I always try to balance the light with the heavy—a few tears of human spirit in with the sequins and the fringes.
—Bette Midler (b.1945) American Actress, Singer
To this military attitude of the soul we give the name of Heroism… It is a self-trust which slights the restraints of prudence, in the plenitude of its energy and power to repair the harms it may suffer. The hero is a mind of such balance that no disturbances can shake his will…
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment. As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility, and commitment.
—Ross Perot (1930–2019) American Businessman
Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
—Robert Fulghum (b.1937) American Unitarian Universalist Author, Essayist, Clergyman
Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself.
—Jessye Norman (1945–2019) American Operatic Soprano
Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
Almost every wise saying has an opposite one, no less wise, to balance it.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
All extremes are error. The reverse of error is not truth but error still. Truth lies between these extremes.
—Richard Cecil
Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
A note of music gains significance from the silence on either side.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
It is not Justice the servant of men, but accident, hazard, Fortune-the ally of patient Time-that holds an even and scrupulous balance.
—Mario Andretti (b.1940) Italian-born American Sportsperson
The word “happiness” would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939) British Sexologist, Physician, Social Reformer
People with great gifts are easy to find, but symmetrical and balanced ones never.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
—Henry Stanley Haskins
Words and pictures are yin and yang. Married, they produce a progeny more interesting than either parent.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’) (1904–91) American Children’s Books Writer, Writer, Cartoonist, Animator
No man tastes pleasures truly, who does not earn them by previous business; and few people do business well, who do nothing else.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Remember that poise and power are inseparably associated. The calm and balanced mind is the strong and great mind; the hurried and agitated mind is the weak one.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
There should be balance in all our actions; to be either extreme or lukewarm is equally bad.
—Pir Hazrat Vilayat Khan (1882–1927) Indian Sufi Mystic, Musician
Man maintains his balance, poise, and sense of security only as he is moving forward.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.
—John Vance Cheney (1848–1922) American Poet, Essayist, Librarian
Luck is always waiting for something to turn up. Labor, with keen eyes and strong will, always turns up something. Luck lies in bed and wishes the postman will bring news of a legacy. Labor turns out at six o’clock and with busy pen or ringing hammer, lays the foundation of a competence. Luck whines. Labor whistles. Luck relies on chance, labor on character.
—Richard Cobden
I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.
—Sara Teasdale (1884–1933) American Poet
Poor people choose now. Rich people choose balance.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The trick to juggling is determining which balls are made of rubber and which ones are made of glass.
—Anonymous
A novel is balanced between a few true impressions and a multitude of false ones that make up most of what we call life.
—Saul Bellow (1915–2005) Canadian-American Novelist
Without a sense of proportion there can be neither good taste nor genuine intelligence, nor perhaps moral integrity.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Rich people think long-term. They balance their spending on enjoyment today with investing for freedom tomorrow.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
When we become isolated, we are prone to being damaged; our minds lose their flexibility and natural kindness; we become vulnerable to fear and negativity. The sense of belonging keeps you in balance amidst the inner and outer immensities. The ancient and eternal values of human life – truth, unity, goodness, justice, beauty, and love are all statements of belonging; they are also the secret intention and dream of human longing.
—John O’Donohue (1956–2008) Irish Priest, Hegelian Philosopher
Next to love, balance is the most important thing.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
A warrior balances solitude and dependence.
—Paulo Coelho (b.1947) Brazilian Songwriter, Novelist
Only in silence the word,
only in dark the light,
only in dying life:
bright the hawk’s flight
on the empty sky.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today’s actions to tomorrow’s results. There’s a season for sowing a season for reaping. Self-discipline helps you know which is which.
—Gary Ryan Blair
Our lives are a mixture of different roles. Most of us are doing the best we can to find whatever the right balance is … For me, that balance is family, work, and service.
—Hillary Rodham Clinton (b.1947) American Head of State, Politician
The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’) (1904–91) American Children’s Books Writer, Writer, Cartoonist, Animator
You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backward.
—James Thurber
Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life—learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
—Robert Fulghum (b.1937) American Unitarian Universalist Author, Essayist, Clergyman
If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.
—Dolly Parton (b.1946) American Musician, Actress
Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down.
—Natalie Goldberg (b.1948) American Buddhist Author
We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory.
—Bert Williams (1876–1922) American Entertainer, Actor
The truth is balance. However the opposite of truth, which is unbalance, may not be a lie.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
Life is like riding a bicycle. You don’t fall off unless you stop pedaling.
—Claude Pepper (1900–89) American Politician
What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter … a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.
—Henri Matisse (1869–1954) French Painter, Sculptor, Lithographer
Quiet minds can’t be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
A fortune is usually the greatest of misfortunes to children. It takes the muscles out of the limbs, the brain out of the head, and virtue out of the heart. In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
There’s no secret to balance. You just have to feel the waves.
—Frank Herbert (1920–86) American Science Fiction Writer
A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor