The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.
—John Vance Cheney (1848–1922) American Poet, Essayist, Librarian
No man tastes pleasures truly, who does not earn them by previous business; and few people do business well, who do nothing else.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Without a sense of proportion there can be neither good taste nor genuine intelligence, nor perhaps moral integrity.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Poor people choose now. Rich people choose balance.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
There should be balance in all our actions; to be either extreme or lukewarm is equally bad.
—Pir Hazrat Vilayat Khan (1882–1927) Indian Sufi Mystic, Musician
Only in silence the word,
only in dark the light,
only in dying life:
bright the hawk’s flight
on the empty sky.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
Almost every wise saying has an opposite one, no less wise, to balance it.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
A fortune is usually the greatest of misfortunes to children. It takes the muscles out of the limbs, the brain out of the head, and virtue out of the heart. In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
People with great gifts are easy to find, but symmetrical and balanced ones never.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The key to keeping your balance is knowing when you’ve lost it.
—Unknown
Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
The trick to juggling is determining which balls are made of rubber and which ones are made of glass.
—Anonymous
Luck is always waiting for something to turn up. Labor, with keen eyes and strong will, always turns up something. Luck lies in bed and wishes the postman will bring news of a legacy. Labor turns out at six o’clock and with busy pen or ringing hammer, lays the foundation of a competence. Luck whines. Labor whistles. Luck relies on chance, labor on character.
—Richard Cobden
Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment. As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility, and commitment.
—Ross Perot (1930–2019) American Businessman
The truth is balance. However the opposite of truth, which is unbalance, may not be a lie.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
The word “happiness” would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939) British Sexologist, Physician, Social Reformer
I always try to balance the light with the heavy—a few tears of human spirit in with the sequins and the fringes.
—Bette Midler (b.1945) American Actress, Singer
The world acquires value only through its extremes and endures only through moderation; extremists make the world great, the moderates give it stability.
—Paul Valery (1871–1945) French Critic, Poet
When we become isolated, we are prone to being damaged; our minds lose their flexibility and natural kindness; we become vulnerable to fear and negativity. The sense of belonging keeps you in balance amidst the inner and outer immensities. The ancient and eternal values of human life – truth, unity, goodness, justice, beauty, and love are all statements of belonging; they are also the secret intention and dream of human longing.
—John O’Donohue (1956–2008) Irish Priest, Hegelian Philosopher
A note of music gains significance from the silence on either side.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
Be careful. Journalism is more addictive than crack cocaine. Your life can get out of balance.
—Dan Rather (b.1931) American Newscaster, Author
To this military attitude of the soul we give the name of Heroism… It is a self-trust which slights the restraints of prudence, in the plenitude of its energy and power to repair the harms it may suffer. The hero is a mind of such balance that no disturbances can shake his will…
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
—Henry Stanley Haskins
A warrior balances solitude and dependence.
—Paulo Coelho (b.1947) Brazilian Songwriter, Novelist
Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down.
—Natalie Goldberg (b.1948) American Buddhist Author
Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life—learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
—Robert Fulghum (b.1937) American Unitarian Universalist Author, Essayist, Clergyman
Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat