--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One who is content with what he has, and…" description: "\"“One who is content with what he has, and who accepts the fact that he inevitably misses very much in life, is far better off than one who has much mor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/thomas-merton-231_happiness_one-who-is-content-with-what-he-has-and_1847296.jpg" --- # One who is content with what he has, and who accepts the… ![“One who is content with what he has, and who accepts the fact that he inevitably misses very much in life, is far better off than one who has much more but who worries about all he may be missing . . . the relative perfection which we must attain to in this life if we are to live as sons of God is…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/thomas-merton-231_happiness_one-who-is-content-with-what-he-has-and_1847296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/thomas-merton-231_happiness_one-who-is-content-with-what-he-has-and_1847296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/thomas-merton-231_happiness_one-who-is-content-with-what-he-has-and_1847296.jpg) > ““One who is content with what he has, and who accepts the fact that he inevitably misses very much in life, is far better off than one who has much more but who worries about all he may be missing . . . the relative perfection which we must attain to in this life if we are to live as sons of God is not the twenty-four-hour-a-day production of perfect acts of virtue, but a life from which practically all the obstacles to God's love have been removed or overcome. One of the chief obstacles to this perfection of selfless charity is the selfish anxiety to get the most out of everything, to be a brilliant success in our own eyes and in the eyes of other men. We can only get rid of this anxiety by being content to miss something in almost everything we do. We cannot master everything, taste everything, understand everything, drain every experience to its last dregs. But if we have the courage to let almost everything else go, we will probably be able to retain the one thing necessary for us— whatever it may be. If we are too eager to have everything, we will almost certainly miss even the one thing we need. Happiness consists in finding out precisely what the "one thing necessary" may be, in our lives, and in gladly relinquishing all the rest. For then, by a divine paradox, we find that everything else is given us together with the one thing we needed.”” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment comes from accepting limits, letting go of endless striving, and focusing on the essential purpose of life. **In simple terms:** Contentment and focus bring deeper happiness. Key Takeaway Prioritize the essential, release the rest. Themes contentment spirituality focus humility Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual practice - decision making - life purpose Key Concepts selfless charity divine paradox anxiety perfection Questions to Reflect On - What is the one essential thing you need? - How can you let go of lesser pursuits? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on achievement can cause burnout and missed deeper meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God'S Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-love/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Need Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-happiness-720332/) [Obstacles God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles-god-1254284/) [Perfection Attain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection-attain-561627/) [Perfection Selfless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection-selfless-2398859/) [Relative Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relative-perfection-2398860/) ## Related quotes > [but art is not relative to perfection in any tangible sense. 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One of the chief obstacles to this perfection of selfless charity is the selfish anxiety to get the most out of everything, to be a brilliant success in our own eyes and in the eyes of other men. We can only get rid of this anxiety by being content to miss something in almost everything we do. We cannot master everything, taste everything, understand everything, drain every experience to its last dregs. But if we have the courage to let almost everything else go, we will probably be able to retain the one thing necessary for us— whatever it may be. If we are too eager to have everything, we will almost certainly miss even the one thing we need. Happiness consists in finding out precisely what the \"one thing necessary\" may be, in our lives, and in gladly relinquishing all the rest. 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