---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The miserable think that what they have…"
description: "\"The miserable think that what they have is never enough. Like the Little Mermaid, who owned no more than twenty thingamabobs, they say, \"But who cares,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/john-bytheway-10653_big-deal_the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have_3136549.jpg"
---

#  The miserable think that what they have is never enough…

![“The miserable think that what they have is never enough. Like the Little Mermaid, who owned no more than twenty thingamabobs, they say, &quot;But who cares, no big deal, I want MORE.&quot; (How could you be miserable with twenty thingamabobs?)” quote by John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/john-bytheway-10653_big-deal_the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have_3136549.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/john-bytheway-10653_big-deal_the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have_3136549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/john-bytheway-10653_big-deal_the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have_3136549.jpg)

> “The miserable think that what they have is never enough. Like the Little Mermaid, who owned no more than twenty thingamabobs, they say, "But who cares, no big deal, I want MORE." (How could you be miserable with twenty thingamabobs?)”

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Desire for more fuels dissatisfaction; gratitude for what one has brings peace.

**In simple terms:** Wanting more leads to misery.

Key Takeaway

Practice gratitude daily.

Themes

contentment desire gratitude

Mood

reflective calm

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- shopping habits
- career ambition
- relationship expectations

Key Concepts

mindset satisfaction materialism

Questions to Reflect On

- What are you grateful for today?
- How can you limit exposure to materialist messages?

A Different Perspective

Constant comparison can undermine happiness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Mermaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mermaid/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/)

## Related quotes

> [Oh, seriously--how could you be miserable with twenty thingamabobs AND a snarfblat?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/oh-seriously-how-could-you-be-miserable-with-twenty-thingamabobs-and/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [If you want to be miserable, think about yourself, about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought to pay you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/if-you-want-to-be-miserable-think-about-yourself-about-what-you-want/)

[Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/)

> [If you want to be miserable, think of yourself. If you want to be happy, think of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/if-you-want-to-be-miserable-think-of-yourself-if-you-want-to-be-happy/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [My mother wanted to name me Jackie or Jacqueline but she got to name my sister and my brother, so my dad and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-winter/my-mother-wanted-to-name-me-jackie-or-jacqueline-but-she-got-to-name/)

[Ariel Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-winter/)

> [Apparently being a mermaid is dead dull. I watched The Little Mermaid with her once a few years ago—she thought it was freaking hilarious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/apparently-being-a-mermaid-is-dead-dull-i-watched-the-little-mermaid/)

[Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/)

> [My first paying job might have been doing a play, actually. My mom paid me to dress up as a flounder at my sister's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/my-first-paying-job-might-have-been-doing-a-play-actually-my-mom-paid/)

[Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/)

> [At one point, I animated villains in our stories, a bear or a giant, then on The Little Mermaid Ariel just called to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-keane/at-one-point-i-animated-villains-in-our-stories-a-bear-or-a-giant/)

[Glen Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-keane/)

> [I think my craziest hair was when I first went red for my 30th birthday. My idea was The Little Mermaid because I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jagger/i-think-my-craziest-hair-was-when-i-first-went-red-for-my-30th/)

[Elizabeth Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jagger/)

> [“Then your tail will divide and shrink until it becomes what the people on earth call a pair of shapely legs. But it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-andersen/then-your-tail-will-divide-and-shrink-until-it-becomes-what-the/)

[Hans Christian Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-andersen/)

> [Like all my poems, 'Negotiations' has several sources. It deals with aging lovers and the often silent deals they make. Thinking about bargains made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/like-all-my-poems-negotiations-has-several-sources-it-deals-with/)

[Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/)

> [The Little Mermaid was basically a hoarder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-little-mermaid-was-basically-a-hoarder/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Aphros nodded, a glint of pride in his eyes. “We have trained all the famous mer-heroes! Name a famous mer-hero, and we have trained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/aphros-nodded-a-glint-of-pride-in-his-eyes-we-have-trained-all-the/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [I think every little girl is fascinated with mermaids whether you are familiar with 'Splash' or 'Little Mermaid' or things like that. I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo/i-think-every-little-girl-is-fascinated-with-mermaids-whether-you-are/)

[JoJo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo/)

> [Every step you take will feel as if you were treading upon knife blades so sharp that blood must flow. I am willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-andersen/every-step-you-take-will-feel-as-if-you-were-treading-upon-knife/)

[Hans Christian Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-andersen/)

> [The other day when we were reading The Little Mermaid again, at the part where it says that only human souls can go up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ekaterina-gordeeva/the-other-day-when-we-were-reading-the-little-mermaid-again-at-the/)

[Ekaterina Gordeeva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ekaterina-gordeeva/)

