--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a pleasure in not being pleased." description: "\"There is a pleasure in not being pleased.\" — Voltaire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/voltaire-173_pleased_there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased_1015077.png" --- # There is a pleasure in not being pleased. ![“There is a pleasure in not being pleased.” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/voltaire-173_pleased_there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased_1015077.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/voltaire-173_pleased_there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased_1015077.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/voltaire-173_pleased_there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased_1015077.png) > “There is a pleasure in not being pleased.” [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding enjoyment in not being satisfied encourages critical thinking and growth. **In simple terms:** Discomfort can be a catalyst for insight. Key Takeaway Embrace dissatisfaction for progress. Themes self‑reflection critical thinking personal growth Mood thoughtful provocative Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - creative work - learning new skills - self‑assessment - philosophical inquiry Key Concepts cognitive dissonance motivation self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - What does your discomfort reveal? - How can you channel it productively? A Different Perspective Unhappiness may lead to negative emotions if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pleased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleased/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Pleased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-pleased-941840/) ## Related quotes > [Men seldom give pleasure when they are not pleased themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/men-seldom-give-pleasure-when-they-are-not-pleased-themselves/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“You despise books; you whose lives are absorbed in the vanities of ambition, the pursuit of pleasure or indolence; but remember that all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/you-despise-books-you-whose-lives-are-absorbed-in-the-vanities-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is not known precisely where angels dwell whether in the air, the void, or the planets. It has not been God's pleasure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-known-precisely-where-angels-dwell-whether-in-the-air-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Rush has done some top-notch quality work, and we're very, very pleased with them. We really enjoy working with them. They are on time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/rush-has-done-some-top-notch-quality-work-and-we-re-very-very-pleased/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [I think people in Botswana are pleased that my books paint a positive picture of their lives and portray the country as being very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/i-think-people-in-botswana-are-pleased-that-my-books-paint-a-positive/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Each time I reach a goal or read a great review, I am beyond pleased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/each-time-i-reach-a-goal-or-read-a-great-review-i-am-beyond-pleased/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [I have been very pleased at the response we have got for 'SVSC.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-babu/i-have-been-very-pleased-at-the-response-we-have-got-for-svsc/) [Mahesh Babu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-babu/) > [I'm pleased to say that I am happy - With or without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megannn-leee/i-m-pleased-to-say-that-i-am-happy-with-or-without-you/) [Megannn Leee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megannn-leee/) > [I'm quite pleased with the ifnormatoin in this one. TY!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woods/i-m-quite-pleased-with-the-ifnormatoin-in-this-one-ty/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woods/) > [I'm very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing, any hint of any kind of unethical activity there. Very pleased to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/i-m-very-very-pleased-to-be-cleared-of-any-legal-wrongdoing-any-hint/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [I guess I judge my films by how pleased I am with the work I do, so it's kind of on another level. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-weaving/i-guess-i-judge-my-films-by-how-pleased-i-am-with-the-work-i-do-so-it/) [Hugo Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-weaving/) > [I guess I'm pleased and proud of the respect of my peers, and that when I disappear from the scene or from this earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/i-guess-i-m-pleased-and-proud-of-the-respect-of-my-peers-and-that/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I'm pretty pleased with my place in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-fowler/i-m-pretty-pleased-with-my-place-in-the-world/) [Simon Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-fowler/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [Pastime with good company I love and shall, until I die. Grudge who list, but none deny! So God be pleased, thus live will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-viii-of-england/pastime-with-good-company-i-love-and-shall-until-i-die-grudge-who/) [Henry VIII of England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-viii-of-england/) ## More by Voltaire > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part, the rest are lost in the multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-with-books-as-with-men-a-very-small-number-play-a-great-part/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/meslier-was-the-most-singular-phenomenon-ever-seen-among-all-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Being unable to make people more reasonable, I preferred to be happy away from them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/being-unable-to-make-people-more-reasonable-i-preferred-to-be-happy/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-gave-us-the-gift-of-life-it-is-up-to-us-to-give-ourselves-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-inequality-which-is-the-real-misfortune-it-is-dependence/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/providence-has-given-us-hope-and-sleep-as-a-compensation-for-the-many/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/men-use-thought-only-to-justify-their-wrong-doings-and-employ-speech/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/work-spares-us-from-three-evils-boredom-vice-and-need/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) [Explore all 934 Voltaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More Pleased quotes > [Pastime with good company I love and shall, until I die. Grudge who list, but none deny! So God be pleased, thus live will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-viii-of-england/pastime-with-good-company-i-love-and-shall-until-i-die-grudge-who/) [Henry VIII of England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-viii-of-england/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [I'm pretty pleased with my place in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-fowler/i-m-pretty-pleased-with-my-place-in-the-world/) [Simon Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-fowler/) > [I guess I'm pleased and proud of the respect of my peers, and that when I disappear from the scene or from this earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/i-guess-i-m-pleased-and-proud-of-the-respect-of-my-peers-and-that/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I guess I judge my films by how pleased I am with the work I do, so it's kind of on another level. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-weaving/i-guess-i-judge-my-films-by-how-pleased-i-am-with-the-work-i-do-so-it/) [Hugo Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-weaving/) > [I'm very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing, any hint of any kind of unethical activity there. Very pleased to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/i-m-very-very-pleased-to-be-cleared-of-any-legal-wrongdoing-any-hint/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [I'm quite pleased with the ifnormatoin in this one. TY!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woods/i-m-quite-pleased-with-the-ifnormatoin-in-this-one-ty/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woods/) > [I'm pleased to say that I am happy - With or without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megannn-leee/i-m-pleased-to-say-that-i-am-happy-with-or-without-you/) [Megannn Leee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megannn-leee/) > [I have been very pleased at the response we have got for 'SVSC.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-babu/i-have-been-very-pleased-at-the-response-we-have-got-for-svsc/) [Mahesh Babu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-babu/) > [Each time I reach a goal or read a great review, I am beyond pleased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/each-time-i-reach-a-goal-or-read-a-great-review-i-am-beyond-pleased/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [I think people in Botswana are pleased that my books paint a positive picture of their lives and portray the country as being very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/i-think-people-in-botswana-are-pleased-that-my-books-paint-a-positive/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Rush has done some top-notch quality work, and we're very, very pleased with them. We really enjoy working with them. They are on time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/rush-has-done-some-top-notch-quality-work-and-we-re-very-very-pleased/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [We're very pleased to be on a show which is known and loved around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/we-re-very-pleased-to-be-on-a-show-which-is-known-and-loved-around/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [As it is I'm very pleased at PSV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/as-it-is-i-m-very-pleased-at-psv/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [I will stay very focused on my responsibilities as Secretary of Commerce and the economy's doing well. I mean, you asked about some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-evans/i-will-stay-very-focused-on-my-responsibilities-as-secretary-of/) [Donald Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-evans/) [Browse all 300 Pleased quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleased/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a pleasure in not being pleased.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Voltaire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pleased" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/voltaire-173_pleased_there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased_1015077.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/voltaire-173_pleased_there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased_1015077.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/voltaire-173_pleased_there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased_1015077.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a pleasure in not being pleased.” — Voltaire", "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": "Voltaire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a pleasure in not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/there-is-a-pleasure-in-not-being-pleased/#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 } } ] } ```