--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are like people with short-term leases…" description: "\"We are like people with short-term leases on summer cottages; we can never seem to make our provisions come out even with our stay.\" — Mignon McLaughlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/mignon-mclaughlin-742_cottages_we-are-like-people-with-short-term-lease_3184857.png" --- # We are like people with short-term leases on summer… ![“We are like people with short-term leases on summer cottages; we can never seem to make our provisions come out even with our stay.” quote by Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/mignon-mclaughlin-742_cottages_we-are-like-people-with-short-term-lease_3184857.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/mignon-mclaughlin-742_cottages_we-are-like-people-with-short-term-lease_3184857.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/mignon-mclaughlin-742_cottages_we-are-like-people-with-short-term-lease_3184857.png) > “We are like people with short-term leases on summer cottages; we can never seem to make our provisions come out even with our stay.” [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life feels temporary and precarious, making it hard to balance resources and time. **In simple terms:** Life is fleeting, hard to keep even. Key Takeaway Accept impermanence, plan wisely. Themes transience balance uncertainty Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - budgeting - travel planning - short‑term rentals - financial forecasting Key Concepts existentialism resource management Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize lasting stability over temporary comfort? - What habits help you balance present needs with future security? A Different Perspective May overlook long‑term growth while focusing on short‑term fixes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cottages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cottages/) [Cottages Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cottages-make-5850430/) [Lease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lease/) [Leases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leases-3072104/) [Leases Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leases-summer-5850428/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Provision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provision/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) [Summer Cottages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer-cottages-5850429/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term Leases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-leases-5850431/) ## Related quotes > [The practical reality of managing cars in the family - I do 36-month leases. I think they're horrible investments. And you want to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-o-leary/the-practical-reality-of-managing-cars-in-the-family-i-do-36-month/) [Kevin O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-o-leary/) > [The devil never grants long leases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-devil-never-grants-long-leases/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you break into an oil company and you're able to find out what gas leases they're interested in, that could be a multi-billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-stamos/if-you-break-into-an-oil-company-and-you-re-able-to-find-out-what-gas/) [Alex Stamos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-stamos/) > [I hope to one day co-sign a lease with another person but, well, it doesn't plague me that I have yet to do so.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-hope-to-one-day-co-sign-a-lease-with-another-person-but-well-it/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [We are all going to die, sometimes even in the middle of a lease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/we-are-all-going-to-die-sometimes-even-in-the-middle-of-a-lease/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [“You've given her a new lease on life.' 'She didn't need one. She owns life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-airgood/you-ve-given-her-a-new-lease-on-life-she-didn-t-need-one-she-owns-life/) [Ellen Airgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-airgood/) > [Old age is a lease nature only signs as a particular favor, and it may be, to one, only in the space of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/old-age-is-a-lease-nature-only-signs-as-a-particular-favor-and-it-may/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Life is a secret lease from God and we should not allow ourselves to be bruised. Family life is our strength and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-losey/life-is-a-secret-lease-from-god-and-we-should-not-allow-ourselves-to/) [Joseph Losey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-losey/) > [For too long, the system has been biased in favor of oil and gas developers: sweetheart lease deals, generous subsidies and a regulatory process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/for-too-long-the-system-has-been-biased-in-favor-of-oil-and-gas/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [I told myself I never wanted to rent again. Even though it's a battle, I'm lucky cause I'm living in a cheaper part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-told-myself-i-never-wanted-to-rent-again-even-though-it-s-a-battle/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [Lease terms don't fit start-up lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-hirschfeld/lease-terms-don-t-fit-start-up-lives/) [Alexa Hirschfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-hirschfeld/) > [When death gives us a long lease of life, it takes as hostages all those whom we have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/when-death-gives-us-a-long-lease-of-life-it-takes-as-hostages-all/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [The chief secret of comfort lies in not suffering trifles to vex us, and in prudently cultivating our undergrowth of small pleasures, since very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sharp/the-chief-secret-of-comfort-lies-in-not-suffering-trifles-to-vex-us/) [Richard Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sharp/) > [ I'd like to have a vote on it at the November \[owners'\] meetings. There's no reason why we can't announce who we intend to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dupuy/i-d-like-to-have-a-vote-on-it-at-the-november-owners-meetings-there-s/) [Bob DuPuy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dupuy/) > [When you get older, you learn certain life lessons. You apply that wisdom, and suddenly you say, 'Hey, I've got a new lease on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-you-get-older-you-learn-certain-life-lessons-you-apply-that/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) ## More by Mignon McLaughlin > [As we are human, we can't do what we can't do; as we're neurotic, we can't do what we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/as-we-are-human-we-can-t-do-what-we-can-t-do-as-we-re-neurotic-we-can/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Naturally, the neurotic wants you to love him twice as much, for he's going to cut it in half anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/naturally-the-neurotic-wants-you-to-love-him-twice-as-much-for-he-s/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We have a terror of seeming to exert ourselves, lest it be noticed that we exerted ourselves and did not succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-have-a-terror-of-seeming-to-exert-ourselves-lest-it-be-noticed/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The three horrors of modern life - talk without meaning, desire without love, work without satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-three-horrors-of-modern-life-talk-without-meaning-desire-without/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We are never more self-righteous than when giving up what we should have shunned all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-never-more-self-righteous-than-when-giving-up-what-we-should/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The time to begin most things is ten