Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive—it’s such an interesting world.
—Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942) Canadian Novelist
Great things are not something accidental, but must certainly be willed.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
How things look on the outside of us depends on how things are on the inside of us. Stay close to the heart of nature and forget this troubled world. Remember, there is nothing wrong with nature; the trouble is in ourselves.
—Parks Cousins
We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-American Philosopher, Poet, Sculptor
Man—being made reasonable, and so a thinking creature, there is nothing more worthy of his being than the right direction and employment of his thoughts, since upon this depends both his usefulness to the public and his own present and future benefit in all respects.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
He that seeks trouble always finds it.
—English Proverb
You have to believe in happiness or happiness never comes.
—Douglas Malloch (1877–1938) American Poet, Short-story Writer
The more wary you are of danger, the more likely you are to meet it.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
If you expect nothing, you’re apt to be surprised. You’ll get it.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Knock the “t” off the “can’t”.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Act so as to elicit the best in others and thereby in thyself.
—Felix Adler (1851–1933) German-Born American Philosopher
I’ve never been poor, only broke. Being poor is a frame of mind. Being broke is only a temporary situation.
—Mike Todd (1907–58) American Theater Personality, Film Producer
Those see nothing but faults that seek for nothing else.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
—The Dhammapada Buddhist Anthology of Verses
Persistent prophecy is a familiar way of assuring the event.
—George Gissing (1857–1903) English Novelist
Happiness will never be any greater than the idea we have of it.
—Maurice Maeterlinck (1862–1949) Belgian Poet, Playwright, Essayist
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
A happy life consists in tranquility of mind.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.
—Sara Teasdale (1884–1933) American Poet
He who has not faith in others shall find no faith in them.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
A man is what he thinks about all day long.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
What we prepare for is what we shall get.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
The Wright brothers flew right through the smoke screen of impossibility.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
—W. W. Ziege
Look for the ridiculous in everything, and you will find it.
—Jules Renard (1864–1910) French Writer, Diarist
We create our fate every day … most of the ills we suffer from are directly traceable to our own behavior.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
The man who works need never be a problem to anyone. Opportunities multiply as they are seized; they die when neglected. Life is a long line of opportunities. Wealth is not in making money, but in making the man while he is making money. Production, not destruction, leads to success.
—John Wicker
Circumstances—what are circumstances? I make circumstances.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
I believe that … all that can, be will be, if man helps.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
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