How immense appear to us the sins that we have not committed.
—Suzanne Curchod (1739–94) French-Swiss Salonist, Writer
Few love to hear the sins they love to act.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Enjoyment, on the other hand, is not always pleasant, and it can be very stressful at times. A mountain climber, for example, may be close to freezing, utterly exhausted, and in danger of falling into a bottomless crevasse, yet he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Sipping a pina colada under a palm tree at the edge of the turquoise ocean is idyllic, but it just doesn’t compare to the exhilaration he feels on the windswept ridge.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
A bird does not sing because he has an answer. He sings because he has a song.
—Joan Walsh Anglund (b.1926) American Poet, Children’s Book Author
As sins proceed they ever multiply; and like figures in arithmetic, the last stands for more than all that went before it.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
I open each class with an explanation of the singular importance of being a “dealmaker”. The manifesto of the dealmaker is simple: Reality is negotiable.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
Man-like it is, to fall into sin; fiend like it is, to dwell therein; Christ-like it is, for sin to grieve; God-like it is, all sin to leave.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Sins cannot be undone, only forgiven.
—Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) Russian-born American Composer, Musician
Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
There are sins of omission as well as those of commission.
—Dorothee Luzy Dotinville (1747–1830) French Dancer, Actress
Everything that used to be a sin, is now a disease.
—Bill Maher (b.1956) American Comedian, TV Personality, Social Critic, Author, Actor
But the bravest man amongst us is afraid of himself. The mutilation of the savage has its tragic survival in the self-denial that mars our lives. We are punished for our refusals. Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind and poisons us. The body sins once, and has done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. Nothing remains then but the recollection of a pleasure, or the luxury of a regret. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful. It has been said that the great events of the world take place in the brain. It is in the brain, and the brain only, that the great sins of the world take place also.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
It is really true what philosophy tells us, that life must be understood backwards. But with this, one forgets the second proposition, that it must be lived forwards.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
In all adversities there is always in its depth, a treasure of spiritual blessings secretly hidden.
—Swami Chinmayananda (1916–93) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
When we think of death, a thousand sins, which we have trodden as worms beneath our feet, rise up against us as flaming serpents.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
A sin confessed is half forgiven.
—French Proverb
Attention is psychic energy, and like physical energy, unless we allocate some part of it to the task at hand, no work gets done.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
Pursuing success is like chasing the horizon, and failure is an integral part of an interesting life.
—Unknown
Men are not punished for their sins, but by them.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Sin is, essentially, a departure from God.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
If we expended all our energies solely on taking care of our own needs we would stop growing. In that respect what we call “soul” can be viewed as the surplus energy that can be invested into change and transformation. As such, it is the cutting edge of evolution.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
In the yogic tradition, this principle of using intense effort to burn through life’s distractions is called Tapas. It’s another Sanskrit word, roughly defined as “heat” or “essential energy”. The concept is that through a disciplined approach to work and self-sacrifice, Tapas will burn away the negativity that separates us from God. By working our hardest and happily enduring the hardships of life we are able to create a sense of peace and clarity in ourselves.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
Sin is geographical.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Sin is whatever obscures the soul.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
Has it occurred to you that transmigration is at once an explanation and a justification of the evil of the world ? If the evils we suffer are the result of sins committed in our past lives, we can bear them with resignation and hope that if in this one we strive toward virtue our future lives will be less afflicted.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Perhaps the most distinguishing trait of visionary leaders is that they believe in a goal that benefits not only themselves, but others as well. It is such vision that attracts the psychic energy of other people, and makes them willing to work beyond the call of duty for the organization.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
In all the woods and forests, God did not create a single leaf the same as any other… People go against nature because they lack the courage to be different.
—Paulo Coelho (b.1947) Brazilian Songwriter, Novelist
Knowing oneself is not so much a question of discovering what is present in one’s self, but rather the creation of who one wants to be.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
We can either help to make this world a more incredible place than it has ever been, or we can hasten its return to inorganic dust.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
Birds never sing in caves.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Men are sponges, which, to pour out, receive;
Who know false play, rather than lose, deceive.
For in best understandings sin began,
Angels sinn’d first, then devils, and then man.
Only perchance beasts sin not ; wretched we
Are beasts in all but white integrity.
—John Donne (1572–1631) English Poet, Cleric
There are some sins which are more justly to be denominated surprises than infidelities. To such the world should be lenient, as, doubtless, Heaven is forgiving.
—Jean Baptiste Massillon (1663–1742) French Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
The first thing I did was commit to my success and playing to win. I swore I would focus and not even consider leaving this business until I was a millionaire or more. This was radically different from my previous efforts, where, because I always thought short-term, I would constantly get side-tracked by either good opportunities or when things got tough.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Pride and conceit were the original sin of man.
—Alain-Rene Lesage (1668–1747) French Novelist, Dramatist
There are three things which the true Christian desires in respect to sin: Justification, that it may not condemn; sanctification, that it may not reign; and glorification, that it may not be.
—Richard Cecil
If we agree that the bottom line of life is happiness, not success, then it makes perfect sense to say that it is the journey that counts, not reaching the destination.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
Preachers denounce sin as if it was available to everyone.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
Sin in this country has been always said to be rather calculating than impulsive.
—Frank Moore Colby (1865–1925) American Encyclopedia Editor, Essayist
It’s a sin to be poor! He wasn’t referring to moral turpitude, but rather to “the frustration of potentiality”. He believed and taught that, when we establish ourselves in the consciousness of God, the whole universe moves to flow into us with its abundance of life and substance. This is obviously what Jesus had in mind when he said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well”.
—Unknown
I can find only three kinds of business in the universe: mine, yours and God’s. Much of our stress comes from mentally living out of our business. When I think, “You need to get a job, I want you to be happy, you should be on time, you need to take better care of yourself,” I am in your business. When I’m worried about earthquakes, floods, war, or when I will die, I am in God’s business. If I am mentally in your business or in God’s business, the effect is separation.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
It makes a great deal of difference whether one wills not to sin or has not the knowledge to sin.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
There is more to life than increasing its speed.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
There are many scapegoats for our sins, but the most popular is providence.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
If you err it is not for me to punish you. We are punished by our sins not for them.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
One who is allowed to sin, sins less
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
If I were sure God would pardon me, and men would not know my sin, yet I should be ashamed to sin, because of its essential baseness.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Half a century ago, the Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote that happiness cannot be attained by wanting to be happy – it must come as the unintended consequence of working for a goal greater than oneself.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most perfect prayer.
—Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–81) German Writer, Philosopher
Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Aristotle said, ‘Time does not exist except for change.’ The origin of the word change is the Old English cambium, which means “to become”. In other words, time does not exist except for becoming something new. What, exactly, are you choosing to become?
—Robert Cooper (b.1947) British Diplomat