Elizabeth Strout Quotes

The mind which renounces, once and for ever, a futile hope, has its compensation in ever-growing calm.

I still smile it's not worth the trouble any more for a long time now it's not been worth the trouble the tongue spring goes into the mud I stay like this not thirsty any more the tongue goes back into the mouth it closes it has to make a straight line now it's done I've made the image.

Be content with what thou hast received, and smooth thy frowning forehead, for the door of choice is not open either to thee or me.

Accept everything just the way it is.

The secret of contentment lay in ignoring many things completely.

If you separate from . . . everything you have done in the past, everything that disturbs you about the future . . . and apply yourself to living the life that you are living-that is to say, the present-you can live all the time that remains to you until your death in calm, benevolence, and serenity.

No expectations. Ask nothing, expect nothing and accept everything, and life is very well.

At the end of the day, give up your worries and give thanks for the journey.

I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting or troubling myself about those which may indeed be, but of which I have no evidence.

He accepted what each moment brough him, and never troubled himself with matters that were outside his control.

Be content with doing calmly the little which depends upon yourself, and let all else be to you as if it were not.

When you live in complete acceptance of what is, that is the end of all drama in your life.

By learning to accept the small things immediately as they happen, you can be free of having to react to things at all. You still can respond when action is needed, but you can be free, internally, of events.

When there is no expectation there is no possibility of frustration. Expectation is the mother of all frustrations; expectation gone, frustration disappears. And when there is no frustration in your life, life really becomes a bed of roses. Then God is a constant blessing; he goes on raining his grace, his beauty on you.

You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can't control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone.

If after all your efforts you cannot succeed, you could not please our Lord more than by sacrificing to Him your will, and remaining in tranquility, humility, and devotion, entirely conformed and submissive to His divine will and good pleasure.

I see that nature offers us a solution to everything that we call a problem. If you can just find your own nature and live it as naturally as you possibly can and be in a state of awe over everything, it doesn't matter where you are. It almost speaks to you and says, "There's no reason to be upset about anything. It will pass." If it's really going to pass, why stay confused by it and depressed by it. Just watch it go. It's on its way out. That's what I began to do.

What would it be like to let go of wanting things to be other than they are?

When the situation is hopeless, there's nothing to worry about.

In this moment that blooms and fades as it passes, he is enough, and all is well in the world.

Perhaps this was the secret to being at peace: want nothing but what is given to you.

Put personal ambition away from you, and then you will find consolation in living or in dying, whatever may happen to you.

You have to make peace with life.

There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.

This is not what I would have chosen. But I have a heart to be obedient.