Quote#Desire
We part more easily with what we possess, than with our expectations…
Quote byHenry Home, Lord Kames · 1696–1782
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Treasury of Thought (1881), "Anticipation", p. 25.
English (original)
We part more easily with what we possess, than with our expectations of what we wish for; because expectation always goes beyond enjoyment.
— Henry Home, Lord Kames
More from Henry Home, Lord Kames
Beauty is a dangerous property, tending to corrupt the mind of the wife, though it soon loses its influence over the husband. A figure agreeable and engaging, which inspires affection, without the ebriety of love, is a much safer choice.
An agreeable figure and winning manner, which inspire affection without love, are always new. Beauty loses its relish, the graces never; after the longest acquaintance, they are no less agreeable than at first.
Parsimony is enough to make the master of the golden mines as poor as he that has nothing; for a man may be brought to a morsel of bread by parsimony as well as profusion.
A man does but faintly relish that felicity which costs him nothing; happy they whom pain leads to pleasure.
A rich man cannot enjoy a sound mind nor a sound body, without exercise and abstinence; and yet these are truly the worst ingredients of poverty.
Benevolence is allied to few vices; selfishness to fewer virtues.