--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What happiness the rural maid attends, In…" description: "\"What happiness the rural maid attends, In cheerful labour while each day she spends! She gratefully receives what Heav'n has sent, And, rich in poverty..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/john-gay-4141_cheerful_what-happiness-the-rural-maid-attends-in_1907144.jpg" --- # What happiness the rural maid attends, In cheerful labour… ![“What happiness the rural maid attends, In cheerful labour while each day she spends! She gratefully receives what Heav'n has sent, And, rich in poverty, enjoys content.” quote by John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/john-gay-4141_cheerful_what-happiness-the-rural-maid-attends-in_1907144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/john-gay-4141_cheerful_what-happiness-the-rural-maid-attends-in_1907144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/john-gay-4141_cheerful_what-happiness-the-rural-maid-attends-in_1907144.jpg) > “What happiness the rural maid attends, In cheerful labour while each day she spends! She gratefully receives what Heav'n has sent, And, rich in poverty, enjoys content.” [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The maid finds joy in simple work, appreciating divine gifts despite poverty, illustrating contentment through gratitude. **In simple terms:** Finding happiness in modest work and gratitude. Key Takeaway Cultivate gratitude for what you have. Themes contentment gratitude spirituality Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily chores - financial hardship - community gatherings - personal reflection Key Concepts simplicity faith rural life Questions to Reflect On - How can gratitude coexist with seeking better conditions? - What role does faith play in contentment? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic poverty issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerful/) [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Each day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/each-day/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) ## Related quotes > [Give me the poverty that enjoys true wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/give-me-the-poverty-that-enjoys-true-wealth/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There is scarcely any writer who has not celebrated the happiness of rural privacy, and delighted himself and his reader with the melody of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-is-scarcely-any-writer-who-has-not-celebrated-the-happiness-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Good housewives all the winter's rage despise, Defended by the riding-hood's disguise; Or, underneath the umbrella's oily shade, Safe through the wet on clinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/good-housewives-all-the-winter-s-rage-despise-defended-by-the-riding/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [How, like a moth, the simple maid Still plays around the flame!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/how-like-a-moth-the-simple-maid-still-plays-around-the-flame/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [Men are April when they woo, December when they wed...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/men-are-april-when-they-woo-december-when-they-wed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [My nan was a nursery maid. 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For all that the maids STILL show up each day with jumbo crucifixes, jumpy movements, and red eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/it-s-a-sweet-setup-i-ll-admit-for-all-that-the-maids-still-show-up/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [Valancy herself had never quite relinquished a certain pitiful, shamed, little hope that Romance would come her way yet—never, until this wet, horrible morning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/valancy-herself-had-never-quite-relinquished-a-certain-pitiful-shamed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only game I like to play is "Old Maid", providing she's not too old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/the-only-game-i-like-to-play-is-old-maid-providing-she-s-not-too-old/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Henry VIII had so many wives because his dynastic sense was very strong whenever he saw a maid of honour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cuppy/henry-viii-had-so-many-wives-because-his-dynastic-sense-was-very/) [Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cuppy/) > [Compared with other Americans, journalists are more likely to live in upscale neighborhoods, have maids, own Mercedes and trade stocks, and less likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/compared-with-other-americans-journalists-are-more-likely-to-live-in/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [You've heard tales of beauty and the beast. How a fair maid falls in love with a monster and sees the beauty of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maitland/you-ve-heard-tales-of-beauty-and-the-beast-how-a-fair-maid-falls-in/) [Karen Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maitland/) > [My dad was a bartender. My mom was a cashier, a maid and a stock clerk at K-Mart. They never made it big. