Our days are a kaleidoscope. Every instant a change takes place in the contents. New harmonies, new contrasts, new combinations of every sort. Nothing ever happens twice alike. The most familiar people stand each moment in some new relation to each other, to their work, to surrounding objects. The most tranquil house, with the most serene inhabitants, living upon the utmost regularity of system, is yet exemplifying infinite diversities.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
I have learned that there is always more to learn. And experience is our greatest teacher.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Adversity is the first path to truth.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
The subliminal mind receives and remembers all those touches that delight the soul. Our soul takes joy in this right touching by the Essence of all experience.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
I think we are a product of all our experiences.
—Sanford I. Weill (b.1933) American Financier, Philanthropist
The basic experience of everyone is the experience of human limitation.
—Flannery O’Connor (1925–1964) American Novelist
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 Writer, Novelist, Short Story Writer
I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Leader, Civil Rights Advocate, Author
Experience is the mother of wisdom.
—Common Proverb
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look at fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along”. You must do the think you think you cannot do.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
We start as fools and become wise through experience.
—African Proverb
You are innately designed to use your personal power. When you don’t, you experience a sense of helplessness, paralysis, and depression—which is your clue that something is not working as it could. You, like all of us, deserve everything that is wonderful and exciting in life. And those feelings emerge only when you get in touch with your powerful self.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed.
—John Wesley (1703–91) British Methodist Leader, Preacher, Theologian
Deep experience is never peaceful.
—Henry James (1843–1916) American-born British Novelist, Writer
There are no failures—just experiences and your reactions to them.
—Tom Krause (1934–2013) Finnish Opera Singer
Experience is not always the kindest of teachers, but it is surely the best.
—Spanish Proverb
The point to remember is that when you blame any outside force for any of your experience of life, you are literally giving away all your power and thus creating pain, paralysis and depression.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
There’s no substitute for experience.
—Common Proverb
An optimist is a man who has never had much experience.
—Don Marquis (1878–1937) American Humorist, Journalist, Author
Experience is a jewel, and it had need be so, for it is often purchased at an infinite rate.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the voices of Life. Even if their counsel is displeasing to you, pay heed to them.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-American Philosopher, Poet, Sculptor
Corporate chieftains usually last less long than political potentates.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Experience is a private, very largely speechless affair.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
Experience is the extract of suffering.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) British Essayist, Historian
One thing about the school of experience is that it will repeat the lesson if you flunk the first time.
—Unknown
Most of the most important experiences that truly educate cannot be arranged ahead of time with any precision.
—Harold Taylor
Where you are in consciousness has everything to do with what you see in experience.
—Eric Butterworth (1916–2003) American Spirituality Writer
I am still determined to be cheerful and happy,
in whatever situation I may be; for I have also
learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness
or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.
—Martha Washington (1731–1802) American First Lady
What I like about experience is that it is such an honest thing. You may take any number of wrong turnings; but keep your eyes open and you will not be allowed to go very far before the warning signs appear. You may have deceived yourself, but experience is not trying to deceive you. The universe rings true wherever you fairly test it.
—C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) Irish-British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
He cannot be a perfect man, not being tried and tutored in the world.—Experience is by industry achieved, and perfected by the swift course of time.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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