--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is in the enjoyment and not in mere…" description: "\"It is in the enjoyment and not in mere possession that makes for happiness.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/michel-de-montaigne-142_enjoyment_it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-p_2496350.jpg" --- # It is in the enjoyment and not in mere possession that… ![“It is in the enjoyment and not in mere possession that makes for happiness.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/michel-de-montaigne-142_enjoyment_it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-p_2496350.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/michel-de-montaigne-142_enjoyment_it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-p_2496350.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/michel-de-montaigne-142_enjoyment_it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-p_2496350.jpg) > “It is in the enjoyment and not in mere possession that makes for happiness.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness comes from enjoying what you have, not merely owning things. **In simple terms:** Enjoyment, not possession, creates happiness. Key Takeaway Focus on savoring experiences. Themes happiness contentment materialism Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily life - relationships - consumer choices - travel - hobbies Key Concepts Stoicism psychology well‑being Questions to Reflect On - What can you appreciate more today? - How does ownership affect your joy? A Different Perspective Excessive focus on enjoyment can lead to neglect of responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Enjoyment Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment-mere-1017470/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Makes Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-happiness-587374/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Mere Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere-possession-1017472/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Possession Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession-makes-1017471/) ## Related quotes > [Desire makes everything blossom; possession makes everything wither and fade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/desire-makes-everything-blossom-possession-makes-everything-wither/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“Life is a precious possession...It is what one makes of it. - Charity Duncan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/life-is-a-precious-possession-it-is-what-one-makes-of-it-charity/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [Neneh makes me cry through happiness a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-oliver/neneh-makes-me-cry-through-happiness-a-lot/) [Andi Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-oliver/) > [Not money, or success, or position or travel or love makes happiness,--service is the secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/not-money-or-success-or-position-or-travel-or-love-makes-happiness/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [Many a time the thing left silent makes for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pindar/many-a-time-the-thing-left-silent-makes-for-happiness/) [Pindar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pindar/) > [I HAVE ALWAYS believed that each man makes his own happiness and is responsible for his own problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-have-always-believed-that-each-man-makes-his-own-happiness-and-is/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/it-is-not-how-much-we-have-but-how-much-we-enjoy-that-makes-happiness-2/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.  Charles H. Spurgeon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deena-b-chopra/it-is-not-how-much-we-have-but-how-much-we-enjoy-that-makes-happiness/) [Deena B. Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deena-b-chopra/) > [You're the one who makes happiness happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-the-one-who-makes-happiness-happen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was truly very good reason that we should be beholden to God only, and to the favour of his grace, for the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-was-truly-very-good-reason-that-we-should-be-beholden-to-god-only/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [I filmed my first vlog and I think it worked because I wasn't trying to make it work. I was just doing it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobrik/i-filmed-my-first-vlog-and-i-think-it-worked-because-i-wasn-t-trying/) [David Dobrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobrik/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Enjoyment quotes > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [I filmed my first vlog and I think it worked because I wasn't trying to make it work. I was just doing it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobrik/i-filmed-my-first-vlog-and-i-think-it-worked-because-i-wasn-t-trying/) [David Dobrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobrik/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/love-grows-lust-wastes-by-enjoyment-and-the-reason-is-that-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [Why does a man who is truly in love insist that this relationship must continue and be "lifelong"? Because life is pain and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/why-does-a-man-who-is-truly-in-love-insist-that-this-relationship/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [I think if you're too embroiled in the need to relate too closely to the character, then you start to judge the character for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-if-you-re-too-embroiled-in-the-need-to-relate-too-closely-to/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I'm always very fearful when academics get ahold of comedy. Comedy is such a clear thing - people laugh, or they don't laugh. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/i-m-always-very-fearful-when-academics-get-ahold-of-comedy-comedy-is/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [Joy:show joy & enjoy: then others will be joyful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/joy-show-joy-enjoy-then-others-will-be-joyful/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“...the pleasantness of an employment does not always evince its propriety.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/the-pleasantness-of-an-employment-does-not-always-evince-its-propriety/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Browse all 1,334 Enjoyment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is in the enjoyment and not in mere possession that makes for happiness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-possession-that-makes-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enjoyment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-possession-that-makes-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/michel-de-montaigne-142_enjoyment_it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-p_2496350.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/michel-de-montaigne-142_enjoyment_it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-p_2496350.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/michel-de-montaigne-142_enjoyment_it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-p_2496350.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is in the enjoyment and not in mere possession that makes for happiness.” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is in the enjoyment and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-possession-that-makes-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-in-the-enjoyment-and-not-in-mere-possession-that-makes-for/#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 } } ] } ```