--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am thankful for small mercies. I…" description: "\"I am thankful for small mercies. I compared notes with one of my friends who expect everything of the universe, and is disappointed when anything is le..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_disappointed_i-am-thankful-for-small-mercies-i-compar_1006353.png" --- # I am thankful for small mercies. I compared notes with one… ![“I am thankful for small mercies. I compared notes with one of my friends who expect everything of the universe, and is disappointed when anything is less than the best, and I found that I begin at the other extreme, expecting nothing, and am always full of thanks for moderate good. . . . If we…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_disappointed_i-am-thankful-for-small-mercies-i-compar_1006353.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_disappointed_i-am-thankful-for-small-mercies-i-compar_1006353.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_disappointed_i-am-thankful-for-small-mercies-i-compar_1006353.png) > “I am thankful for small mercies. I compared notes with one of my friends who expect everything of the universe, and is disappointed when anything is less than the best, and I found that I begin at the other extreme, expecting nothing, and am always full of thanks for moderate good. . . . If we will take the good we find, . . . we shall have heaping measures. . . .” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude for modest blessings leads to greater contentment than endless expectations. **In simple terms:** Being thankful for small good things brings happiness. Key Takeaway Cultivate thankfulness for everyday blessings. Themes gratitude contentment moderation mindfulness Mood reflective uplifting Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily journaling - mindful reflection - gratitude practice - stress reduction Key Concepts philosophy spirituality psychology Questions to Reflect On - What small blessings can you acknowledge today? - How does gratitude shift your perspective? A Different Perspective Excessive modest may cause complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [“I am thankful for small mercies. I compared notes with one of my friends who expects everything of the universe, and is disappointed when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-thankful-for-small-mercies-i-compared-notes-with-one-of-my/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Expect the universe to support your dream. It will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/expect-the-universe-to-support-your-dream-it-will/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [How could I expect more from the universe when I didn't appreciate what I already had?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/how-could-i-expect-more-from-the-universe-when-i-didn-t-appreciate/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [That's way more cleevr than I was expecting. Thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian/that-s-way-more-cleevr-than-i-was-expecting-thanks/) Dillian > [That's way more cevler than I was expecting. Thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracen/that-s-way-more-cevler-than-i-was-expecting-thanks/) Tracen > [That's way more celevr than I was expecting. 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Akin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-akin/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. 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A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Disappointed quotes > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. 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We will not be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-maria-martini/it-is-always-the-time-of-hope-confidence-and-love-everything-passes/) Carlo Maria Martini [Browse all 1,145 Disappointed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am thankful for small mercies. I compared notes with one of my friends who expect everything of the universe, and is disappointed when anything is less than the best, and I found that I begin at the other extreme, expecting nothing, and am always full of thanks for moderate good. . . . 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