--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What brings fulfillment is gratefulness…" description: "\"What brings fulfillment is gratefulness, the simple response of our heart to this life in all its fullness.\" — David Steindl-Rast" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/david-steindl-rast-9835_fulfillment_what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness_2402454.png" --- # What brings fulfillment is gratefulness, the simple… ![“What brings fulfillment is gratefulness, the simple response of our heart to this life in all its fullness.” quote by David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/david-steindl-rast-9835_fulfillment_what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness_2402454.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/david-steindl-rast-9835_fulfillment_what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness_2402454.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/david-steindl-rast-9835_fulfillment_what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness_2402454.png) > “What brings fulfillment is gratefulness, the simple response of our heart to this life in all its fullness.” [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude is the natural, heartfelt reaction to life's abundance, fostering fulfillment and inner peace. **In simple terms:** Being thankful brings contentment. Key Takeaway Practice daily gratitude. Themes gratitude fulfillment mindfulness spirituality Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - stress reduction - relationship building Key Concepts positive psychology humanism well‑being Questions to Reflect On - What are you grateful for today? - How does gratitude change perception? A Different Perspective Gratitude may overlook challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Fullness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fullness/) [Gratefulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratefulness/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) ## Related quotes > [“I ask you to do today is to open “the eyes of your eyes” and give your life another glance…. Then pause for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/i-ask-you-to-do-today-is-to-open-the-eyes-of-your-eyes-and-give-your/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“I am grateful to God for a second-chance to live my life to the fullness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-am-grateful-to-god-for-a-second-chance-to-live-my-life-to-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Life is so much easier than you think it is, and as you come to understand the way life works, and the power you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/life-is-so-much-easier-than-you-think-it-is-and-as-you-come-to/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“May you find grace and courage to live life to the fullness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/may-you-find-grace-and-courage-to-live-life-to-the-fullness/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Faith is more important to me than life itself because without it there would be no fullness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/faith-is-more-important-to-me-than-life-itself-because-without-it/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Routine is the route to an empty life or the course to a full one. Purpose brings fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/routine-is-the-route-to-an-empty-life-or-the-course-to-a-full-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As we learn to give thanks for all of life and death, for all of this given world of ours, we find a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/as-we-learn-to-give-thanks-for-all-of-life-and-death-for-all-of-this/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Gratefulness is that fullness of life for which we are all thirsting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/gratefulness-is-that-fullness-of-life-for-which-we-are-all-thirsting/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitless-openness-for-surprise-lays/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [“...the Christian life in its fullness is far more than being active in a Christian community, affirming a certain set of beliefs or adopting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-robert-mulholland-jr/the-christian-life-in-its-fullness-is-far-more-than-being-active-in-a/) [M. Robert Mulholland Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-robert-mulholland-jr/) > [Don't treat you life as a draft paper ,because you never will live twice but once .Live life in fullness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammykabyemera/don-t-treat-you-life-as-a-draft-paper-because-you-never-will-live/) [Sammykabyemera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammykabyemera/) > [Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/gratitude-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [“The more evolved you are the less you will agree or disagree with others, and the more you will gently sift through the fullness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-more-evolved-you-are-the-less-you-will-agree-or-disagree-with/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [In moments of surprise we catch at least a glimpse of the joy to which gratefulness opens the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/in-moments-of-surprise-we-catch-at-least-a-glimpse-of-the-joy-to/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Gratefulness makes us aware of the gift and makes us happy. As long as we take things for granted they don't make us happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/gratefulness-makes-us-aware-of-the-gift-and-makes-us-happy-as-long-as/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) ## More by David Steindl-Rast > [Home and journey together constitute the creative polarity of the heart, the two dimensions we must cultivate if we want to 'develop the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/home-and-journey-together-constitute-the-creative-polarity-of-the/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitless-openness-for-surprise-lays/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [As I express my gratitude, I become more deeply aware of it. And the greater my awareness, the greater my need to express it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/as-i-express-my-gratitude-i-become-more-deeply-aware-of-it-and-the/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Gratefulness makes us aware of the gift and makes us happy. As long as we take things for granted they don't make us happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/gratefulness-makes-us-aware-of-the-gift-and-makes-us-happy-as-long-as/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Any change in attitude changes the way one sees the world, and this in turn changes the way one acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/any-change-in-attitude-changes-the-way-one-sees-the-world-and-this-in/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [If you learn to respond as if it’s the first day in your life and the very last day, then you will have spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/if-you-learn-to-respond-as-if-it-s-the-first-day-in-your-life-and-the/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [We have thousands of opportunities every day to be grateful: for having good weather, to have slept well last night, to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/we-have-thousands-of-opportunities-every-day-to-be-grateful-for/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [The