-often-do-we-not-see-children-ruined-through-the-virtues-real-or/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [You are not kept poor by lack in the supply of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/you-are-not-kept-poor-by-lack-in-the-supply-of-riches/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [The poor lack money. They lack money because they do not know the secret of productive wealth. They know it is possible to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-o-kelso/the-poor-lack-money-they-lack-money-because-they-do-not-know-the/) [Louis O. Kelso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-o-kelso/) > [The poor lack much, the greedy everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-poor-lack-much-the-greedy-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [“poor countries are poor not because they lack resources, but because they lack effective political institutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/poor-countries-are-poor-not-because-they-lack-resources-but-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My parents were quite strict; we couldn't just listen to whatever music we wanted. It was very much like they monitored what we listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/my-parents-were-quite-strict-we-couldn-t-just-listen-to-whatever/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [My parents were quite liberal with us, always encouraging us to be our own person and be creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-miller/my-parents-were-quite-liberal-with-us-always-encouraging-us-to-be-our/) [Sienna Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-miller/) > [My parents were quite chaotic people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bacon/my-parents-were-quite-chaotic-people/) [Richard Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bacon/) > [I've always seen kids with parents who were still together as quite posh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-cox/i-ve-always-seen-kids-with-parents-who-were-still-together-as-quite/) [Sara Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-cox/) > [My mother and father were lovely parents, always quite hard up, but very hard-working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/my-mother-and-father-were-lovely-parents-always-quite-hard-up-but/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [Parents are not quite interested in justice, they are interested in quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/parents-are-not-quite-interested-in-justice-they-are-interested-in/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [“I understand my parents quite well. They think of a wife as a man’s luxury, which he can afford only when he is making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-arianrhod/i-understand-my-parents-quite-well-they-think-of-a-wife-as-a-man-s/) [Robyn Arianrhod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-arianrhod/) > [At home, my parents were quite old, so the surrounding was of elder people. There was no noise. Reading books was encouraged; TV was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalki-koechlin/at-home-my-parents-were-quite-old-so-the-surrounding-was-of-elder/) [Kalki Koechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalki-koechlin/) ## More by Albert J. Nock > [The State, on the other hand, both in its genesis and by its primary intention, is purely anti-social. It is not based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-state-on-the-other-hand-both-in-its-genesis-and-by-its-primary/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [When we speak freely, let us speak plainly, for plain speech is wholesome; especially, plain speech about public affairs and public men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/when-we-speak-freely-let-us-speak-plainly-for-plain-speech-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-practical-reason-for-freedom-is-that-freedom-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Like all predatory or parasitic institutions, its first instinct is that of self-preservation. All its enterprises are directed first towards preserving its own life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/like-all-predatory-or-parasitic-institutions-its-first-instinct-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The simple truth is that our businessmen do not want a government that will let business alone. They want a government they can use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-simple-truth-is-that-our-businessmen-do-not-want-a-government/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Above all things the mass-mind is most bitterly resentful of superiority. It will not tolerate the thought of an elite; and under a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/above-all-things-the-mass-mind-is-most-bitterly-resentful-of/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [By consequence I hold that no one ever did, or can do, anything for "society."... Comte invented the term altruism as an antonym for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/by-consequence-i-hold-that-no-one-ever-did-or-can-do-anything-for/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It is certainly true that whatever a man may do or say, the most significant thing about him is what he thinks; and significant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/it-is-certainly-true-that-whatever-a-man-may-do-or-say-the-most/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The positive testimony of history is that the State invariably had its origin in conquest and confiscation. No primitive State known to history originated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-positive-testimony-of-history-is-that-the-state-invariably-had/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Instead of recognizing the State as ‘the common enemy of all well-disposed, industrious and decent men,’ the run of mankind, with rare exceptions, regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/instead-of-recognizing-the-state-as-the-common-enemy-of-all-well-2/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [There are two methods, or means, and only two, whereby man's needs and desires can be satisfied. One is the production and exchange of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/there-are-two-methods-or-means-and-only-two-whereby-man-s-needs-and/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Personal publicity of every kind is utterly distasteful to me, and I have made greater efforts to escape it than most people make to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/personal-publicity-of-every-kind-is-utterly-distasteful-to-me-and-i/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It is interesting to observe that in the year 1935 the average individual's incurious attitude towards the phenomenon of the State is precisely what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/it-is-interesting-to-observe-that-in-the-year-1935-the-average/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [I am said to be difficult of acquaintance, unwilling to meet any one half way, and showing a social manner which is easy, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/i-am-said-to-be-difficult-of-acquaintance-unwilling-to-meet-any-one/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The question of who is right and who is wrong has seemed to me always too small to be worth a moment's thought, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-question-of-who-is-right-and-who-is-wrong-has-seemed-to-me-always/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) [Explore all 70 Albert J. Nock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) ## More Cheerfulness quotes > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [When you drop your unnecessary things, you finally can swoop and fly in vast space. It is so blue, so bright, and so nice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/when-you-drop-your-unnecessary-things-you-finally-can-swoop-and-fly/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man-yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/mark-how-fleeting-and-paltry-is-the-estate-of-man-yesterday-in-embryo/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Even the smallest landscape can offer pride of ownership not only to its inhabitants but to its neighbors. The world delights in a garden……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-moir-messervy/even-the-smallest-landscape-can-offer-pride-of-ownership-not-only-to/) [Julie Moir Messervy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-moir-messervy/) > [Cheerfulness means a contented spirit, a pure heart, a kind and loving disposition; it means humility and ~ charity, a generous appreciation of others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/cheerfulness-means-a-contented-spirit-a-pure-heart-a-kind-and-loving/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I have observed that in comedies the best actor plays the droll, while some scrub rogue is made the fine gentleman or hero. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/i-have-observed-that-in-comedies-the-best-actor-plays-the-droll-while/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [I believe that God will help us to forget things, the memory of which would do us harm, or rather that He will enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/i-believe-that-god-will-help-us-to-forget-things-the-memory-of-which/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [“Unsavoury as it is below, there is cheerfulness, and comfort, and hard, honest work above. ("In The Court Of The Dragon")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-chambers/unsavoury-as-it-is-below-there-is-cheerfulness-and-comfort-and-hard/) [Robert W. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-chambers/) > [“Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/cheerfulness-keeps-up-a-kind-of-daylight-in-the-mind-and-fills-it/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“One world is aware and by far the largest to me, and that is myself, / And whether I come to my own to-day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/one-world-is-aware-and-by-far-the-largest-to-me-and-that-is-myself/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Actions seems to follow feeling, but really actions and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/actions-seems-to-follow-feeling-but-really-actions-and-feeling-go/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-e-smith/cheerfulness-and-contentment-are-great-beautifiers/) [Jennifer E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-e-smith/) > [Health is the condition of wisdom, and the sign is cheerfulness, - an open and noble temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/health-is-the-condition-of-wisdom-and-the-sign-is-cheerfulness-an/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Browse all 346 Cheerfulness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerfulness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As might be supposed, my parents were quite poor, but we somehow never seemed to lack anything we needed, and I never saw a trace of discontent or a failure in cheerfulness over their lot in life, as indeed over anything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert J. 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