---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man is discontented with himself…"
description: "\"When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.\" — Laurence Sterne"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/laurence-sterne-1405_advantage_when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself_2049162.jpg"
---

#  When a man is discontented with himself, it has one…

![“When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.” quote by Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/laurence-sterne-1405_advantage_when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself_2049162.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/laurence-sterne-1405_advantage_when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself_2049162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/laurence-sterne-1405_advantage_when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself_2049162.jpg)

> “When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.”

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

## About This Quote

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

Discontent drives self‑assessment, creating a mindset ready for negotiation and opportunity.

**In simple terms:** Being unhappy can sharpen bargaining.

Key Takeaway

Channel dissatisfaction into strategic advantage.

Themes

self‑improvement negotiation mindset

Mood

thoughtful motivational

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- career moves
- price negotiations
- personal growth

Key Concepts

psychology economics

Questions to Reflect On

- What can you improve now?
- How to keep discontent constructive?

A Different Perspective

Excessive discontent may cause negativity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Discontented Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontented-advantage-3852223/) [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Frame Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frame-mind/) [Frame of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frame-of-mind/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Making Bargain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-bargain-3852224/) [Man Discontented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-discontented-3453110/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/)

## Related quotes

> [“When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage however, that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-sterne/when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself-it-has-one-advantage-however/)

[Lawrence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-sterne/)

> [“Being in the right frame of mind helps you see the technicolour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hunt-davis/being-in-the-right-frame-of-mind-helps-you-see-the-technicolour/)

[Ben Hunt-Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hunt-davis/)

> [Once the makeup is on, it is easy to enter the character's frame of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-shetty/once-the-makeup-is-on-it-is-easy-to-enter-the-character-s-frame-of/)

[Anushka Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-shetty/)

> [“Interpretation is directly related to a person's frame of mind. Looking at the same image, a person could see two different things depending on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carter/interpretation-is-directly-related-to-a-person-s-frame-of-mind/)

[Chris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carter/)

> [The classification of facts, the recognition of their sequence and relative significance is the function of science, and the habit of forming a judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pearson/the-classification-of-facts-the-recognition-of-their-sequence-and/)

[Karl Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pearson/)

> [Composing is sort of an intuitive act. You have to put yourself in the right frame of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-shore/composing-is-sort-of-an-intuitive-act-you-have-to-put-yourself-in-the/)

[Howard Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-shore/)

> [It may not necessarily reflect my current frame of mind. Sometimes I have to put myself at the point in time of the voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/it-may-not-necessarily-reflect-my-current-frame-of-mind-sometimes-i/)

[Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/)

> [Positive frame of mind makes you feel inspired, expects success, it gives you strength to not give up if you encounter and obstacle, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/positive-frame-of-mind-makes-you-feel-inspired-expects-success-it/)

[Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/)

> [“Tea was more than boiling water. There were decisions to be made and a frame of mind to develop, no matter how imperceptible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-l-barkat/tea-was-more-than-boiling-water-there-were-decisions-to-be-made-and-a/)

[L.L. Barkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-l-barkat/)

> [Once you get into the right frame of mind, that means you have your full senses and your attitude is straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshach-tula/once-you-get-into-the-right-frame-of-mind-that-means-you-have-your/)

[Meshach Tula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshach-tula/)

> [That frame of mind that you need to make fine pictures of a very wonderful subject, you cannot do it by not being lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/that-frame-of-mind-that-you-need-to-make-fine-pictures-of-a-very/)

[Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/)

> [Long ago made it a principle of my life to cultivate a positive frame of mind, to strive to project it and to share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/long-ago-made-it-a-principle-of-my-life-to-cultivate-a-positive-frame/)

[Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/)

> [Beginning is not only a kind of action. It is also a frame of mind, a kind of work, an attitude, a consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/beginning-is-not-only-a-kind-of-action-it-is-also-a-frame-of-mind-a/)

[Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/)

> [“Christmas isn't just a day. It's a frame of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christmas-isn-t-just-a-day-it-s-a-frame-of-mind/)

