For so must it be, and help me do my part.
—Buddhist Teaching
Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression. The chasm is never completely bridged. We all have the conviction, perhaps illusory, that we have much more to say than appears on the paper.
—Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902–91) Polish-born American Children’s Books Writer, Novelist, Short Story Writer
Free man is by necessity insecure; thinking man by necessity uncertain.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable.
—Paul Tillich (1886–1965) American Lutheran Theologian, Philosopher
Ours must be the first age whose great goal, on a nonmaterial plane, is not fulfillment but adjustment.
—Louis Kronenberger (1904–80) American Drama, Literary Critic
There is no easy path leading out of life, and few are the easy ones that lie within it.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
When people screw up, give them a second chance.
—Richard Branson (b.1950) British Entrepreneur
I hope to work, support my children and die quietly without pain.
—Sean Connery (1930–2020) Scottish Actor, Film Producer
You can’t tight the desert… you have to ride with it.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
It is no use to grumble and complain; It is no use to grumble and complain;
It’s just as cheap and easy to rejoice;
When God sorts out the weather and sends rain –
Why, rain’s my choice.
—James Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer
No man can have society upon his own terms. If he seeks it, he must serve it too.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
He who attempts to resist the wave is swept away, but he who bends before it abides.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
People remain what they are, even when their faces fall to pieces.
—Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) German Poet, Playwright, Theater Personality
Anything in life that we don’t accept will simply make trouble for us until we make peace with it.
—Shakti Gawain (b.1948) American Author, Environmentalist
What cannot be avoided, ’twere childish weakness to lament or fear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
When a dog runs at you, whistle for him.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Let a man’s talents or virtues be what they may, he will only feel satisfaction in his society as he is satisfied in himself.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
The primary joy of life is acceptance, approval, the sense of appreciation and companionship of our human comrades. Many men do not understand that the need for fellowship is really as deep as the need for food, and so they go through life accepting many substitutes for genuine, warm, simple relatedness.
—Joshua L. Liebman (1907–48) American Jewish Rabbi, Author
Life, I fancy, would very often be insupportable, but for the luxury of self-compassion.
—George Gissing (1857–1903) English Novelist
A wise man never refuses anything to necessity.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
She had believed the land was her enemy, and she struggled against it, but you could not make war against a land any more than you could against the sea. One had to learn to live with it, to belong to it, to fit into its seasons and its ways.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
Be willing to have it so. Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Belief consists in accepting the affirmations of the soul; unbelief, in denying them.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
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
The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
It is not necessarily those lands which are the most fertile or most favored in climate that seem to me the happiest, but those in which a long struggle of adaptation between man and his environment has brought out the best qualities of both.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
The fundamental problem most patients have is an inability to love themselves, having been unloved by others during some crucial part of their lives.
—Bernie S. Siegel (b.1932) American Physician, Writer