Shall a man go and hang himself because he belongs to the race of pygmies, and not be the biggest pygmy that he can?
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one’s work seriously and taking one’s self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous.
—Margot Fonteyn (1919–91) British Ballet Dancer
Life to the great majority is only a constant struggle for mere existence, with the certainty of losing it at last.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Better is the enemy of good.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Half the unhappiness in the world is due to the failure of plans which were never reasonable, and often impossible.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
I can’t write a book commensurate with Shakespeare, but I can write a book by me.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
The art of living lies not in eliminating but in growing with troubles.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
No one is happy all his life long.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Of all the young men in America only a few hundred can get into major league baseball, and of these only a handful in a decade can get into the Hall of Fame. So it goes in all human activity … Some become multimillionaires and chairmen of the board, and some of us must be content to play baseball at company picnics or manage a credit union without pay.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
We would have to settle for the elegant goal of becoming ourselves.
—William Styron (1925–2006) American Novelist, Essayist
The most important thing in marriage is not happiness, but stability.
—Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927–2014) Colombian Novelist, Short-Story Writer
Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
When I decided to go into politics I weighted the costs. I would get criticism. But I went ahead. So when virulent criticism came I wasn’t surprised. I was better able to handle it.
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) 31st American President
To dream too much of the person you would like to be is to waste the person you are.
—Unknown
Life is not a spectacle or a feast; it is a predicament.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
A body shouldn’t heed what might be. He’s got to do with what is.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew.
—Francis de Sales (1567–1622) French Catholic Saint
The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
If you aspire to the highest place, it is no disgrace to stop at the second, or even the third, place.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
At thirty a man should know himself like the palm of his hand, know the exact number of his defects and qualities … And above all, accept these things.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Novelist
There is no such thing as something for nothing.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
I hope to work, support my children and die quietly without pain.
—Sean Connery (1930–2020) Scottish Actor, Film Producer
No country can act wisely simultaneously in every part of the globe at every moment of time.
—Henry Kissinger (1923–2023) American Diplomat, Academician
Life didn’t promise to be wonderful.
—Teddy Pendergrass (1950–2010) American Singer, Songwriter
The chief duty I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
People are lucky and unlucky … according to the ratio between what they get and what they have been led to expect.
—Samuel Butler
Happy the man who early learns the wide chasm that lies between his wishes and his powers.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but boys, it is all hell.
—William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–91) American Military Leader, Businessperson, Educator
Friendships aren’t perfect and yet they are very precious. For me, not expecting perfection all in one place was a great release.
—Letty Cottin Pogrebin (b.1939) American Social Activist, Journalist
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