So surely as you find yourself in the mental attitude of haste, just so surely may you know that you are out of the mental attitude of greatness. Hurry and fear will instantly cut your connect with the universal mind.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.
—Mary Engelbreit (b.1952) American Graphic Artist
Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
I happen to feel that the degree of a person’s intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting attitudes she can bring to bear on the same topic.
—Lisa Alther (b.1944) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
—Buddhist Teaching
People who soar are those who refuse to sit back, sigh and wish things would change. They neither complain of their lot nor passively dream of some distant ship coming in. Rather, they visualize in their minds that they are not quitters; they will not allow life’s circumstances to push them down and hold them under.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Evangelical Christian Pastor, Author
It has been said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
Borrow trouble for yourself if that’s your nature, but don’t lend it to your neighbors.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Children’s Books Writer, Short story, Novelist, Poet, Journalist
Adopt an attitude of “It’s all happening perfectly. Let’s see what good I can create from the situation”.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.
—Arthur Rubinstein (1888–1982) Polish-born American Pianist
Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole!
—McLandburgh Wilson
When you begin your transcendental training, focusing your best efforts, without attachment to outcomes, you will understand the peaceful warrior’s way.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
For my part I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
Doubts and jealousies often beget the facts they fear.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.
—Hebrew Proverb
I believe that a life of integrity I the most fundamental source of personal worth. I do not agree with the popular success literature that says that self-esteem is primarily a matter of mind set, of attitude—that you can psych yourself into peace of mind. Peace of mind comes when your life is in harmony with true principles and values and in no other way.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.
—Chinese Proverb
The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
Nothing in life is so hard that you can’t make it easier by the way you take it.
—Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945) American Novelist
Our favorite attitude should be gratitude.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Your attitude is an expression of your values, beliefs and expectations.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
How things look on the outside of us depends on how things are on the inside of us. Stay close to the heart of nature and forget this troubled world. Remember, there is nothing wrong with nature; the trouble is in ourselves.
—Parks Cousins
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
—W. W. Ziege
When you feel dog tired at night, it may be because you’ve growled all day long.
—Unknown
The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
There are only three colors, ten digits, and seven notes; it’s what we do with them that’s important.
—Ruth Ross
Without constancy there is neither love, friendship, nor virtue in the world.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
I don’t think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from him.
—Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) Italian Astronomer, Physicist, Mathematician
When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.
—Joseph Campbell (1904–87) American Mythologist, Writer, Lecturer
The man who has no inner life is a slave to his surroundings.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Success or failure in business is caused more by the mental attitude even than by mental capacities.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
The surest way to corrupt a young man is to teach him to esteem more highly those who think alike than those who think differently.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
If the skies fall, one may hope to catch larks.
—Francois Rabelais (1494–1553) French Humanist, Satirist
Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
The world does not have to change … The only thing that has to change is our attitude.
—Gerald Jampolsky (b.1925) American Psychiatrist
The Kingdom of Heaven is not a place, but a state of mind.
—John Burroughs (1837–1921) American Naturalist, Writer
It isn’t our position, but our disposition, that makes us happy.
—Unknown
Being in a good frame of mind helps keep one in the picture of health.
—Unknown
In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
A willing heart adds feather to the heel.
—Joanna Baillie (1762–1851) Scottish Playwright, Poet
Be as an cup, and the universe flows into you. Be as an arrow, and the universe retreats from you.
—Zen Proverb Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism
The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Morale is the state of mind. It is steadfastness and courage and hope. It is confidence and zeal and loyalty. It is elan, esprit de corps and determination.
—George Marshall (1880–1959) American Military Leader
Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
One man gets nothing but discord out of a piano; another gets harmony. No one claims the piano is at fault. Life is about the same. The discord is there, and the harmony is there. Study to play it correctly, and it will give forth the beauty; play it falsely, and it will give forth the ugliness. Life is not at fault.
—Indian Proverb
Morality is simply the attitude we adopt toward people whom we personally dislike.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Every obnoxious act is a cry for help.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
It’s not the load that breaks you down—it’s the way you carry it.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer