This is the kind of discontent which Emerson refers to when he
says that "discontent is the want of self-reliance."
The WHINING discontent ruins many lives; it is used as the
excuse for much foolish conduct, much neglect of duty.
It is the discontent which reflects the feeble soul, the
self-indulgent, worthless being.
A young man who gets drunk or dissipates otherwise, who offers as
an excuse, "Well, I was feeling kind of DISCONTENTED and had to
do something," is afflicted with the wrong kind of discontent in
its most virulent form.
The office boy with small wages who is caught smoking cigarettes,
or evading his duties, or undermining his moral character by
gambling, will also say, "I was discontented and had to do
something."
If you have THAT discontent, try to get rid of it and get the
other kind.