Be glad of life because it gives you to chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.
—Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) American Author, Educator, Clergyman
How are you going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued? Whether you’re going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over people and circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.
—Anne Lamott (b.1954) American Writer, Activist
By having a reverence for life, we enter into a spiritual relation with the world … By practicing reverence for life we become good, deep, and alive.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Philosopher, Musician, Physician
A light heart lives long.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Everybody ought to do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Anything for the quick life, as the man said when he took the situation at the lighthouse.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God.
—Mary Manin Morrissey (b.1949) American New Thought Minister, Motivational Author
I trust life not because I trust the world, but because I trust the God who lives in my heart.
—Marianne Williamson (b.1952) American Activist, Author, Lecturer
Every perfect life is a parable invented by God.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
To live is so startling, it leaves but little room for other occupations.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval. The dark background which death supplies brings out the tender colors of life in all their purity.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Life is the acceptance of responsibilities or their evasion; it is a business of meeting obligations or avoiding them. To every man the choice is continually being offered, and by the manner of his choosing you may fairly measure him.
—Ben Ames Williams (1889–1953) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the meaning of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less.
—Vaclav Havel (1936–2011) Czech Dramatist, Statesman
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.
—Marie Curie (1867–1934) Polish-born French Physicist, Chemist
Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
—Norman MacEwen (1881–1953) British Military Leader
In the game of life nothing is less important than the score at halftime.
—Unknown
Life is too important to be taken seriously.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Youth is too tumultuous for felicity; old age too insecure for happiness. The period most favorable to enjoyment, in a vigorous, fortunate, and generous life, is that between forty and sixty.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet, drink, and botanical medicines.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
We would like to live as we once lived, but history will not permit it.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
It’s extraordinary how we go through life with eyes half shut, with dull ears, with dormant thoughts. Perhaps it’s just as well; and it may be that it is this very dullness that makes life to the incalculable majority so supportable and so welcome.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
They that have lived a single day have lived an age.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
We only live once, but once is enough if we do it right. Live your life with class, dignity, and style so that an exclamation, rather than a question mark signifies it!
—Gary Ryan Blair
The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor even touched, but just felt in the heart.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
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