People are lucky and unlucky … according to the ratio between what they get and what they have been led to expect.
—Samuel Butler
It’s okay if you mess up. You should give yourself a break.
—Billy Joel (b.1949) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
If you aspire to the highest place, it is no disgrace to stop at the second, or even the third, place.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
No matter what looms ahead, if you can eat today, enjoy the sunlight today, mix good cheer with friends today, enjoy it and bless God for it. Do not look back on happiness—or dream of it in the future. You are only sure of today; do not let yourself be cheated out of it.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
People only see what they are prepared to see.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable.
—Paul Tillich (1886–1965) American Lutheran Theologian, Philosopher
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
—Vittorio Alfieri (1749–1803) Italian Poet, Dramatist
If you bear the cross unwillingly, you make it a burden, and load yourself more heavily; but you must bear it.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do.
—Willa Cather (1873–1947) American Novelist, Writer
When a dog runs at you, whistle for him.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Life holds so much – so much to be happy about always. Most people ask for happiness on conditions. Happiness can be felt only if you don’t set conditions.
—Arthur Rubinstein (1888–1982) Polish-born American Pianist
I’d rather be a few pounds heavier and enjoy life than be worried all the time.
—Drew Barrymore (b.1975) American Actress, Producer, Director
I can’t write a book commensurate with Shakespeare, but I can write a book by me.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
Serenity comes when you trade expectations for acceptance.
—Indian Proverb
He who despises himself esteems himself as a self-despiser.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
Self-love is not opposed to the love of other people. You cannot really love yourself and do yourself a favor without doing other people a favor, and vice versa.
—Karl Menninger (1893–1990) American Psychiatrist
When I decided to go into politics I weighted the costs. I would get criticism. But I went ahead. So when virulent criticism came I wasn’t surprised. I was better able to handle it.
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) 31st American President
You can’t tight the desert… you have to ride with it.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
Unless I accept my faults, I will most certainly doubt my virtues.
—Hugh Prather (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
The chief duty I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
I’m nothing, yet I’m everything.
—Unknown
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
—Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) American Christian Theologian
We cannot conquer fate and necessity, yet we can yield to them in such a manner as to be greater than if we could.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
Be content with what you are, and wish not change; nor dread your last day, nor long for it.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
For the ordinary man is passive. Within a narrow circle (home life, and perhaps the trade unions or local politics) he feels himself master of his fate, but against major events he is as helpless as against the elements. So far from endeavoring to influence the future, he simply lies down and lets things happen to him.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
No man can climb out beyond the limitations of his own character.
—John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838–1923) British Political Leader, Writer, Editor, Journalist
Never deny a diagnosis, but do deny the negative verdict that may go with it.
—Norman Cousins (1915–90) American Journalist, Author, Academic, Activist
Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it.
—Irving Berlin (1888–1989) American Songwriter, Composer
He who seeks for applause only from without has all his happiness in another’s keeping.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Acceptance of others, their looks, their behaviors, their beliefs, brings you an inner peace and tranquillity instead of anger and resentment.
—Anonymous
He who cannot do what he wants must make do with what he can.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
Some people confuse acceptance with apathy, but there’s all the difference in the world. Apathy fails to distinguish between what can and what cannot be helped; acceptance makes that distinction. Apathy paralyzes the will-to-action; acceptance frees it by relieving it of impossible burdens.
—Arthur Gordon
We have fought this fight as long, and as well, as we know how. We have been defeated. There is now but one course to pursue. We must accept the situation.
—Robert E. Lee (1807–70) Confederate General during American Civil War
Our entire life – consists ultimately in accepting ourselves as we are.
—Jean Anouilh (1910–87) French Dramatist
The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of the circumstances.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
To oppose something is to maintain it…You must go somewhere else; you must have another goal; then you walk a different road.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
I am what I am, so take me as I am.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Ah, when to the heart of man was it ever less than a treason to go with the drift of things to yield with a grace to reason and bow and accept at the end of a love or a season.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
If we cannot do what we will, we must will what we can.
—Yiddish Proverb
A man should not strive to eliminate his complexes but to get into accord with them, for they are legitimately what directs his conduct in the world.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
What it is forbidden to be put right becomes lighter by acceptance.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
I not only bow to the inevitable; I am fortified by it.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
The search for a new personality is futile; what is fruitful is the interest the old personality can take in new activities.
—Cesare Pavese (1908–50) Italian Novelist, Poet, Critic, Translator
There is a proper balance between not asking enough of oneself and asking or expecting too much.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
Be what you are and become what you are capable of becoming.
Take charge of your life – become the person you would like to be.
—Unknown