But you think that it is time for me to have done with the world, and so I would if I could get into a better before I was called into the best, and not die here in a rage, like a poisoned rat in a hole.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life.
—James Allen (1864–1912) British Philosophical Writer
Self-inspection—the best cure for self-esteem.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
What you become directly influences what you get.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
When a tradesman is about to weigh his goods, he first of all looks to his scales and sees that his weights are right. And so for all wise, or safe, or profitable self-examination, we are not to look to frames, or feelings, or to the conduct of others, but to God’s word, which is the only true standard of decision.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
You will find that the mere resolve not to be useless, and the honest desire to help other people, will, in the quickest and delicatest ways, improve yourself.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Become addicted to constant and never-ending self-improvement.
—Anthony J. D’Angelo
The improvement of our way of life is more important than the spreading of it. If we make it satisfactory enough, it will spread automatically. If we do not, no strength of arms can permanently oppose it.
—Charles Lindbergh (1902–74) American Aviator, Inventor, Conservationist
Let us believe neither half of the good people tell us of ourselves, nor half the evil they say of others.
—Jean Antoine Petit-Senn (1792–1870) Swiss Poet
It makes little difference how many university courses or degrees a person may own. If he cannot use words to move an idea from one point to another, his education is incomplete.
—Norman Cousins (1915–90) American Journalist, Author, Academic, Activist
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
All of us, who are worth anything, spend our manhood in unlearning the follies, or expiating the mistakes of our youth. – Shelley, Percy Bysshe
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own self-development.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher and better than themselves.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
He who asks of life nothing but the improvement of his own nature is less liable than anyone else to miss and waste life.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
That discipline which corrects the eagerness of worldly passions, which fortifies the heart with virtuous principles, which enlightens the mind with useful knowledge, and furnishes to it matter of enjoyment from within itself, is of more consequence to real felicity than all the provisions which we can make of the goods of fortune.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
Each year one vicious habit rooted out, in time might make the worst man good throughout.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Is it asked, how can the laboring man find time for self-culture? I answer, that an earnest purpose finds time, or makes it. It seizes on spare moments, and turns fragments to golden account. A man who follows his calling with industry and spirit, and uses his earnings economically, will always have some portion of the day at command. And it is astonishing how fruitful of improvement a short season becomes, when eagerly seized and faithfully used. It has often been observed, that those who have the most time at their disposal profit by it the least. A single hour in the day, steadily given to the study of some interesting subject, brings unexpected accumulations of knowledge.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
The biggest room in the world, is the room for improvement.
—Unknown
There is no use whatever trying to help people who do not help themselves. You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he be willing to climb himself.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
I don’t think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Before a diamond shows its brilliancy and prismatic colors it has to stand a good deal of cutting and smoothing.
—Unknown
In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself.
—Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) Indian Philosopher
The never-ending task of self improvement.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.
—Isaac Asimov (1920–92) Russian-born American Writer, Scientist
Welcome evermore to gods and men is the self-helping man. For him all doors are flung wide: him all tongues greet, all honors crown, all eyes follow with desire. Our love goes out to him and embraces him, because he did not need it. We solicitously and apologetically caress and celebrate him, because he held on his way and scorned our disapprobation. The gods loved him because men hated him.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
Invest three percent of your income in yourself (self-development) in order to guarantee your future.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. So you have to begin there, not outside, not on other people. That comes afterward, when you’ve worked on your own corner.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
Commit to CANI!—Constant And Never-ending Improvement
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
He was always smoothing and polishing himself, and in the end he became blunt before he was sharp.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
By all means use sometimes to be alone. Salute thyself: see what thy soul doth wear. Dare to look in thy chest; for ‘Tis thine own: And tumble up and down what thou findst there. Who cannot rest till he good fellows find, he breaks up house, turns out of doors his mind.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Know thyself, said the old philosophy.—“Improve thyself,” saith the new.—Our great object in time is not to waste our passions and gifts on the things external that we must leave behind, but that we cultivate within us all that we can carry into the eternal progress beyond.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Inside yourself or outside, you never have to change what you see, only the way you see it.
—Thaddeus Golas (1924–97) American New Age Writer
The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.
—Robert M. Pirsig (b.1928) American Writer, Philosopher, Author
I am a bad, wicked man, but I am practicing moral self-purification; I don’t eat meat any more, I now eat rice cutlets.
—Vladimir Lenin (1870–1924) Russian Revolutionary Leader
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
If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done anything today.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts. Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
He who stops being better stops being good.
—Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) British Head of State, Military Leader