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-dad-was-a-bartender-my-mom-was-a-cashier-a-maid-and-a-stock-clerk/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [ Shigure Sohma: \[got Tohru a maid costume for White Day\] I can't wait to for her to call me master while wearing this. Hatsuharu… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/shigure-sohma-got-tohru-a-maid-costume-for-white-day-i-can-t-wait-to/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) ## More by John Gay > [On the choice of friends, Our good or evil name depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/on-the-choice-of-friends-our-good-or-evil-name-depends/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/what-frenzy-dictates-jealousy-believes/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/whence-is-thy-learning-hath-thy-toil-o-er-books-consumed-the-midnight/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [To cheat a man is nothing; but the woman must have fine parts, indeed, who cheats a woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/to-cheat-a-man-is-nothing-but-the-woman-must-have-fine-parts-indeed/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/follow-love-and-it-will-flee-flee-love-and-it-will-follow-thee/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/fair-is-the-kingcup-that-in-meadow-blows-fair-is-the-daisy-that/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > ['T is woman that seduces all mankind; By her we first were taught the wheedling arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/t-is-woman-that-seduces-all-mankind-by-her-we-first-were-taught-the/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [Fill it up. I take as large draughts of liquor as I did of love. I hate a flincher in either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/fill-it-up-i-take-as-large-draughts-of-liquor-as-i-did-of-love-i-hate/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [A rich rogue nowadays is fit company for any gentleman; and the world, my dear, hath not such a contempt for roguery as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/a-rich-rogue-nowadays-is-fit-company-for-any-gentleman-and-the-world/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [Let firm, well hammer'd soles protect thy feet Through freezing snows, and rains, and soaking sleet; Should the big last extend the shoe too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/let-firm-well-hammer-d-soles-protect-thy-feet-through-freezing-snows/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [A Wolf eats sheep but now and then; Ten thousands are devour'd by men. An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/a-wolf-eats-sheep-but-now-and-then-ten-thousands-are-devour-d-by-men/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [A man is always afraid of a woman that loves him too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/a-man-is-always-afraid-of-a-woman-that-loves-him-too-much/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [ \[Gulliver was soon being read\] "from the cabinet council to the nursery". ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/gulliver-was-soon-being-read-from-the-cabinet-council-to-the-nursery/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [Sure men were born to lie, and women to believe them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/sure-men-were-born-to-lie-and-women-to-believe-them/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [Exercise thy lasting youth defends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/exercise-thy-lasting-youth-defends/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) [Explore all 115 John Gay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) ## More Cheerful quotes > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-best-maxim-i-know-in-this-life-is-to-drink-your-coffee-when-you/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-washington/i-am-still-determined-to-be-cheerful-and-happy-in-whatever-situation/) [Martha Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-washington/) > [By experience; by a sense of human frailty; by a perception of "the soul of goodness in things evil;" by a cheerful trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/by-experience-by-a-sense-of-human-frailty-by-a-perception-of-the-soul/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [Bright reds - scarlet, pillar-box red, crimson or cherry - are very cheerful and youthful. There is certainly a red for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/bright-reds-scarlet-pillar-box-red-crimson-or-cherry-are-very/) [Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/) > [To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful, and pretty, yes pretty! There are too many unpleasant things in life as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/to-my-mind-a-picture-should-be-something-pleasant-cheerful-and-pretty/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [Well, we can ride together for a while longer. The highway south is farther along this way. I'll be glad of some cheerful company."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-we-can-ride-together-for-a-while-longer-the-highway-south-is/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [ It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existance, \[but\] you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/it-s-sad-if-people-think-that-s-homemaking-a-dull-existance-but-you/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [When I was about 17, I had a row with my mother and left home for six months, renting a flat and working as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robinson/when-i-was-about-17-i-had-a-row-with-my-mother-and-left-home-for-six/) [Anne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robinson/) > [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-was-broken-in-body-soul-and-spirit-my-natural-elasticity-was/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Love is a very contradiction of all the elements of our ordinary nature -- it makes the proud man meek -- the cheerful, sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/love-is-a-very-contradiction-of-all-the-elements-of-our-ordinary/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [To bear adversity with meek submission to the will of God; to endure chastisement with all long-suffering and joyfulness; to appear cheerful amid surrounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-angell-james/to-bear-adversity-with-meek-submission-to-the-will-of-god-to-endure/) [John Angell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-angell-james/) [Browse all 600 Cheerful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What happiness the rural maid attends, In cheerful labour while each day she spends! 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