I love the valiant; but it is not enough to wield a broadsword, one must also know against whom.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
I only wish I could work to some purpose … . I have no right to these easy comfortable days and our poor men suffering and dying thirsting in this hot sun and I so quiet here in want of nothing.
—Clara Barton (1821–1912) American Social Activist
Having chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear and with manly hearts.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The kindest thing you can do for the people you care about is to become a happy, joyous person.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
What on earth are you doing for Heaven’s sake?
—Indian Proverb
What basic objective I had, for many years, was to grasp every opportunity to live and experience life as deeply, as fully, and as widely as I possibly could.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
He is not only idle who does nothing, but he is idle who might be better employed.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
Commerce is a game of skill, which every man cannot play, which few men can play well. The right merchant is one who has the just average of faculties we call commonsense; a man of strong affinity for facts, who makes up his decision on what he has seen. He is thoroughly persuaded of the truths of arithmetic. There is always a reason, in the man, for his good or bad fortune; and so, in making money. Men talk as if there were some magic about this, and believe in magic, in all parts of life. He knows that all goes on the old road, pound for pound, cent for cent-for every effect a perfect cause-and that good luck is another name for tenacity of purpose.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I don’t want to live. I want to love first, and live incidentally.
—Zelda Fitzgerald (1899–1948) American Writer, Artist
Happiness comes when you believe in what you are doing, know what you are doing, and live what you are doing.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
When two or more people coordinate in a spirit of harmony and work toward a definite objective or purpose, they place themselves in a position, through the alliance, to absorb the power directly from the great storehouse of Infinite Intelligence.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
The purpose of life for man is growth, just as the purpose of life for trees and plants is growth. Trees and plants grow automatically and along fixed lines; man can grow as he will. Trees and plants can only develop certain possibilities and characteristics; man can develop any power which is or has been shown by any person anywhere. Nothing that is possible in spirit is impossible in flesh and blood. Nothing that man can think is impossible. Nothing that man can imagine is impossible of realization.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
Life is not worth living unless it is lived for others.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
Your sole purpose in life is to attain God-realization. All else is useless and worthless.
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
Anyone can live heroically and successfully for one day. The man who achieves a high purpose makes that day the pattern for all the days of his life.
—Unknown
Whatever is at the center of our life will be the source of our security, guidance, wisdom, and power.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
It is one of the beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another, without helping himself.
—Gamaliel Bailey (1807–59) American Journalist
Would that well-thinking people should be replaced by thinking ones.
—Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972) American Playwright, Poet, Novelist
All men seek one goal: success or happiness. The only way to achieve true success is to express yourself completely in service to society. First, have a definite, clear, practical ideal-a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends-wisdom, money, materials and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
If you’ve ever felt inspired by a purpose or calling, you know the feeling of Spirit working through you. Inspired is our word for in-spirited.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
The whole life is but a point of time; let us enjoy it, therefore, while it lasts, and not spend it to no purpose.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
It is good to follow one’s own bent, so long as it leads upward.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Ordinary people think merely of spending time. Great people think of using it.
—Unknown
Once we are destined to live out our lives in the prison of our mind, our duty is to furnish it well.
—Peter Ustinov (1921–2004) British Actor, Playwright, Director
Happiness and high performance come to you when you choose to live your life consistent with your highest values and your deepest convictions.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the “why” for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any “how”.
—Viktor Frankl (1905–97) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist
Fear God and work hard.
—David Livingstone (1813–73) Scottish Missionary, Explorer
The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Inventor
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