Life isn’t like a book. Life isn’t logical or sensible or orderly. Life is a mess most of the time. And theology must be lived in the midst of that mess.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
There are people who so arrange their lives that they feed themselves only on side dishes.
—Jose Ortega y. Gasset (1883–1955) Spanish Critic, Journalist, Philosopher
If you have a big problem in your life, all that means is that you are being a small person!
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flames kindle upon thee.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
We must believe in free will — we have no choice.
—Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902–91) Polish-born American Children’s Books Writer, Novelist, Short Story Writer
He who has nothing to die for has nothing to live for.
—Moroccan Proverb
There is only one purpose for all of life, and that is for you and all that lives to experience fullest glory…everything else you say, think, or do is attendant to that function. There is nothing else for your soul to do, and nothing else your soul wants to do.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
There is always some frivolity in excellent minds; they have wings to rise, but also stray.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Suppose the world were only one of God’s jokes, would you work any the less to make it a good joke instead of a bad one?
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
How do you want to live your life? How do you want to play the game? Do you want to play in the big leagues or in the little leagues, in the majors or the minors? Are you going to play big or play small? It’s your choice.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Life is made up of constant calls to action, and we seldom have time for more than hastily contrived answers.
—Learned Hand (1872–1961) American Judge, Judicial Philosopher
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shinest as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back.
—Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) American Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
As far as I know, everyone feels fear as he or she moves forward through life. It is absolutely possible that there are some evolved souls in this world who never experience fear, but I have not met them.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Shall I redirect my life’s journey because down some sideroad might be some trifle I’m entitled to?
—Robert Brault
Life is so largely controlled by chance that its conduct can be but a perpetual improvisation.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Oft in my way have I stood still, though but a casual passenger, so much I felt the awfulness of life.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
When ‘Omer smote ‘is bloomin’ lyre, He’d ‘eard men sing by land an’ sea; An’ what he thought ‘e might require, ‘E went and took-the same as me.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Children’s Books Writer, Short story, Novelist, Poet, Journalist
Those who live are those who fight.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
That which is useless dies. Animals that fail to serve some useful purpose in the scheme of things slowly but surely become extinct. Let any part of the human body cease to perform its ordained function, and it withers-as when an arm is long kept in a sling. This same decree, that nothing useless is permitted to survive, runs through the industrial world…. Let any concern cease to render useful service, and in time it shrivels. True, certain individuals, firms … may for a time appear immune. But sooner or later they pay the penalty.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
The great man presides over all his states of consciousness with obstinate rigor.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
Life is half spent before we know what it is.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Why torture yourself when life’ll do it for you?
—Unknown
Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
There is not one life which the Life-giver ever loses out of His sight; not one which sins so that He casts it away; not one which is not so near to Him that whatever touches it touches Him with sorrow or with joy.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author