All may do what has by man been done.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
It is more difficult to praise rightly than to blame.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The finest gift you can give anyone is encouragement. Yet, almost no one gets the encouragement they need to grow to their full potential. If everyone received the encouragement they need to grow, the genius in most everyone would blossom and the world would produce abundance beyond the wildest dreams. We would have more than one Einstein, Edison, Schweitzer, Mother Theresa, Dr. Salk and other great minds in a century.
—Sidney Madwed (1926–2013) American Poet, Author
The spirited horse, which will try to win the race of its own accord, will run even faster if encouraged.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Nine tenths of education is encouragement.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
I praise loudly. I blame softly.
—Catherine II of Russia (1729–96) Russian Empress
We begin to praise when we begin to see a thing needs our assistance.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
We ought not to raise expectations which it is not in our power to satisfy.—It is more pleasing to see smoke brightening into flame, than flame sinking into smoke.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Correction does much, but encouragement does more. Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else. I don’t care how great, how famous or successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for applause.
—George Matthew Adams (1878–1962) American Columnist, Journalist
A word of encouragement during failure is worth more than a dictionary of praise after success.
—Unknown
Instruction does much, but encouragement does everything.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
There is no such thing as a “self-made” man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.
—George Matthew Adams (1878–1962) American Columnist, Journalist
What men and women need is encouragement. Their natural resisting powers should be strengthened, not weakened… Instead of always harping on a man’s faults, tell him of his virtues. Try to pull him out of his rut… Hold up to him his better self, his real self that can dare and do and win out!… People radiate what is in their minds and in their hearts.
—Eleanor H. Porter (1868–1920) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments. We need people to bear witness against our inner judge, who keeps book on our shortcomings and transgressions. We need people to convince us that we are not as bad as we think we are.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
If you treat an individual… as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
If they have not opened the eyes of the blind, they have at least given great encouragement to the short-sighted, and while their leaders may have all the inexperience of old age, their young men are far too wise to be ever sensible.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, Grow, Grow”.”
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family relation, should be one uniting all working people, of all nations, and tongues, and kindreds. Nor should this lead us to a war upon property, or the owners of property. Property is the fruit of labor; property is desirable; is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich and, hence, is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus, by example, assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
If I can put one touch of a rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower when I thought a flower would grow.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Often we can help each other most by leaving each other alone; at other times we need the hand-grasp and the word of cheer.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
To withhold deserved praise lest it should make its object conceited is as dishonest as to withhold payment of a just debt lest your creditor should spend the money badly.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
A word of encouragement during failure is worth more than a whole book of praises after a success.
—Anonymous
There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else. I don’t care how great, how famous or successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for applause.
—George Madison Adams (1837–1920) American Politician, Military Leader
Great minds are to make others great. Their superiority is to be used, not to break the multitude to intellectual vassalage, not to establish over them a spiritual tyranny, but to rouse them from lethargy, and to aid them to judge for themselves.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind always be at your back
May the sunshine warm upon your face
The rains falls soft upon your fields and until we meet again
May GOD hold you in the palm of his hand.
—Irish Proverb