If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to

Hear the words of Frank A. Clark, who spoke with a clarity that pierces across generations: “If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.” In this statement lies an eternal principle of the human heart—that gratitude is not born from abundance, but from perspective. If the soul does not rejoice in what it already possesses, then no future gift, no wealth, no success will ever satisfy it. For thankfulness is not tied to circumstance, but to the discipline of the heart.

The first jewel in this teaching is the nature of contentment. Many men and women believe that happiness lies in what they will one day receive, always stretching toward the horizon of “more.” But Clark warns that such hearts are deceived, for if they despise the present, they will despise the future as well. Contentment begins in the now; it is the ability to treasure what is already in one’s hands. Without it, tomorrow’s blessings will appear as empty as today’s.

The second truth is the power of thankfulness itself. Gratitude is not passive—it is transformative. To give thanks for what one has, no matter how small, changes the vision of the soul. It trains the heart to see abundance where others see lack. But if one cannot be thankful now, even with little, then no abundance will ever be enough. The ungrateful man may inherit treasures, but he will find them tasteless; the grateful man may live simply, but he will find his days rich beyond measure.

History gives us a mirror in the story of Alexander the Great. He conquered lands without end, and yet his hunger was never sated. Each new victory only fueled the desire for more. In the end, though he held an empire, he found no peace, for he had never learned to be thankful for what he already possessed. In contrast, consider Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher, born a slave, who declared himself free in spirit because he gave thanks for the smallest blessings of life. Where Alexander found emptiness in conquest, Epictetus found abundance in gratitude.

The third jewel in Clark’s wisdom is the reminder that the heart carries itself forward. If it is ungrateful in the present, it will be ungrateful in the future. If it is thankful now, it will carry that joy into what is yet to come. Gratitude, therefore, is not a response to blessings—it is the soil in which blessings take root. Without it, no harvest will ever grow; with it, even a single seed brings joy.

The lesson for us is clear: cultivate gratitude in the present moment. Do not wait for greater gifts, for they will never satisfy the ungrateful heart. Look instead at what you already hold: the breath in your lungs, the friends who walk beside you, the opportunities that lie before you. If you cannot be thankful now, you will never be thankful later, no matter how the winds of fortune change.

Practically, begin by practicing daily gratitude. Each morning or night, write down three things you are thankful for—not things you wish for, but things you already possess. Speak them aloud, and let your heart grow accustomed to contentment. In this way, you will train your soul to treasure the present, and when greater blessings come, you will receive them not with emptiness but with joy.

Thus, Frank A. Clark’s words resound as a timeless teaching: thankfulness must be practiced now, for only then will it live in the future. The ungrateful heart will never find peace, but the grateful heart carries abundance in every season. And this, more than wealth or power, is the true measure of a life well-lived.