He who stops being better stops being good.
—Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) British Head of State, Military Leader
The good man is the man who, no matter how morally unworthy he has been, is moving to become better.
—John Dewey (1859–1952) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Educator
We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation, in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over a new one; it is established and it is understood.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Progress is the mother of problems.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
My own experience and development deepen everyday my conviction that our moral progress may be measured by the degree in which we sympathize with individual suffering and individual joy.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
All progress and growth is a matter of change, but change must be growth within our social and government concepts if it should not destroy them.
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) 31st American President
The moving van is a symbol of more than our restlessness, it is the most conclusive evidence possible of our progress.
—Louis Kronenberger (1904–80) American Drama, Literary Critic
On the road from the City of Skepticism, I had to pass through the Valley of Ambiguity.
—George Goodman (b.1930) American Economist, Author
If any person had told the Parliament which met in terror and perplexity after the crash of 1720 that in 1830 the wealth of England would surpass all their wildest dreams, that the annual revenue would equal the principal of that debt which they considered an intolerable burden, that for one man of
—Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay (1800–59) English Historian, Essayist, Philanthropist
The measure of progress of civilization is the progress of the people.
—George Bancroft (1800–91) American Historian, Politician
Little progress can be made by merely attempting to repress what is evil; our great hope lies in developing what is good.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
The moral law of the universe is progress. Every generation that passes idly over the earth without adding to that progress remains uninscribed upon the register of humanity, and the succeeding generation tramples its ashes as dust.
—Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–72) Italian Patriot, Political Leader
Only mediocrities progress. An artist revolves in a cycle of masterpieces, the first of which is no less perfect than the last.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The greatest enemy of progress is not stagnation, but false progress.
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic
Intellectually, as well as politically, the direction of all true progress is toward greater freedom, and along an endless succession of ideas.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
We trained hard-but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and what a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralization.
—Petronius (c.27–66 CE) Roman Courtier, Novelist
Change is one thing, progress another. “Change” is scientific, “progress” is ethical; change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Progress is the real cure for an over estimate of ourselves.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
People tend to think that life really does progress for everyone eventually, that people progress, but actually only some people progress. The rest of the people don’t.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.
—Marie Curie (1867–1934) Polish-born French Physicist, Chemist
A fresh mind keeps the body fresh. Take in the ideas of the day, drain off those of yesterday. As to the morrow, time enough to consider it when it becomes today.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
At every crossroad on the way that leads to the future, each progressive spirit is opposed by a thousand men appointed to guard the past.
—Maurice Maeterlinck (1862–1949) Belgian Poet, Playwright, Essayist
Every age has its problem, by solving which, humanity is helped forward.
—Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) German Poet, Writer
New roads; new ruts.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself in every way he can, never suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Whoever will cultivate their own mind will find full employment. Every virtue does not only require great care in the planting, but as much daily solicitude in cherishing as exotic fruits and flowers; the vices and passions (which I am afraid are the natural product of the soil) demand perpetual weeding. Add to this the search after knowledge… and the longest life is too short.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
Great steps in human progress are made by things that don’t work the way philosophy thought they should. If things always worked the way they should, you could write the history of the world from now on. But they don’t, and it is those deviations from the normal that make human progress.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson