--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not to be miserable is all some people…" description: "\"Not to be miserable is all some people are capable of.\" — Elizabeth Montagu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/elizabeth-montagu-28035_capable_not-to-be-miserable-is-all-some-people-a_2418163.png" --- # Not to be miserable is all some people are capable of. ![“Not to be miserable is all some people are capable of.” quote by Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/elizabeth-montagu-28035_capable_not-to-be-miserable-is-all-some-people-a_2418163.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/elizabeth-montagu-28035_capable_not-to-be-miserable-is-all-some-people-a_2418163.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/elizabeth-montagu-28035_capable_not-to-be-miserable-is-all-some-people-a_2418163.png) > “Not to be miserable is all some people are capable of.” [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Some people can simply avoid misery, implying a choice or ability to stay content. **In simple terms:** People can choose not to be miserable. Key Takeaway Focus on cultivating contentment. Themes contentment choice resilience Mood reflective calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily stress - mental health - personal development Key Concepts psychology philosophy well‑being Questions to Reflect On - What habits help maintain happiness? - Can external factors limit this ability? A Different Perspective Not everyone has the capacity or circumstances to avoid misery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Miserable people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-capable/) ## Related quotes > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [I'm endlessly amazed by what people are capable of, and incapable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/i-m-endlessly-amazed-by-what-people-are-capable-of-and-incapable-of/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/these-are-people-who-are-capable-of-devotion-public-devotion-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The only limit to the oppression of government is the power with which the people show themselves capable of opposing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/the-only-limit-to-the-oppression-of-government-is-the-power-with/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [Teamwork is what makes common people capable of uncommon results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/teamwork-is-what-makes-common-people-capable-of-uncommon-results/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Good people were also capable of doing very bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chandler/good-people-were-also-capable-of-doing-very-bad-things/) [Elizabeth Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chandler/) > [The less you want, the richer you are. The more you need in order to be happy, the more miserable you’ll be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/the-less-you-want-the-richer-you-are-the-more-you-need-in-order-to-be/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [I swear its some miserable people in this world...How can you hate somebody you don't know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-swear-its-some-miserable-people-in-this-world-how-can-you-hate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Miserable people focus on the things they hate about their life. Happy people focus on the things they love about their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/miserable-people-focus-on-the-things-they-hate-about-their-life-happy/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [The Jews are the most miserable people on earth. They are plagued everywhere, and scattered about all countries, having no certain resting place. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-jews-are-the-most-miserable-people-on-earth-they-are-plagued/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Miserable people always try and make themselves sound SUPER happy over social networks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/miserable-people-always-try-and-make-themselves-sound-super-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've finally figured out that surrounding yourself with miserable people will only make you miserable as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-finally-figured-out-that-surrounding-yourself-with-miserable/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are so many miserable people out there who have not fulfilled their dreams. I believe you should do something that you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/there-are-so-many-miserable-people-out-there-who-have-not-fulfilled/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) > [Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world but people capable of giving them their attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-anything-in-this-world-but/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“Sometimes we expect more that people are capable of giving at the moment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasie-west/sometimes-we-expect-more-that-people-are-capable-of-giving-at-the/) [Kasie West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasie-west/) ## More by Elizabeth Montagu > [I often think that those people are the happiest who know nothing at all of the world, and sitting in the little empire of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-often-think-that-those-people-are-the-happiest-who-know-nothing-at/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [I always wish to find great virtues where there are great talents, and to love what I admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-always-wish-to-find-great-virtues-where-there-are-great-talents-and/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [The only thing one can do one day one did not do the day before is to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/the-only-thing-one-can-do-one-day-one-did-not-do-the-day-before-is-to/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [You will find many a creature by earth, air, and water, that is more beautiful than a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/you-will-find-many-a-creature-by-earth-air-and-water-that-is-more/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [The muses crown virtue when fortune refuses to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/the-muses-crown-virtue-when-fortune-refuses-to-do-it/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [Our collection of men is very antique, they stand in my list thus: A man of sense, a little rusty, a beau a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/our-collection-of-men-is-very-antique-they-stand-in-my-list-thus-a/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [I never invite idiots to my house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-never-invite-idiots-to-my-house/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [She kindly laments that I am not of the party, and to be sure I honour great ladies, and I admire great wits, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/she-kindly-laments-that-i-am-not-of-the-party-and-to-be-sure-i-honour/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [it is more to my personal happiness and advantage to indulge the love and admiration of excellence, than to cherish a secret envy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/it-is-more-to-my-personal-happiness-and-advantage-to-indulge-the-love/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [To judge therefore of Shakespeare by Aristotle's rule is like trying a man by the Laws of one Country who acted under those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/to-judge-therefore-of-shakespeare-by-aristotle-s-rule-is-like-trying/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [Any wife will save you from purgatory, and a diligent one will secure heaven to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/any-wife-will-save-you-from-purgatory-and-a-diligent-one-will-secure/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [I endeavor to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with what cannot be mended, and patient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-endeavor-to-be-wise-when-i-cannot-be-merry-easy-when-i-cannot-be/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [The outrages of the powerful, the insolence of the rich, scorn of the proud, and malice of the uncharitable, all beating against the broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/the-outrages-of-the-powerful-the-insolence-of-the-rich-scorn-of-the/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [I endeavor to drink deep of philosophy, and to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-endeavor-to-drink-deep-of-philosophy-and-to-be-wise-when-i-cannot/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [Wit in women is apt to have bad consequences; like a sword without a scabbard, it wounds the wearer and provokes assailants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/wit-in-women-is-apt-to-have-bad-consequences-like-a-sword-without-a/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) [Explore all 20 Elizabeth Montagu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) ## More Capable quotes > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [The mathematical facts worthy of being studied are those which, by their analogy with other facts, are capable of leading us to the knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/the-mathematical-facts-worthy-of-being-studied-are-those-which-by/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [“If you not yet try How to know you can or not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sopharat/if-you-not-yet-try-how-to-know-you-can-or-not/) [Sopharat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sopharat/) > [I'm attracted to the garden, without a doubt, but I always try and image the wolf that's there, too. And that wolf would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-light/i-m-attracted-to-the-garden-without-a-doubt-but-i-always-try-and/) [Michael Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-light/) > [A man, as a man, could arrive at all the dignity that a man was capable of obtaining or receiving; but it needed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/a-man-as-a-man-could-arrive-at-all-the-dignity-that-a-man-was-capable/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [Playing is much, much harder than composing in my opinion, becoming a player. 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