years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-time-to-begin-most-things-is-ten-years-ago/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [One of life's few really reliable pleasures: to have a family you love, and to leave them for a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/one-of-life-s-few-really-reliable-pleasures-to-have-a-family-you-love/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [So long as God reveals Himself, or doesn't, He is behaving like God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/so-long-as-god-reveals-himself-or-doesn-t-he-is-behaving-like-god/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The total history of almost anyone would shock almost everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-total-history-of-almost-anyone-would-shock-almost-everyone/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [There are children born to be children, and others who must mark time till they can take their natural places as adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-are-children-born-to-be-children-and-others-who-must-mark-time/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [In life, as in restaurants, we swallow a lot of indigestible stuff just because it comes with the dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/in-life-as-in-restaurants-we-swallow-a-lot-of-indigestible-stuff-just/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Neurotics always feel as though they were going way up or way down, which is odd in people going sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/neurotics-always-feel-as-though-they-were-going-way-up-or-way-down/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Even in the same family, one child will always instinctively know when to ask for things, and another won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/even-in-the-same-family-one-child-will-always-instinctively-know-when/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [People find it hard to be both comic and serious, though life manages it easily enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/people-find-it-hard-to-be-both-comic-and-serious-though-life-manages/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [No good neurotic finds it difficult to be both opinionated and indecisive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/no-good-neurotic-finds-it-difficult-to-be-both-opinionated-and/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) [Explore all 383 Mignon McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## More Cottages quotes > [American forces in Iraq found $650 million in American cash sealed in a hidden cottage. See, this is why President Bush wants to invade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/american-forces-in-iraq-found-650-million-in-american-cash-sealed-in/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Phaedra of Alonso’s death was a never-ending pain that gnawed at his insides. It made him a prisoner in his own cottage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/phaedra-of-alonso-s-death-was-a-never-ending-pain-that-gnawed-at-his/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [You're buying for the benefit of the cottage experience at a fraction of the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-bird/you-re-buying-for-the-benefit-of-the-cottage-experience-at-a-fraction/) [Brad Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-bird/) > [Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/books-are-the-treasured-wealth-of-the-world-and-the-fit-inheritance/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The rain battered the cottage. Valkyrie risked a look up at Skulduggery. “What is it?” she whispered. “It’s a box,” he whispered back. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-rain-battered-the-cottage-valkyrie-risked-a-look-up-at/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Khaddar does not displace a single cottage industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/khaddar-does-not-displace-a-single-cottage-industry/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I have always been attracted to the cottage industry side of this business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/i-have-always-been-attracted-to-the-cottage-industry-side-of-this/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [Contrary to popular belief, prosperity is an emotional state that has little to do with your wealth or the state of the economy. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/contrary-to-popular-belief-prosperity-is-an-emotional-state-that-has/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [“We know summer is the height of of being alive. We don't believe in God or the prospect of an afterlife mostly, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/we-know-summer-is-the-height-of-of-being-alive-we-don-t-believe-in/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [There is a remarkable breakdown of taste and intelligence at Christmastime. Mature, responsible grown men wear neckties made of holly leaves and drink alcoholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-is-a-remarkable-breakdown-of-taste-and-intelligence-at/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Your love in a cottage is hungry, Your vine is a nest for flies- Your milkmaid shocks the Graces, And simplicity talks of pies!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-parker-willis/your-love-in-a-cottage-is-hungry-your-vine-is-a-nest-for-flies-your/) [Nathaniel Parker Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-parker-willis/) > [Oh,' she said, too bone-weary to pretend: 'I would far rather that I love you as I saw yesterday I do than that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/oh-she-said-too-bone-weary-to-pretend-i-would-far-rather-that-i-love/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [I, with other Americans, have perhaps unduly resented the stream of criticism of American life... more particularly have I resented the sneers at Main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/i-with-other-americans-have-perhaps-unduly-resented-the-stream-of/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [You cannot know, should I discribe to you; the feelings of a parent . . . . Four years have already past away since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/you-cannot-know-should-i-discribe-to-you-the-feelings-of-a-parent/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [I'll plant and water, sow and weed, Till not an inch of earth shows brown, And take a vow of each small seed To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-nesbit/i-ll-plant-and-water-sow-and-weed-till-not-an-inch-of-earth-shows/) [E. Nesbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-nesbit/) [Browse all 182 Cottages quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cottages/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are like people with short-term leases on summer cottages; we can never seem to make our provisions come out even with our stay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mignon McLaughlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-like-people-with-short-term-leases-on-summer-cottages-we-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cottages" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-like-people-with-short-term-leases-on-summer-cottages-we-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/mignon-mclaughlin-742_cottages_we-are-like-people-with-short-term-lease_3184857.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/mignon-mclaughlin-742_cottages_we-are-like-people-with-short-term-lease_3184857.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/mignon-mclaughlin-742_cottages_we-are-like-people-with-short-term-lease_3184857.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are like people with short-term leases on summer cottages; we can never seem to make our provisions come…” — Mignon McLaughlin", "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": "Mignon McLaughlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are like people with short-term...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-like-people-with-short-term-leases-on-summer-cottages-we-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-like-people-with-short-term-leases-on-summer-cottages-we-can/#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 } } ] } ```