The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. Your have to catch up with it yourself.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Ninety-two percent of the stuff told you in confidence you couldn’t get anyone else to listen to.
—Franklin P. Adams (1881–1960) American Journalist, Columnist, Author
There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.
—Johnny Unitas (1933–2002) American Football Player
Always act like you’re wearing an invisible crown.
—Unknown
My future is one I must make myself.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
Courage must come from the soul within,
The man must furnish the will to win.
So figure it out for yourself, my lad.
You were born with all that the great have had,
With your equipment they all began,
Get hold of yourself and say: I can.
—Edgar Guest (1881–1959) English-American Poet, Radio/TV Personality
There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. So you have to begin there, not outside, not on other people. That comes afterward, when you’ve worked on your own corner.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Satirist, Short Story Writer
To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying “Amen” to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
For they conquer who believe they can.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Believe that with your feelings and your work you are taking part in the greatest; the more strongly you cultivate this belief, the more will reality and the world go forth from it.
—Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) Austrian Poet
Those who foresee the future and recognize it as tragic are often seized by a madness which forces them to commit the very acts which makes it certain that what they dread shall happen.
—Rebecca West (1892–1983) English Author, Journalist, Literary Critic
Glamour is assurance. It is a kind of knowing that you are all right in every way, mentally and physically and in appearance, and that, whatever the occasion or the situation, you are equal to it.
—Marlene Dietrich (1901–92) German-American Film Actress, Cabaret Performer
You will not find poetry anywhere unless you bring some of it with you.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
If it is to be, it is up to me.
—Unknown
Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Confidence in the goodness of another is good proof of one’s own goodness.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
We can never really be prepared for that which is wholly new. We have to adjust ourselves, and every radical adjustment is a crisis in self-esteem: we undergo a test, we have to prove ourselves. It needs inordinate self-confidence to face drastic change without inner trembling.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Have confidence, but beware in whom.
—Latin Proverb
I always thought I should be treated like a star.
—Madonna (b.1958) American Pop Singer, Actress
Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I shall have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
He who would be well taken care of must take care of himself.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
No one to blame! That was why most people led lives they hated, with people they hated. How wonderful to have someone to blame! How wonderful to live with one’s nemesis! You may be miserable, but you feel forever in the right. You may be fragmented, but you feel absolved of all the blame for it. Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
Joint undertakings stand a better chance when they benefit both sides.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible.
—Richard DeVos (1926–2018) American Businessman, Philanthropist
Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it.
—Stan Smith (b.1946) American Sportsperson
It is easy—terribly easy—to shake a man’s faith in himself. To take advantage of that to break a man’s spirit is devil’s work.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
No one who deserves confidence ever solicits it.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) British Literary Critic, Writer
Felicity, felicity … is quaffed out of a golden cup … the flavour is with you alone, and you can make it as intoxicating as you please.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
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