Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
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
So often we search out the impossible—and then throw ourselves into trying to do it.
—Unknown
Good is not good, when better is expected.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
People don’t ever seem to relate that doing what’s right is no guarantee against misfortune.
—William McFee (1881–1966) English Writer
There is no such thing as pure pleasure; some anxiety always goes with it.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Nature is what you may do. There is much you may not do.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
When one’s expectations are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything one does have.
—Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) English Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, Academic
There is a proper balance between not asking enough of oneself and asking or expecting too much.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
A fool or idiot is one who expects things to happen that never can happen.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Nobody’s problem is ideal. Nobody has things just as he would like them. The thing to do is to make a success with what material I have. It is a sheer waste of time and soul-power to imagine what I would do if things were different. They are not different.
—Frank Hall Crane (1873–1948) American Stage and Film Actor, Director
We set up harsh and unkind rules against ourselves. No one is born without faults. That man is best who has fewest.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
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
It is enough that I am of value to somebody today.
—Hugh Prather (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
To expect life to be tailored to our specifications it to invite frustration.
—Unknown
We cannot all be masters,
nor all masters cannot he truly followed.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Who is ever adequate? We all create situations each other can’t live up to, then break our hearts at them because they don’t.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
Be what you are and become what you are capable of becoming.
Take charge of your life – become the person you would like to be.
—Unknown
We expect more of ourselves than we have any right to, in virtue of our endowments
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
We do not write as we want, but as we can.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
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
May God … let me strive for attainable things.
—Pindar (c.518–c.438 BCE) Greek Lyric Poet
If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
Free man is by necessity insecure; thinking man by necessity uncertain.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
For people who live on expectations, to face up to their realization is something of an ordeal.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
War is not an adventure. It is a disease. It is like typhus.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
To wish to act like angels while we are still in this world is nothing but folly.
—Teresa of Avila (1515–82) Spanish Carmelite Nun, Mystic
No country can act wisely simultaneously in every part of the globe at every moment of time.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
No one is expected to achieve the impossible.
—French Proverb
Results are what you expect; consequences are what you get.
—Unknown
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
Do not commit the error, common among the young, of assuming that if you cannot save the whole of mankind you have failed.
—Jan de Hartog (1914–2002) Dutch-American Novelist, Playwright
Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.
—William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–91) American Military Leader, Businessperson, Educator
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, Essayist, Novelist, Author
To seek fulfillment is to invite frustration.
—Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) Indian Philosopher
Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
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
The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Life is not a spectacle or a feast; it is a predicament.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
No one from the beginning of time has had security.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
The most important thing in marriage is not happiness, but stability.
—Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927–2014) Colombian Novelist, Short-Story Writer
When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football.
—Unknown
It has been a thousand times observed, and I must observe it once more, that the hours we pass with happy prospects in view are more pleasing than those crowned with fruition.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
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
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
People are lucky and unlucky … according to the ratio between what they get and what they have been led to expect.
—Samuel Butler
Life guarantees a chance—not a fair shake.
—Unknown