--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most outstanding characteristic of…" description: "\"The most outstanding characteristic of Eastern civilization is to know contentment, whereas that of Western civilization is not to know contentment. Co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/hu-shih-19790_characteristics_the-most-outstanding-characteristic-of-e_591628.png" --- # The most outstanding characteristic of Eastern… ![“The most outstanding characteristic of Eastern civilization is to know contentment, whereas that of Western civilization is not to know contentment. Contented Easterners are satisfied with their simple life and therefore do not seek to increase their material enjoyment... They are satisfied with…” quote by Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/hu-shih-19790_characteristics_the-most-outstanding-characteristic-of-e_591628.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/hu-shih-19790_characteristics_the-most-outstanding-characteristic-of-e_591628.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/hu-shih-19790_characteristics_the-most-outstanding-characteristic-of-e_591628.png) > “The most outstanding characteristic of Eastern civilization is to know contentment, whereas that of Western civilization is not to know contentment. Contented Easterners are satisfied with their simple life and therefore do not seek to increase their material enjoyment... They are satisfied with their present lot and environment and therefore do not want to conquer nature but merely be at home with nature and at peace with their lot.” [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Eastern cultures value contentment and harmony with nature, while Western cultures often pursue material expansion and domination. **In simple terms:** East seeks peace with nature; West seeks conquest. Key Takeaway Cultivate contentment over endless desire. Themes contentment cultural contrast philosophy Mood contemplative balanced Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - personal finance - environmental policy - education curricula - mindfulness practice Key Concepts materialism nature harmony spiritual fulfillment societal values Questions to Reflect On - How does your culture view contentment? - Can material progress coexist with environmental respect? A Different Perspective Risk of stereotyping cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Overconsumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overconsumption/) [Simple life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-life/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-civilization/) ## Related quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. 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Speak only when you have something to say. 2. 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It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Just because someone thinks they remember something in detail, with confidence and with emotion, does not mean that it actually happened, .. False memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/just-because-someone-thinks-they-remember-something-in-detail-with/) [Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A second characteristic of the process which for me is the good life, is that it involves an increasingly tendency to live fully in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/a-second-characteristic-of-the-process-which-for-me-is-the-good-life/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [Philanthropy is one of the most hopeful characteristics of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-livermore/philanthropy-is-one-of-the-most-hopeful-characteristics-of-our-time/) Mary Livermore > [God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poemen/god-has-given-this-way-of-life-to-israel-to-abstain-from-everything/) [Poemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poemen/) > [The most significant moment will be when we stop referring to the hiring of qualified women (and racial, ethnic and religious minorities) as significant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-trask/the-most-significant-moment-will-be-when-we-stop-referring-to-the/) Amy Trask > [Iron and coal dominated everywhere, from grey to black: the black boots, the black stove-pipe hat, the black coach or carriage, the black iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/iron-and-coal-dominated-everywhere-from-grey-to-black-the-black-boots/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. 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