--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I lie on my couch by the fireplace…" description: "\"“As I lie on my couch by the fireplace, looking out from my hillside home at the snow leading down to the ocean, with the right woman in my arms, a gla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/harry-browne-3285_right-woman_as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-lo_1282216.jpg" --- # As I lie on my couch by the fireplace, looking out from my… ![“As I lie on my couch by the fireplace, looking out from my hillside home at the snow leading down to the ocean, with the right woman in my arms, a glass of Bordeaux beside me and a Puccini opera on the stereo system, knowing that I’ve earned the pleasure I feel, I’m so glad I didn’t let someone…” quote by Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/harry-browne-3285_right-woman_as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-lo_1282216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/harry-browne-3285_right-woman_as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-lo_1282216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/harry-browne-3285_right-woman_as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-lo_1282216.jpg) > ““As I lie on my couch by the fireplace, looking out from my hillside home at the snow leading down to the ocean, with the right woman in my arms, a glass of Bordeaux beside me and a Puccini opera on the stereo system, knowing that I’ve earned the pleasure I feel, I’m so glad I didn’t let someone else decide what’s best for me.”” [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A contented person reflects on personal achievement and autonomy while enjoying a peaceful setting with a loved one and fine wine. **In simple terms:** Contentment from self‑earned pleasure and freedom. Key Takeaway Cherish self‑made happiness. Themes contentment autonomy gratitude Mood peaceful reflective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - relaxation at home - celebrating milestones - shared intimacy Key Concepts self‑actualization mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What does true freedom mean to you? - How do you balance contentment with growth? A Different Perspective May overlook future challenges by focusing only on present comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Couch Fireplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couch-fireplace-4146719/) [Earned Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earned-pleasure-4146718/) [Feel Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-glad-238836/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-feel-930341/) [Right woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-woman/) ## Related quotes > [Because I have always felt privileged. I have been able to do what I love, I have always been treated well, I have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-nedved/because-i-have-always-felt-privileged-i-have-been-able-to-do-what-i/) [Pavel Nedved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-nedved/) > [The pleasure we feel in music springs from the obedience which is in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-pleasure-we-feel-in-music-springs-from-the-obedience-which-is-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I took a great deal of pleasure in it, and I still feel nostalgic about it. However, I felt that it had led me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/i-took-a-great-deal-of-pleasure-in-it-and-i-still-feel-nostalgic/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) > [“In the act of writing he experiences, today, an exceptional sensual pleasure -- in the feel of the pen, snug in the crook of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/in-the-act-of-writing-he-experiences-today-an-exceptional-sensual/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [If I live near a dancer or a painter, or a clarinet player comes from my neighborhood, I take some pleasure in that, feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pinsky/if-i-live-near-a-dancer-or-a-painter-or-a-clarinet-player-comes-from/) [Robert Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pinsky/) > [The pleasure we feel in criticizing robs us from being moved by very beautiful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-pleasure-we-feel-in-criticizing-robs-us-from-being-moved-by-very/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [“Here's another unexpected experience—this pleasure I feel when I imagine how I am going to tell Wendell that I will not ask Jasmine to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/here-s-another-unexpected-experience-this-pleasure-i-feel-when-i/) [Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/) > [“The peace of the land, the last islands of this peace, made me feel small. I welcomed the feeling. It was a pleasure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-hawthorne-deming/the-peace-of-the-land-the-last-islands-of-this-peace-made-me-feel/) [Alison Hawthorne Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-hawthorne-deming/) > [The pleasure we feel, reading a poem, is our assurance of its integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hall/the-pleasure-we-feel-reading-a-poem-is-our-assurance-of-its-integrity/) [Donald Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-hall/) > [The thing that gives me most pleasure is when I feel I've really engaged with my colleagues, other like-minded individuals, in getting something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/the-thing-that-gives-me-most-pleasure-is-when-i-feel-i-ve-really/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [“Each pleasure we feel is a pleasure less; each day a stroke on a calendar. What we will not accept is that the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/each-pleasure-we-feel-is-a-pleasure-less-each-day-a-stroke-on-a/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [Some people make you feel better about living. Some people you meet and you feel this little lift in your heart, this 'Ah', because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-williams/some-people-make-you-feel-better-about-living-some-people-you-meet/) [Niall Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-williams/) > [Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive-it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/isn-t-it-splendid-to-think-of-all-the-things-there-are-to-find-out-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm happy not knowing. Most of the time (except when I'm a neurotic mess about uncertainty) I feel glad that the horizon is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jamison/i-m-happy-not-knowing-most-of-the-time-except-when-i-m-a-neurotic/) [Leslie Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jamison/) > [There'll be good times again for me and you but we just can't stay together. Don't you feel it too. Still I'm glad for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-king/there-ll-be-good-times-again-for-me-and-you-but-we-just-can-t-stay/) [Carole King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-king/) ## More by Harry Browne > [If younger people see older people who haven't planned ahead and have to rely on charity, the young will be more likely to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/if-younger-people-see-older-people-who-haven-t-planned-ahead-and-have/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Everything we know about human nature