A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
—Anonymous
The tongue can paint what the eye can’t see.
—Chinese Proverb
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
In order to change, we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.
—Unknown
To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Laws change; people die; the land remains.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.
—Chinese Proverb
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
You can’t expect to meet the challenges of today with yesterday’s tools and expect to be in business tomorrow.
—Unknown
Science and art are only too often a superior kind of dope, possessing this advantage over booze and morphia: that they can be indulged in with a good conscience and with the conviction that, in the process of indulging, one is leading the “higher life.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them
—Unknown
It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how things are in themselves. The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
People who wait for changes to occur on the outside before they commit to making changes on the inside will never make any changes at all.
—Unknown
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Strong character is brought out by change, weak ones by permanence.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) English Novelist
This is a fantastic time to be entering the business world, because business is going to change more in the next 10 years than it has in the last 50
—Bill Gates (b.1955) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author
Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
If you are bitten by a snake, what’s the best thing to do? Remain calm, separate the poison from the rest of your body, suck the poison out. Worst thing to do: get upset, chase and kill snake. Same when someone strikes out at you verbally. Remain calm, don’t try to strike back at the other person. Don’t let the poison spread throughout your system.
—Unknown
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
—Unknown
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Slavery is an institution for converting men into monkeys.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Not everything which is bad comes to hurt us.
—Italian Proverb
A name pronounced is the recognition of the individual to whom it belongs. He who can pronounce my name aright, he can call me, and is entitled to my love and service.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
How clever you are, my dear! You never mean a single word you say.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Edison failed 10,000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
Work as if you were to live 100 years, Pray as if you were to die To-morrow.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: “What are you doing for others?”
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
A man lives not only his personal life as an individual but also, consciously or unconsciously, the life of his epoch and his contemporaries.
—Thomas Mann (1875–1955) German Novelist, Short Story Writer, Social Critic, Philanthropist, Essayist
Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Slaves lose everything in their chains, even the desire of escaping from them.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
We cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We stand together until the end.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
Breakdowns can create breakthroughs. Things fall apart so things can fall together.
—Unknown
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
There’s a way to do better… find it.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.
—Chinese Proverb
If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
If I die, I forgive you. If I live we shall see.
—Spanish Proverb