Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Elbert Hubbard (American Writer)

Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) was a popular American salesman, author, and philosopher from the turn of the twentieth century.

This self-described “businessman with a literary attachment” had an unusual career. Hubbard was a brilliant marketer and salesperson for a soap company. At age 37, he sold his shares in the company to establish an arts and crafts community called Roycroft in East Aurora, New York. Roycroft attracted publishers, bookbinders, and artisans who, although not paid well, had a great deal of freedom to experiment with and refine their trade-skills.

Hubbard wrote six novels and hundreds of inspirational biographical essays called Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great. His A Message to Garcia (1899) was a bestselling inspirational essay on sales and marketing. His satirical newspaper The Philistine had a monthly circulation of over 100,000.

In 1915, Hubbard died on a voyage from New York to Liverpool aboard the RMS Lusitania when a German submarine torpedoed it off the coast of Ireland.

More: Wikipedia READ: Works by Elbert Hubbard

The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Teachers, Teaching

One can play comedy, two are required for melodrama, but a tragedy demands three.
Elbert Hubbard

Polygamy is an endeavor to get more out of life than there is in it.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Marriage

The man who doesn’t relax and hoot a few hoots voluntarily, now and then, is in great danger of hooting hoots and standing on his head for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse, a little later on.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Stress

The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it: so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Failure

We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Health, Positive Attitudes, Optimism, Mind, Attitude, War

Do your work with your whole heart, and you will succeed—there’s so little competition.
Elbert Hubbard

Little minds are interested in the extraordinary; great minds in the commonplace.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: The Mind

The supreme prayer of my heart is not to be learned, rich, famous, powerful, or good, but simply to be radiant. I desire to radiate health, cheerfulness, calm courage, and good will. I wish to live without hate, whim, jealousy, envy, fear. I wish to be simple, honest, frank, natural, clean in mind and clean in body, unaffected – as ready to say I do not know, if it be so, and to meet all men on an absolute equality – to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid.
I wish others to live their lives, too – up to their highest, fullest, and best. To that end I pray that I may never meddle, interfere, dictate, give advice that is not wanted, or assist when my services are not needed. If I can help people, I’ll do it by giving them a chance to help themselves; and if I can uplift or inspire, let it be by example, inference, and suggestion, rather than by injunction and dictation. That is to say, I desire to be radiant – to radiate life.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Inspirational

The great orator always shows a dash of contempt for the opinions of his audience
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Audiences

Those who do unlawful acts are no more sinners in the eyes of God than we who think them.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Sin

If you want work well done, select a busy man; the other kind has no time.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Busy, Quality, Time

Secrets are things we give to others to keep for us.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Secrets

Speak well of every one if you speak of them at all—none of us are so very good.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Conversation

The only man who makes money following the races is one who does it with a broom and shovel.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Gambling

Don’t take life too serious. You’ll never escape it alive anyway.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Life

Rivalry is the life of trade, and the death of the trader.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Business

Genius is often only the power of making continuous efforts. The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it—so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience, would have achieved success. As the tide goes clear out, so it comes clear in. In business sometimes prospects may seem darkest when really they are on the turn. A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own inherent weakness of purpose.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Genius, Resolve, Endurance, Mistakes, Persistence, Success, Perseverance, Failures, Failure

Freedom is a condition of mind, and the best way to secure it is to breed it.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Freedom

If you suffer, thank God! It is a sure sign that you are alive.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Suffering, Adversity, Difficulties

Folks who never do any more than they get paid for, never get paid for anymore than they do.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Work

The sculptor produces the beautiful statue by chipping away such parts of the marble block as are not needed—it is a process of elimination.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Simplicity

A friend is a person who knows all about you-and still likes you.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Friendship

A man is as good as he has to be, and a woman is as bad as she dares.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Women

To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Critics, Perfection, Realism, Criticism, Action

The brain is a commodity used to fertilize ideas.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Ideas

The path of least resistance is what makes rivers run crooked.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Change

The ineffable joy of forgiving and being forgiven forms an ecstasy that might well arouse the envy of the gods.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Government, Forgiveness

Human service is the highest form of self-interest for the person who serves.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Service

The supernatural is the natural not yet understood.
Elbert Hubbard
Topics: Faith

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