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

> [A positive frame of mind will definitely enhance your travelling experience. If I'm not in a positive frame of mind then the whole thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/a-positive-frame-of-mind-will-definitely-enhance-your-travelling/)

[Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/)

## More by Laurence Sterne

> [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [The world is ashamed of being virtuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-world-is-ashamed-of-being-virtuous/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/digressions-incontestably-are-the-sunshine-they-are-the-life-the-soul/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [I was acquainted once with a gallant soldier who assured me that his only measure of courage was this: upon the first fire, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/i-was-acquainted-once-with-a-gallant-soldier-who-assured-me-that-his/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [A man's body and his mind, with the utmost reverence to both I speak it, are exactly like a jerkin and a jerkin's lining;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/a-man-s-body-and-his-mind-with-the-utmost-reverence-to-both-i-speak/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [When the affections so kindly break loose, Joy, is another name for Religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/when-the-affections-so-kindly-break-loose-joy-is-another-name-for/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [Sweet pliability of man's spirit, that can at once surrender itself to illusions, which cheat expectation and sorrow of their weary moments! - long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/sweet-pliability-of-man-s-spirit-that-can-at-once-surrender-itself-to/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [Philosophy has a fine saying for everything.-For Death it has an entire set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/philosophy-has-a-fine-saying-for-everything-for-death-it-has-an/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [Dear sensibility! Source inexhausted of all that's precious in our joys, or costly in our sorrows! Eternal fountain of our feelings! 'tis here I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/dear-sensibility-source-inexhausted-of-all-that-s-precious-in-our/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [The best friends in the world may differ sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-best-friends-in-the-world-may-differ-sometimes/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [Beauty has so many charms, one knows not how to speak against it; and when it happens that a graceful figure is the habitation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/beauty-has-so-many-charms-one-knows-not-how-to-speak-against-it-and/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [The best hearts are ever the bravest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-best-hearts-are-ever-the-bravest/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [Hail! the small courtesies of life, for smooth do ye make the road of it, like grace and beauty, which beget inclinations to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/hail-the-small-courtesies-of-life-for-smooth-do-ye-make-the-road-of/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [There are a thousand unnoticed openings, continued my father, which let penetrating eye at once into a man's soul; and I maintain it, added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/there-are-a-thousand-unnoticed-openings-continued-my-father-which-let/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [“Button-holes! there is something lively in the very idea of 'em - and trust me, when I get amongst 'em - you gentry with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/button-holes-there-is-something-lively-in-the-very-idea-of-em-and/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

[Explore all 244 Laurence Sterne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

## More Advantage quotes

> [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/)

[Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/)

> [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [All I ever wanted was an unfair advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/all-i-ever-wanted-was-an-unfair-advantage/)

[Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/)

> [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/)

[Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/)

> [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/)

[Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/)

> [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/)

[Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/)

> [For some reason when I decide to pursue something, I never have any fear that it won't happen. I think it's just ingrained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-blatz/for-some-reason-when-i-decide-to-pursue-something-i-never-have-any/)

[Kelly Blatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-blatz/)

> [I think I have good hands, so I try to use them to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/i-think-i-have-good-hands-so-i-try-to-use-them-to-my-advantage/)

[Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/)

> [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/)

[Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/)

> [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/)

[Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/)

> [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/)

[G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/)

> [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/)

[Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/)

> [I always tell women that the fact that you're different and that you're noticed, because there are few of us in the tech industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/i-always-tell-women-that-the-fact-that-you-re-different-and-that-you/)

[Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/)

[Browse all 3,503 Advantage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Laurence Sterne"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself-it-has-one-advantage-that-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advantage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself-it-has-one-advantage-that-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/laurence-sterne-1405_advantage_when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself_2049162.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/laurence-sterne-1405_advantage_when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself_2049162.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/laurence-sterne-1405_advantage_when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself_2049162.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of…” — Laurence Sterne",
                "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": "Laurence Sterne",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When a man is discontented with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself-it-has-one-advantage-that-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself-it-has-one-advantage-that-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
