--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A feeling that greater possessions, no…" description: "\"A feeling that greater possessions, no matter of what kind they may be, will of themselves bring contentment or happiness, is a misunderstanding. No pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/genevieve-behrend-50282_causes_a-feeling-that-greater-possessions-no-ma_2355261.png" --- # A feeling that greater possessions, no matter of what kind… ![“A feeling that greater possessions, no matter of what kind they may be, will of themselves bring contentment or happiness, is a misunderstanding. No person, place, or thing can give you happiness. They may give you cause for happiness and a feeling of contentment, but the JOY of Living comes from…” quote by Genevieve Behrend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/genevieve-behrend-50282_causes_a-feeling-that-greater-possessions-no-ma_2355261.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/genevieve-behrend-50282_causes_a-feeling-that-greater-possessions-no-ma_2355261.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/genevieve-behrend-50282_causes_a-feeling-that-greater-possessions-no-ma_2355261.png) > “A feeling that greater possessions, no matter of what kind they may be, will of themselves bring contentment or happiness, is a misunderstanding. No person, place, or thing can give you happiness. They may give you cause for happiness and a feeling of contentment, but the JOY of Living comes from within.” [Genevieve Behrend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-behrend/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. External possessions cannot guarantee lasting happiness; true joy originates from inner mindset and personal fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Happiness comes from within, not from things. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner peace and purpose. Themes happiness contentment inner growth materialism mindset Mood reflective calm inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - financial planning - relationship counseling - spiritual practice Key Concepts psychology philosophy self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What internal practices nurture lasting joy? - How can you differentiate between temporary pleasure and lasting contentment? A Different Perspective External success may still leave a void if inner values are neglected. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-of-living/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) ## Related quotes > [Contentment is not by addition but by subtraction: seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your desires until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-burroughs/contentment-is-not-by-addition-but-by-subtraction-seeking-to-add-a/) [Jeremiah Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-burroughs/) > [“I had no idea that throwing away worthless things could bring about such contentment and . . . well . . . joy. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kraus/i-had-no-idea-that-throwing-away-worthless-things-could-bring-about/) [Jim Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kraus/) > [“You know that the pursuit of worldly things does not bring contentment. Find satisfaction in becoming a worker among the Lord's workers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binye-vincent/you-know-that-the-pursuit-of-worldly-things-does-not-bring/) Binye Vincent > [“spirits bring contentment for a time carry us closer to the sacred moving through bitterness our yearning to hold on to moments of ecstasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/spirits-bring-contentment-for-a-time-carry-us-closer-to-the-sacred/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The life must be a well-balanced life, not lopsided in any manner to bring contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/the-life-must-be-a-well-balanced-life-not-lopsided-in-any-manner-to/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [Be content with who you are and where you are, and do whatever you can do to bring to others such contentment, and joy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/be-content-with-who-you-are-and-where-you-are-and-do-whatever-you-can/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Instead of living our lives fighting discontentment, striving to gain contentment from things that were never meant to bring contentment… What if we gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kiesler/instead-of-living-our-lives-fighting-discontentment-striving-to-gain/) [Katie Kiesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kiesler/) > [“Meditation, creative movement, moments of self-nurturance that bring contentment—all can become positive habits of well-being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/meditation-creative-movement-moments-of-self-nurturance-that-bring/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Hope combined with action is the only thing that will bring you contentment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/hope-combined-with-action-is-the-only-thing-that-will-bring-you/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“(Mma Ramotswe thinking about what her father taught her…) “Having the right approach to life was a great gift in this life….Do not complain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/mma-ramotswe-thinking-about-what-her-father-taught-her-having-the/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Contentment is not happiness. Contentment is stagnation and decay, whereas happiness is life and growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/contentment-is-not-happiness-contentment-is-stagnation-and-decay/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Contentment and happiness didn't exist in my life for more than a few moments at a time, and they were really only illusionary. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/contentment-and-happiness-didn-t-exist-in-my-life-for-more-than-a-few/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [These days, in our materialistic culture, many people are led to believe that money is the ultimate source of happiness. Consequently, when they don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/these-days-in-our-materialistic-culture-many-people-are-led-to/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I'm always content. I hold much more store in contentment than happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-always-content-i-hold-much-more-store-in-contentment-than/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [Don't confuse contentment with happiness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wooding/don-t-confuse-contentment-with-happiness/) [Chris Wooding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wooding/) ## More by Genevieve Behrend > [We all possess more power and greater possibilities than we realize, and visualizing is one of the greatest of these powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-behrend/we-all-possess-more-power-and-greater-possibilities-than-we-realize/) [Genevieve Behrend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-behrend/) > [Do not fear to be your true self, for everything you want, wants you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-behrend/do-not-fear-to-be-your-true-self-for-everything-you-want-wants-you/) [Genevieve Behrend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-behrend/) > [Everyone visualizes whether he knows it or not. Visualizing is the great secret of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-behrend/everyone-visualizes-whether-he-knows-it-or-not-visualizing-is-the/) [Genevieve Behrend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-behrend/) > [The power within you which enables you to form a thought-picture is the starting point of all there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-behrend/the-power-within-you-which-enables-you-to-form-a-thought-picture-is/) [Genevieve Behrend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-behrend/) > [In visualizing, or making a mental picture you are not endeavoring to change the laws of nature. 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