--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Show me a completely contented person and…" description: "\"Show me a completely contented person and I'll show you a failure.\" — Thomas A. Edison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/thomas-a-edison-866_failing_show-me-a-completely-contented-person-an_1008576.jpg" --- # Show me a completely contented person and I'll show you a… ![“Show me a completely contented person and I'll show you a failure.” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/thomas-a-edison-866_failing_show-me-a-completely-contented-person-an_1008576.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/thomas-a-edison-866_failing_show-me-a-completely-contented-person-an_1008576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/thomas-a-edison-866_failing_show-me-a-completely-contented-person-an_1008576.jpg) > “Show me a completely contented person and I'll show you a failure.” [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A completely content person may be hiding failure. **In simple terms:** Contentment can mask failure. Key Takeaway Question superficial happiness. Themes philosophy success contentment Mood provocative thought‑provoking Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - career evaluation - personal reflection - goal setting Key Concepts self‑deception achievement inner drive Questions to Reflect On - Is happiness a sign of stagnation? - How do you measure success? A Different Perspective Contentment isn’t always negative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ## Related quotes > [Show me a thoroughly contented person, and I will show you a useless one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/show-me-a-thoroughly-contented-person-and-i-will-show-you-a-useless/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [I feel completely contented at Bayern - one of the biggest clubs in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/i-feel-completely-contented-at-bayern-one-of-the-biggest-clubs-in-the/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [The contented person is never poor; the discontented is never rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-contented-person-is-never-poor-the-discontented-is-never-rich/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Show me a satisfied man, and I'll show you a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/show-me-a-satisfied-man-and-i-ll-show-you-a-failure/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Show me a good and gracious loser and I'll show you a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knute-rockne/show-me-a-good-and-gracious-loser-and-i-ll-show-you-a-failure/) [Knute Rockne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knute-rockne/) > [Show me a gracious loser and I'll show you a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knute-rockne/show-me-a-gracious-loser-and-i-ll-show-you-a-failure/) [Knute Rockne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knute-rockne/) > [Be contented as a single ! be free of doing things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-contented-as-a-single-be-free-of-doing-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What would really satisfy us would be a God who said of anything we happened to like doing, 'What does it matter so long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/what-would-really-satisfy-us-would-be-a-god-who-said-of-anything-we/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Your body and spirit, subconscious and conscious—every portion of you recognizes home.  That is why on the moment of arrival, your entire being relaxes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/your-body-and-spirit-subconscious-and-conscious-every-portion-of-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [The Christian is the most contented man in the world, but he is the least contented with the world. He is like a traveler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-christian-is-the-most-contented-man-in-the-world-but-he-is-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“God has considered contented state of chit (internal component of knowledge and vision) as happiness. Even when someone swears at you, picks your pocket;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/god-has-considered-contented-state-of-chit-internal-component-of/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“In my experience people are rarely contented to end up where they started.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/in-my-experience-people-are-rarely-contented-to-end-up-where-they/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [For me, I would rather read a good book, from a contented author. I don't really care what it takes to produce that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/for-me-i-would-rather-read-a-good-book-from-a-contented-author-i-don/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [We must be contented to amuse, when we cannot inform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-must-be-contented-to-amuse-when-we-cannot-inform/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I may never be good enough for everybody. But I'll always be the best for someone who's contented to have me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-never-be-good-enough-for-everybody-but-i-ll-always-be-the-best/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Thomas A. Edison > [We are striking it big in the electric light, better than my vivid imagination first conceived. Where this thing is going to stop Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/we-are-striking-it-big-in-the-electric-light-better-than-my-vivid/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I will not say I failed 1000 times, I will say that I discovered there are 1000 ways that can cause failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-will-not-say-i-failed-1000-times-i-will-say-that-i-discovered-there/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Friendship is the heaven of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/friendship-is-the-heaven-of-life/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/even-though-i-am-nearly-deaf-i-seem-to-be-gifted-with-a-kind-of-inner/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/being-busy-does-not-always-mean-real-work-the-object-of-all-work-is/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The very first thing an executive must have is a fine memory. Of course it does not follow that a man with a fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-very-first-thing-an-executive-must-have-is-a-fine-memory-of/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Personally, I