--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the bottle discontent seeks for…" description: "\"In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and bashfulness for confidence.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/samuel-johnson-50_bottles_in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfo_123050.png" --- # In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for… ![“In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and bashfulness for confidence.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/samuel-johnson-50_bottles_in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfo_123050.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/samuel-johnson-50_bottles_in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfo_123050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/samuel-johnson-50_bottles_in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfo_123050.png) > “In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and bashfulness for confidence.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discontent craves comfort, cowardice craves courage, and bashfulness craves confidence, highlighting how dissatisfaction drives the pursuit of opposite virtues. **In simple terms:** Unhappiness pushes us toward opposite strengths. Key Takeaway Desire for what we lack fuels growth. Themes psychology motivation self‑improvement paradox Mood reflective determined Type aphorism motivational When to use this quote - overcoming fear - building confidence - seeking comfort after loss Key Concepts cognitive dissonance aspiration Practical Applications - use discomfort as a catalyst for change - set goals that contrast current dissatisfaction Questions to Reflect On - What discomfort are you avoiding? - How can you turn lack into motivation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Discontent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontent/) ## Related quotes > [The gratification which affluence of wealth, extent of power, and eminence of reputation confer, must be always, by their own nature, confined to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-gratification-which-affluence-of-wealth-extent-of-power-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Such is the emptiness of human enjoyment that we are always impatient of the present. Attainment is followed by neglect, and possession by disgust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/such-is-the-emptiness-of-human-enjoyment-that-we-are-always-impatient/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is thus that mutual cowardice keeps us in peace. Were one half of mankind brave and one cowards, the brave would be always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-thus-that-mutual-cowardice-keeps-us-in-peace-were-one-half-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [When desperate ills demand a speedy cure, Distrust is cowardice, and prudence folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/when-desperate-ills-demand-a-speedy-cure-distrust-is-cowardice-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Such is the uncertainty of human affairs, that security and despair are equal follies; and as it is presumption and arrogance to anticipate triumphs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/such-is-the-uncertainty-of-human-affairs-that-security-and-despair/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can spend your whole life complaining about how much you hate life or you can spend it finding new ways to love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-can-spend-your-whole-life-complaining-about-how-much-you-hate/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“And since he was seeing more and more people who were unhappy for no apparent reason, he was becoming more and more tired, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/and-since-he-was-seeing-more-and-more-people-who-were-unhappy-for-no/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [While the principles of our Constitution give just latitude to inquiry, every citizen faithful to it will deem embodied expressions of discontent and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/while-the-principles-of-our-constitution-give-just-latitude-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself...It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/any-writer-worth-his-salt-writes-to-please-himself-it-s-a-self/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I am profoundly in the D's - discouraged, depressed, disheartened, disgusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dunbar-nelson/i-am-profoundly-in-the-d-s-discouraged-depressed-disheartened/) [Alice Dunbar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dunbar-nelson/) > [“Comparison with myself brings improvement, comparison with others brings discontent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-jamie-chung/comparison-with-myself-brings-improvement-comparison-with-others/) [Betty Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-jamie-chung/) > [The oppressed without hope are mysteriously quiet. When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [“She was tired of the flaming thoughts of discontent that kept her awake at night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-gaffney/she-was-tired-of-the-flaming-thoughts-of-discontent-that-kept-her/) [Virginia Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-gaffney/) > [For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [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/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Bottles quotes > [I knew exactly what I was doing. You can't accidentally take a whole bottle of pills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-knew-exactly-what-i-was-doing-you-can-t-accidentally-take-a-whole/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [This is not really currency that circulates. It's like the old joke about expensive vintage wine. Wine prices will go up and once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/this-is-not-really-currency-that-circulates-it-s-like-the-old-joke/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [There's nothing better than having a bottle of beer in your hand in the waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/there-s-nothing-better-than-having-a-bottle-of-beer-in-your-hand-in/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [Rita folded her arms around herself and peered up at me. “If you’d asked me three months ago I’d have said you were hitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-murphy/rita-folded-her-arms-around-herself-and-peered-up-at-me-if-you-d/) [C.E. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-murphy/) > [The Brick House was one of the toughest joints I ever played in ... Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I got some bottles in the caddy that we can open up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brokencyde/i-got-some-bottles-in-the-caddy-that-we-can-open-up/) [Brokencyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brokencyde/) > [To meet Roosevelt with all his buoyant sparkle, his iridescence, was like opening a bottle of champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/to-meet-roosevelt-with-all-his-buoyant-sparkle-his-iridescence-was/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The impulse to paint comes neither from observation nor from the soul (which is probably blind) but from an encounter: the encounter between painter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/the-impulse-to-paint-comes-neither-from-observation-nor-from-the-soul/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [The general public have a warped view of the speed at which an investigation proceeds. They like to imagine tense conversations going on behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/the-general-public-have-a-warped-view-of-the-speed-at-which-an/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [My primary school teacher once poured a bottle of curdled school milk forcefully down my throat. Then I threw it up all over her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-o-grady/my-primary-school-teacher-once-poured-a-bottle-of-curdled-school-milk/) [Paul O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-o-grady/) > [The fun, joy, and humor dry up in a relationship when one of the partners is swimming in gin. To my way of thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/the-fun-joy-and-humor-dry-up-in-a-relationship-when-one-of-the/) [Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/) > [There is no need to put your heart in a bottle, then you will die. - Ty from Stolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-christopher/there-is-no-need-to-put-your-heart-in-a-bottle-then-you-will-die-ty/) [Lucy Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-christopher/) > [I revere the memory of Mr. F. as an estimable man and most indulgent husband, only necessary to mention Asparagus and it appeared or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-revere-the-memory-of-mr-f-as-an-estimable-man-and-most-indulgent/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The decision to let go of that which has completed its course in your experience is even more important than the decision to welcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-charles-barker/the-decision-to-let-go-of-that-which-has-completed-its-course-in-your/) [Raymond Charles Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-charles-barker/) > [For Father's Day, my kids always give me a bottle of cologne called English Leather. It's appropriate! To them I always smell like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/for-father-s-day-my-kids-always-give-me-a-bottle-of-cologne-called/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) Browse all 978 Bottles quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and bashfulness for confidence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfort-cowardice-for-courage-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bottles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfort-cowardice-for-courage-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/samuel-johnson-50_bottles_in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfo_123050.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/samuel-johnson-50_bottles_in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfo_123050.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/samuel-johnson-50_bottles_in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfo_123050.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and bashfulness for confidence.” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the bottle discontent seeks for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfort-cowardice-for-courage-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/in-the-bottle-discontent-seeks-for-comfort-cowardice-for-courage-and/#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 } } ] } ```