and about government tells us that individuals using their own money will achieve far more good for themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/everything-we-know-about-human-nature-and-about-government-tells-us/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [You don't have to buy from anyone. You don't have to work at any particular job. You don't have to participate in any given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/you-don-t-have-to-buy-from-anyone-you-don-t-have-to-work-at-any/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The American way was for commerce, personal relationships, and religion to be voluntary. No one was forced to participate in something he didn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-american-way-was-for-commerce-personal-relationships-and-religion/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Conservatives say the government can't end poverty by force, but they believe it can use force to make people moral. Liberals say government can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/conservatives-say-the-government-can-t-end-poverty-by-force-but-they/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Everyone will experience the consequences of his own acts. If his act are right, he'll get good consequences; if they're not, he'll suffer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/everyone-will-experience-the-consequences-of-his-own-acts-if-his-act/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Whatever the price, identify it now. What will you have to go through to get where you want to be? There is a price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/whatever-the-price-identify-it-now-what-will-you-have-to-go-through/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The first step in freeing yourself from social restrictions is the realization that there is no such thing as a safe code of conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-first-step-in-freeing-yourself-from-social-restrictions-is-the/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Only free people have an incentive to be virtuous. Only people who bear the consequences of their own acts will care about those consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/only-free-people-have-an-incentive-to-be-virtuous-only-people-who/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [So what is government?... Very simply, it is an agency of coercion. Of course, there are other agencies of coercion - such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/so-what-is-government-very-simply-it-is-an-agency-of-coercion-of/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The Constitution isn't written in Chinese, Swahili or Sanskrit. It's in plain English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-constitution-isn-t-written-in-chinese-swahili-or-sanskrit-it-s-in/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The press is hostile to the idea of liberty. Most people in the press are for big government. Most people think that the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-press-is-hostile-to-the-idea-of-liberty-most-people-in-the-press/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [There's nothing shameful in acknowledging that you don't have the answers to every question about life. Just accept the fact that you know only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/there-s-nothing-shameful-in-acknowledging-that-you-don-t-have-the/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Forcing people to be generous isn't humanitarian, effective, compassionate or moral. Only acts that are truly voluntary for all concerned can be truly compassionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/forcing-people-to-be-generous-isn-t-humanitarian-effective/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Democratic politicians want to solve the crisis of poor education by taking more of your money and using it to reduce classroom sizes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/democratic-politicians-want-to-solve-the-crisis-of-poor-education-by/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) [Explore all 134 Harry Browne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) ## More Pleasure quotes > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [No verse can give pleasure for long, nor last, that is written by drinkers of water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/no-verse-can-give-pleasure-for-long-nor-last-that-is-written-by/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [“Joy is like sex – it begins and ends. I want pleasure. I want to be contended, but happiness? I no longer fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/joy-is-like-sex-it-begins-and-ends-i-want-pleasure-i-want-to-be/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [“He made me feel like I was nothing but a set of warm holes for him to pleasure himself with. And he made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-starling/he-made-me-feel-like-i-was-nothing-but-a-set-of-warm-holes-for-him-to/) [Isabella Starling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-starling/) > [No state of society or laws can render men so much alike but that education, fortune, and tastes will interpose some differences between them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/no-state-of-society-or-laws-can-render-men-so-much-alike-but-that/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [In Britain, the press want to kill a show by revealing what's coming up and spoiling the pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-bonneville/in-britain-the-press-want-to-kill-a-show-by-revealing-what-s-coming/) [Hugh Bonneville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-bonneville/) [Browse all 7,692 Pleasure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As I lie on my couch by the fireplace, looking out from my hillside home at the snow leading down to the ocean, with the right woman in my arms, a glass of Bordeaux beside me and a Puccini opera on the stereo system, knowing that I’ve earned the pleasure I feel, I’m so glad I didn’t let someone else decide what’s best for me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry Browne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-looking-out-from-my-hillside/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pleasure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-looking-out-from-my-hillside/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/harry-browne-3285_right-woman_as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-lo_1282216.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/harry-browne-3285_right-woman_as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-lo_1282216.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/harry-browne-3285_right-woman_as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-lo_1282216.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As I lie on my couch by the fireplace, looking out from my hillside home at the snow leading down to the…” — Harry Browne", "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": "Harry Browne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As I lie on my couch...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-looking-out-from-my-hillside/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/as-i-lie-on-my-couch-by-the-fireplace-looking-out-from-my-hillside/#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 } } ] } ```