I delight to lodge in such temples as are not regularly kept closed. None of the gods reject me; they make me partner of their roof.
Apollonius Of TyanaRead
O ye gods, grant unto me to have little and to want nothing.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a desire for contentment with little, emphasizing the importance of wanting nothing more.
Apollonius of Tyana highlights a profound philosophy of happiness and contentment, suggesting that true fulfillment comes not from external wealth or possessions, but from a state of mind that values simplicity and being satisfied with what one has. This reflects a deeper understanding that wanting less can lead to greater happiness and peace, shifting the focus from material desires to emotional and spiritual well-being.
In practice
Using the quote during a mindfulness workshop to emphasize living in the moment.
I delight to lodge in such temples as are not regularly kept closed. None of the gods reject me; they make me partner of their roof.
Just as an individual of pre-eminent worth transforms democracy into a monarchy of the best man, even so the rule of one man, if in all things it has an eye to the common welfare, is democracy.
A man must fortify himself and understand that a wise man who yields to laziness or anger or passion or love of drink, or who commits any other action prompted by impulse and inopportune, will probably find his fault condoned; but if he stoops to greed, he will not be pardoned, but render himself odious as a combination of all vices at once.
Never may a man prone to believe scandal be a despot or a popular leader! Under his guidance, democracy itself will be despotism.
If any man has left us for fear of Nero, I shall not account him a coward; but I shall hail as a philosopher any man who has been superior to this fear, and I shall teach him all I know.
If you have problems of conduct that are difficult and hard to settle, I will furnish you with solutions, for I not only know matters of practice and duty, but I even know them beforehand.
I'm really happy to be me, and I'd like to think people like me more because I'm happy with myself and not because I refuse to conform to anything.
Things and conditions can give you pleasure but they cannot give you joy- joy arises from within.
The fiction of happiness is propagated by every tongue and confirmed by every look till at last all profess the joy which they do not feel and consent to yield to the general delusion.
The happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except that they are so.
One is only happy in proportion as he makes others feel happy and only useful as he contributes his influences for the finer callings in life.
The fact that there is always a positive side to life is the one thing that gives me a lot of happiness.
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