He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
The only way around is through.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
—Unknown
The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Yes, of course [this age] is materialistic, but the only way to counteract it is to create spiritual things. Don’t worry yourself about the materialism too much. Create and stir other people to create!
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Impossible is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Most things which are urgent are not important, and most things which are important are not urgent.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
I would like to explain the meaning of compassion, which is often misunderstood. Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectations, but rather on the rights of the other: irrespective of whether another person is a close friend or an enemy, as long as that person wishes for peace and happiness and wishes to overcome suffering, then on that basis we develop genuine concern for his or her problem. This is genuine compassion. Usually when we are concerned about a close friend, we call this compassion. This is not compassion; it is attachment. Even in marriage, those marriages that last only a short time do so because of attachment—although it is generally present—but because there is also compassion. Marriages that last only a short time do so because of a lack of compassion; there is only emotional attachment based on projection and expectation. When the only bond between close friends is attachment, then even a minor issue may cause one’s projections to change. As soon as our projections change, the attachment disappears—because that attachment was based solely on projection and expectation. It is possible to have compassion without attachment—and similarly, to have anger without hatred. Therefore we need to clarify the distinctions between compassion and attachment, and between anger and hatred. Such clarity is useful in our daily life and in our efforts towards world peace. I consider these to be basic spiritual values for the happiness of all human beings, regardless of whether one is a believer or a nonbeliever.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Leader, Civil Rights Advocate, Author
Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they’re okay, then it’s you.
—Rita Mae Brown (b.1944) American Writer, Feminist
Within each of us lies the power of our consent to health and sickness, to riches and poverty, to freedom and to slavery. It is we who control these, and not another.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Writer, Aviator
Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress.
—Alfred A. Montapert (1906–97) American Engineer, Philosopher
The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy; I mean that if you are happy you will be good.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
We have ancient habits to deal with, vast structures of power, indescribably complicated problems to solve. But unless we abdicate our humanity altogether and succumb to fear and impotence in the presence of the weapons we have ourselves created, it is as possible and as urgent to put an end to war and violence between nations as it is to put an end to poverty and racial injustice.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Regrets are idle; yet history is one long regret. Everything might have turned out so differently!
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Basketball Coach, Educator
Most people would rather die than think, in fact, most do.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Picasso’s mother held great ambitions for him when he was a child. She instructed him: If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general. If you become a monk, you’ll end up as Pope”. Instead,” Picasso quipped, “I became a painter and became a Picasso”.
—Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Spanish Painter, Sculptor, Artist
When our memories outweigh our dreams, we have grown old.
—Bill Clinton (b.1946) American Head of State, Lawyer, Public Speaker
I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.
—Gerry Spence (1929–2025) American Trial Lawyer, Legal Author
Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor
The first of all qualities of a general is courage.
—David McCullough (1933–2022) American Historian
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
—Anonymous
To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
—Paulette Mitchell
I’m not a big believer in long-term planning and far-off goals. In fact, I generally set 3-month and 6-month dreamlines. The variables change too much and in-the-future distance becomes an excuse for postponing action.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Somehow I can’t believe that there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
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