By Sara Teasdale
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
"I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes." This simple yet profound Sara Teasdale quote about gratitude captures a way of living that feels both gentle and quietly brave. Teasdale’s words offer not just poetry, but practical wisdom about dealing with changes and appreciating what we have. In a world full of uncertainty and fast-paced change, her outlook remains relevant and uplifting, inviting us to reflect on how we approach joy, loss, and everything in between.
What Does This Quote Mean?
Sara Teasdale’s quote asks us to pay close attention to the way we handle arrivals and departures in our lives. On the surface, "I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes" means doing our best to fully value new experiences, opportunities, and relationships as they appear. At the same time, it suggests we let go of departures — losses, endings, goodbyes — without letting them dominate our thoughts or drain our spirits. The core message of this Sara Teasdale quote about gratitude isn’t to ignore pain, but to focus our energy on what is present, alive, and possible right now.
Looking deeper, there’s a gentle challenge woven into the words. Teasdale isn’t suggesting a forced cheerfulness, but a deliberate practice of appreciation and acceptance. Life is full of change, sometimes sudden and hard to accept. We gain things we never expected, and lose things we thought would last. Teasdale’s message is not about suppressing grief, but about choosing our perspective — to let arrivals fill us up and to allow departures to pass with as little regret or rumination as we can manage.
This approach has the wisdom of balance. We nourish ourselves with gratitude for what we receive, no matter how small or brief. At the same time, we let go of what leaves us, so we are not burdened by longing or stuck in the past. The focus is on staying awake to life’s gifts and refusing to be defined by what is gone. In simple terms, it is an invitation to live fully in the present, grateful for the now, and graceful in letting go.
How Can You Use This Quote in Life?
Here are practical, everyday ways to live out the spirit of this Sara Teasdale quote about gratitude:
1. Practice daily appreciation
Take a quiet moment each day to notice something new or good in your life. It might be a phone call that made you smile, a cup of coffee just the way you like it, or a kind word from a stranger. Name these small gifts to yourself. Making the most of what comes starts with noticing — and genuinely enjoying — what you have right now.
2. Welcome new experiences with openness
Whether it’s a chance conversation, a new task at work, or an unplanned opportunity, approach it with curiosity rather than anxiety. Instead of focusing on what might go wrong, ask yourself, "What can I gain from this, even if it’s outside my comfort zone?" Meeting new moments this way allows you to find value and learning in situations that might otherwise be missed.
3. Release regrets about the past
When something ends — a friendship, a job, a routine — it’s tempting to dwell on what could have been different. Making the least of all that goes doesn’t mean never feeling sad, but rather choosing not to let regret take up permanent space in your mind. If you catch yourself stuck in ‘if only,’ gently remind yourself of Teasdale’s words and shift your attention back to something you can appreciate now.
4. Celebrate beginnings and milestones
Honor the start of a new chapter, even if it’s small. Starting a new hobby? Take joy in the beginner’s clumsiness and excitement. Moving to a new place? Notice the details that spark interest or comfort. Making the most of arrivals means not brushing off beginnings just because they’re small or uncertain.
5. Cultivate resilience in difficult times
When facing loss or disappointment, use the quote as a grounding point. Instead of letting one bad day color the whole week, find something good — however minor — and choose to value it. This doesn’t erase pain, but it gently shifts the balance toward hope.
By practicing these habits, you slowly retrain your mind to honor the present and release the past without bitterness. The focus on gratitude doesn’t deny hard times, but balances them, reminding you that each day offers fresh moments to notice and cherish.
✨ The Motivation Message
There is real strength in your ability to focus on what’s in front of you and let go of what’s behind! When you make the most of what comes your way — whether big or small — you give yourself permission to feel joy and growth without guilt or fear. It takes courage to let some things simply pass, but every time you do, you clear space for something better ☀️.
Life will always bring new chapters, some easier than others. You aren’t defined by what you’ve lost, but by how you move forward, celebrate what you find, and love what you have. Your focus on gratitude is its own quiet power. Don’t underestimate those small daily moments of appreciation — they are the building blocks of lasting happiness!
Keep holding onto what truly matters, and set down what no longer serves you. Challenge yourself today: Notice one new thing to appreciate and give yourself permission to let go of something you can’t change. You’ve got this!
About Sara Teasdale
Sara Teasdale, who was born in 1884 and died in 1933, was an American lyric poet best known for her emotionally honest and delicately crafted verses. Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Teasdale cultivated a sensitivity to beauty, love, and loss, which became central themes in her poetry. Despite facing her own struggles with illness and sadness, she consistently wrote about the richness found in quiet moments and simple joys.
As part of the early 20th-century literary world, Teasdale’s work resonated with readers searching for clarity and directness in emotional expression. She believed in facing both happiness and sadness with honesty, choosing to see value in fleeting experiences and encouraging others to focus on the present. Her poetry, including the quote "I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes," reflects a deep awareness of life’s impermanence and the power of gratitude. Through her words, Sara Teasdale reminds us that while sorrow is real, hope and appreciation are always within reach, even in the smallest moments. Her legacy lives on as an invitation to meet life with grace and open-heartedness.
