This quote, often attributed to Mark Twain but unverified, presents a modest vision of the ideal life centered on three elements: meaningful relationships (good friends), intellectual nourishment (good books), and moral peace (a sleepy conscience). The phrase "a sleepy conscience" is particularly striking — it suggests a life lived without guilt, regret, or moral turmoil, where one's conscience can rest easy. Unlike grand ambitions of wealth, fame, or power, this ideal is quiet, content, and deeply human, resonating with Stoic and Epicurean traditions that value inner peace over external achievement.