universe is gratis. It cannot be earned, nor need it be earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/the-universe-is-gratis-it-cannot-be-earned-nor-need-it-be-earned/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [...our happiness hinges not on good luck; it hinges on peace of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/our-happiness-hinges-not-on-good-luck-it-hinges-on-peace-of-heart/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [From experience we know that whenever we are truly awake and alive, we are also truly grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/from-experience-we-know-that-whenever-we-are-truly-awake-and-alive-we/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Blessing is the lifeblood throbbing through the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/blessing-is-the-lifeblood-throbbing-through-the-universe/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Beauty seen makes the one who sees it more beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/beauty-seen-makes-the-one-who-sees-it-more-beautiful/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Each one of us is called to become that great song that comes out of the silence, and the more we let ourselves down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/each-one-of-us-is-called-to-become-that-great-song-that-comes-out-of/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [In moments of surprise we catch at least a glimpse of the joy to which gratefulness opens the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/in-moments-of-surprise-we-catch-at-least-a-glimpse-of-the-joy-to/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [...One can learn to focus on 'opportunity' as the gift within every given moment. This attitude towards life always improves the situation. Even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/one-can-learn-to-focus-on-opportunity-as-the-gift-within-every-given/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) [Explore all 70 David Steindl-Rast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) ## More Fulfillment quotes > [It's still possible to savor the remarkable foods that millennia of human ingenuity have teased from milk. A sip of milk itself or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-mcgee/it-s-still-possible-to-savor-the-remarkable-foods-that-millennia-of/) Harold McGee > [“Failing to meet your true destiny is a tragic act of free will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/failing-to-meet-your-true-destiny-is-a-tragic-act-of-free-will/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [If you devote yourself entirely to a pursuit, there is no way you cannot find beauty and fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/if-you-devote-yourself-entirely-to-a-pursuit-there-is-no-way-you/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [“If you aren't happy for what you already have then what makes you think you will be happy with more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddy-malhotra/if-you-aren-t-happy-for-what-you-already-have-then-what-makes-you/) [Maddy Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddy-malhotra/) > [God's dream still remains unfulfilled. It was not fulfilled 2,000 years ago, or in the home of any religious leader or any American home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/god-s-dream-still-remains-unfulfilled-it-was-not-fulfilled-2-000/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Never be tired of a dream, if not fulfilled. Fear of failure should not deter you from your path of self belief. Your belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/never-be-tired-of-a-dream-if-not-fulfilled-fear-of-failure-should-not/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [“Curiosity improved the cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-nankivell/curiosity-improved-the-cat/) Brandon Nankivell > [So that's what destiny is: simply the fulfillment of the potentialites of the energies in your own system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/so-that-s-what-destiny-is-simply-the-fulfillment-of-the-potentialites/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [If a person measures his spiritual fulfillment in terms of cosmic visions, surpassing peace of mind, or ecstasy, then he is not likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/if-a-person-measures-his-spiritual-fulfillment-in-terms-of-cosmic/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [What we are only now beginning to fully realize is that in seeking material pleasure too constantly, the capacity for enjoyment or fulfillment decreases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-campbell/what-we-are-only-now-beginning-to-fully-realize-is-that-in-seeking/) [Alex Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-campbell/) > [Those who are more willing to take risks and capitalize on opportunities, experience the highest index of life satisfaction and fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/those-who-are-more-willing-to-take-risks-and-capitalize-on/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [It is not necessary to have an extravagant food budget in order to serve things with variety and tastefully cooked. It is not necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/it-is-not-necessary-to-have-an-extravagant-food-budget-in-order-to/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) > [The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/the-more-intensely-we-feel-about-an-idea-or-a-goal-the-more-assuredly/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [There is nothing more appalling than the wholesale way in which unthinking people plead to the Almighty the richest and most spiritual of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-drummond/there-is-nothing-more-appalling-than-the-wholesale-way-in-which/) [William Henry Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-drummond/) [Browse all 1,361 Fulfillment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What brings fulfillment is gratefulness, the simple response of our heart to this life in all its fullness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Steindl-Rast" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness-the-simple-response-of-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fulfillment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness-the-simple-response-of-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/david-steindl-rast-9835_fulfillment_what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness_2402454.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/david-steindl-rast-9835_fulfillment_what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness_2402454.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/david-steindl-rast-9835_fulfillment_what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness_2402454.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What brings fulfillment is gratefulness, the simple response of our heart to this life in all its fullness.” — David Steindl-Rast", "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": "David Steindl-Rast", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What brings fulfillment is gratefulness, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness-the-simple-response-of-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/what-brings-fulfillment-is-gratefulness-the-simple-response-of-our/#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 } } ] } ```