The positive view of contentment:

“There is no end of craving. Hence contentment alone is the best way to happiness. Therefore, acquire contentment.” – Swami Sivananda

“When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, ‘Oh yes – I already have everything that I really need.'” –  Dalai Lama

“This happiness consisted of nothing else but the harmony of the few things around me with my own existence, a feeling of contentment and well-being that needed no changes and no intensification.” – Herman Hesse

“The world is full of people looking for spectacular happiness while they snub contentment.” – Doug Larson

The negative view of contentment:

“One should either be sad or joyful. Contentment is a warm sty for eaters and sleepers.” – Eugene O’Neill

“When you’re heartbroken, you’re at your most creative – you have to channel all your energies into something else to not think about it. Contentment is a creativity killer, but don’t worry – I’m very capable of making myself discontented.” – Florence Welch

“One often learns more from ten days of agony than from ten years of contentment.” – Harold Coffin

“Contentment is, after all, simply refined indolence.” – Thomas Chandler Haliburton