enjoy working about 18 hours a day. Besides the short catnaps I take each day, I average about four to five hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/personally-i-enjoy-working-about-18-hours-a-day-besides-the-short/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The brain can be developed just the same as the muscles can be developed, if on will only take the pains to train the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-brain-can-be-developed-just-the-same-as-the-muscles-can-be/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“People who will not turn a shovel full of dirt on the project nor contribute a pound of material, will collect more money from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/people-who-will-not-turn-a-shovel-full-of-dirt-on-the-project-nor/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [When I have fully decided that a result is worth getting I go ahead of it and make trial after trial until it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/when-i-have-fully-decided-that-a-result-is-worth-getting-i-go-ahead/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I remember that I was never able to get along at school. I was at the foot of the class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-remember-that-i-was-never-able-to-get-along-at-school-i-was-at-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Invention is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/invention-is-10-inspiration-and-90-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [There seems to be no limit to which some men will go to avoid the labor of thinking. Thinking is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/there-seems-to-be-no-limit-to-which-some-men-will-go-to-avoid-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Somewhere between the ages of eleven and fifteen, the average child begins to suffer from an atrophy, the paralysis of curiosity and the suspension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/somewhere-between-the-ages-of-eleven-and-fifteen-the-average-child/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Not only will atomic power be released, but someday we will harness the rise and fall of the tides and imprison the rays of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/not-only-will-atomic-power-be-released-but-someday-we-will-harness/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) [Explore all 345 Thomas A. Edison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## More Contented quotes > [I may never be good enough for everybody. But I'll always be the best for someone who's contented to have me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-never-be-good-enough-for-everybody-but-i-ll-always-be-the-best/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must be contented to amuse, when we cannot inform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-must-be-contented-to-amuse-when-we-cannot-inform/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The contented person is never poor; the discontented is never rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-contented-person-is-never-poor-the-discontented-is-never-rich/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me, I would rather read a good book, from a contented author. I don't really care what it takes to produce that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/for-me-i-would-rather-read-a-good-book-from-a-contented-author-i-don/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“In my experience people are rarely contented to end up where they started.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/in-my-experience-people-are-rarely-contented-to-end-up-where-they/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [“God has considered contented state of chit (internal component of knowledge and vision) as happiness. Even when someone swears at you, picks your pocket;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/god-has-considered-contented-state-of-chit-internal-component-of/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [The Christian is the most contented man in the world, but he is the least contented with the world. He is like a traveler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-christian-is-the-most-contented-man-in-the-world-but-he-is-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Your body and spirit, subconscious and conscious—every portion of you recognizes home.  That is why on the moment of arrival, your entire being relaxes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/your-body-and-spirit-subconscious-and-conscious-every-portion-of-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [What would really satisfy us would be a God who said of anything we happened to like doing, 'What does it matter so long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/what-would-really-satisfy-us-would-be-a-god-who-said-of-anything-we/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Be contented as a single ! be free of doing things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-contented-as-a-single-be-free-of-doing-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be contented—that’s for the cows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/to-be-contented-that-s-for-the-cows/) [Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/) > [I'm a contented man and that probably reflects in my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-m-a-contented-man-and-that-probably-reflects-in-my-personality/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [A contented mind is the best source for trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/a-contented-mind-is-the-best-source-for-trouble/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [I may never be good enough for everybody. But Ill always be the best for someone whos contented to have me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laine/i-may-never-be-good-enough-for-everybody-but-ill-always-be-the-best/) [Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laine/) > [It is right to be contented with what we have, never with what we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mackintosh/it-is-right-to-be-contented-with-what-we-have-never-with-what-we-are/) [James Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mackintosh/) Browse all 91 Contented quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Show me a completely contented person and I'll show you a failure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas A. 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