## More by John Bytheway

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [Curiosity, rationalization, and laziness are no match against courage, self-control, and mental toughness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/curiosity-rationalization-and-laziness-are-no-match-against-courage/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [Expressions of affection, like putting your arm around someone's shoulder, holding hands, or giving a kiss good night, involve the principle of honesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/expressions-of-affection-like-putting-your-arm-around-someone-s/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [Decide while you're young to keep the commandments of God, and you won't have to think fast, because before temptation even steps up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/decide-while-you-re-young-to-keep-the-commandments-of-god-and-you-won/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [Sometimes you have to go through the wilderness before you get to the Promised Land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/sometimes-you-have-to-go-through-the-wilderness-before-you-get-to-the/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [Sometimes bad things happen to good people. We don't know the meaning of all things, but we know God loves His children! And because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/sometimes-bad-things-happen-to-good-people-we-don-t-know-the-meaning/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [When we die, our spirits go to the spirit world, and our bodies return to the elements of the earth until the resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/when-we-die-our-spirits-go-to-the-spirit-world-and-our-bodies-return/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [Every choice you make has a consequence, every one. It's mathematic. It cannot fail; it never fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/every-choice-you-make-has-a-consequence-every-one-it-s-mathematic-it/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I was never involved in any fights in high school. I'm glad I wasn't. I'm not very big, and I don't find great joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/i-was-never-involved-in-any-fights-in-high-school-i-m-glad-i-wasn-t-i/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [What the members of the Church need, more than anything else, are strong testimonies of Jesus Christ and the gospel He restored. They need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/what-the-members-of-the-church-need-more-than-anything-else-are/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [We don’t LOVE our Grandmas because they look like super models. We love them because of WHO they are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/we-don-t-love-our-grandmas-because-they-look-like-super-models-we/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [Here are three things you can do, even when you feel like there isn't a friend in sight. You can be curious, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/here-are-three-things-you-can-do-even-when-you-feel-like-there-isn-t/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I have to say that it was working with my grandpa, who grew up on a farm in Mountain Home, Idaho, that had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/i-have-to-say-that-it-was-working-with-my-grandpa-who-grew-up-on-a/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [Victory in physical battles requires strength, muscles, and skill; but the fight is never tougher and victory is never sweeter than in the battles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/victory-in-physical-battles-requires-strength-muscles-and-skill-but/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

[Explore all 64 John Bytheway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

## More Big deal quotes

> [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/)

[Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/)

> [“But in the parent department, he had won the lottery. So, he'd always known that when he finally told them, they'd make him feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/but-in-the-parent-department-he-had-won-the-lottery-so-he-d-always/)

[John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/)

> [“Perspective is everything. If your “why” is big enough, you can deal with almost any “what.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-searcy/perspective-is-everything-if-your-why-is-big-enough-you-can-deal-with/)

[Nelson Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-searcy/)

> [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [Everyone's just laughing at me. I hate it. Big breasts, big ass, big deal, Can't I be anything else ? Gee, how long can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyone-s-just-laughing-at-me-i-hate-it-big-breasts-big-ass-big-deal/)

[Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/)

> [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/)

[Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/)

> [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“Being responsible for someone’s childhood is a big deal. We not only create our own memories, but we create our child’s memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/being-responsible-for-someone-s-childhood-is-a-big-deal-we-not-only/)

[Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/)

> [I've never been truly closeted on the air; it's just something I never really made a big deal out of because I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-ve-never-been-truly-closeted-on-the-air-it-s-just-something-i-never/)

[Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/)

> [Tom Stafford was an odd character, you know - a brilliant guy. He looked weird and I think he took a really defensive attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-fritts/tom-stafford-was-an-odd-character-you-know-a-brilliant-guy-he-looked/)

[Donnie Fritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-fritts/)

> [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/)

[Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/)

> [People make such a big deal about how people in bands look, especially if you're a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/people-make-such-a-big-deal-about-how-people-in-bands-look-especially/)

[Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/)

> [“What’s wrong with you?” John asks suspiciously. I give him a ‘what chu talkin’ ‘bout Willis?’ look and he explains. “You just woke up.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelin-lamontagne/what-s-wrong-with-you-john-asks-suspiciously-i-give-him-a-what-chu/)

[Katelin LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelin-lamontagne/)

> [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/)

[Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/)

Browse all 1,273 Big deal quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The miserable think that what they have is never enough. Like the Little Mermaid, who owned no more than twenty thingamabobs, they say, \"But who cares, no big deal, I want MORE.\" (How could you be miserable with twenty thingamabobs?)",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Bytheway"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have-is-never-enough-like-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Big deal"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have-is-never-enough-like-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/john-bytheway-10653_big-deal_the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have_3136549.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/john-bytheway-10653_big-deal_the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have_3136549.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/john-bytheway-10653_big-deal_the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have_3136549.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The miserable think that what they have is never enough. Like the Little Mermaid, who owned no more than…” — John Bytheway",
                "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": "John Bytheway",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The miserable think that what they...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have-is-never-enough-like-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/the-miserable-think-that-what-they-have-is-never-enough-like-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
