Gratitude is simply being thankful. There are many proverbs, or sayings that express gratitude or that tell or remind people to be grateful for what they have. Here are some of the most popular sayings.
1. Count your blessings
Means to be grateful for what you have. This is often said when someone is complaining about their circumstances, and this reminds them that just because one thing is going wrong, doesn’t mean everything is going bad and you should be grateful for what you do have.
- Count your blessings, things could always be worse.
- It’s not that bad, count your blessings.
2. Gratitude is the sign of noble souls
Means that people who are grateful, or people who show gratitude by saying things like thank you, are good people that we can all admire.
In other words people who are happy with and are thankful for what they have, have good qualities; such as generosity, honesty and others.
- It’s amazing how thankful and generous he is, even after losing his leg in the accident. Gratitude is the sign of the noble souls.
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3. He that is hard to please, may get nothing in the end
Means that if someone always wants more, or they always want something better and they are never satisfied with what they have, they many end up getting nothing.
- John paid his employees very little and demanded long hours, because he wanted to increase his profits. In the end his best employees quit and his company’s future was in jeopardy. He that is hard to please, may get nothing in the end.
4. It’s the little things that count
Simply means to be thankful for the little things that you have.
This is sometimes said when someone is feeling sorry for themselves, or complaining that they don’t have the biggest and most material possessions; like the latest car or newest clothes.
This saying is to remind them that, it’s the non- materialistic, simple things like love and family that matter.
- We may not have had the biggest meal for the holiday or the most presents, but we had each other, and it’s the little things that count.
5. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
Means when someone gives you a gift be thankful, don’t question it’s value or turn your nose up at it, as if it’s not a good enough gift. This expression originally referred to looking at a horse’s teeth.
It meant if someone gives you a horse as a gift, don’t look at it’s teeth. Teeth are a way to tell a horse’s age.
If one were to look at the horse’s teeth it could be seen as a sign as not trusting the person who gave the gift, or it could be seen as thinking the gift isn’t good enough. The meaning is the same today, it just refers to more than horses.
- If someone is kind enough to give you a gift, just say thank you. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
6. Never take anything for granted
Means to be thankful for everything that you have, and never always expect something to be there. When you take things for granted you assume that they’ll always be there.
When you don’t take things for granted (even the little things) you are practicing gratitude and reminding yourself that you’re lucky to have every single thing in your life. This proverb is often used to remind people to be grateful for the little things that they have.
- After their house burned down in the fire, they were reminded to never take anything for granted, especially the fact that they had each other.
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7. Thanks cost nothing
Simply means that it’s easy to be grateful and to show gratitude. It takes nothing from you to say thank you to someone. It’s just as easy to be nice as it is to be mean. So why not choose to be nice.
- I love how you always go out of your way to thank the janitors for their hard work. You remind me that thanks cost nothing.
8. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
Refers to people always thinking that what they have isn’t good enough, and what someone else has is better. This proverb is a caution to be grateful for what you have, and not worry about what someone else has.
Often someone else’s circumstances are not better than yours. Don’t be jealous about what someone else has, be thankful for what you have. This proverb is often shortened to “the grass is always greener:
- She had been wanting to replace Sarah as President of the group for a long time, but once she got the job she realized how hard it was and regretted wanting it so badly. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
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