He who would be well taken care of must take care of himself.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Academic, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
Chance never helps those who do not help themselves.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Every time I start a picture … I feel the same fear, the same self-doubts … and I have only one source on which I can draw, because it comes from within me.
—Federico Fellini (1920–93) Italian Filmmaker
If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Men, at some time, are masters of their fates.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
A man who finds no satisfaction in himself, seeks for it in vain elsewhere.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
This gives force to the strong—that the multitude have no habit of self-reliance or original action.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
He who has no opinion of his own, but depends upon the opinion and taste of others, is a slave.
—Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724–1803) German Poet
Heaven and hell is right now … You make it heaven or you make it hell by your actions.
—George Harrison (1943–2001) English Singer
Pa, he always said a man had to look spry for himself, because nobody would do it for him; your opportunities didn’t come knocking around, you had to hunt them down and hog-tie them.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
Even God lends a hand to honest boldness.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
Every tub must stand on its own bottom.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The human mind, in proportion as it is deprived of external resources, sedulously labors to find within itself the means of happiness, learns to rely with confidence on its own exertions, and gains with greater certainty the power of being happy.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
There’s no one to stop you but yourself.
—R. David Thomas (1932–2002) American Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
If you want to succeed in the world you must make your own opportunities as you go on. The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time coming.
—John Bartholomew Gough (1817–86) Anglo-American Temperance Orator
To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying “Amen” to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
There is no reality except the one contained within us.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet
No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods.
—Demosthenes (384–322 BCE) Greek Statesman, Orator
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to Heaven.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
When I have been unhappy, I have heard an opera … and it seemed the shrieking of winds; when I am happy, a sparrow’s chirp is delicious to me. But it is not the chirp that makes me happy, but I that make it sweet.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
If it is to be, it is up to me.
—Unknown
God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into the nest.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Editor, Novelist
There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one’s self.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
I would not sit waiting for some vague tomorrow, nor for something to happen. One could wait a lifetime, and find nothing at the end of the waiting. I would begin here, I would make something happen.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Be thine own palace, or the world’s thy jail.
—John Donne (1572–1631) English Poet, Cleric
You can’t fly a kite unless you go against the wind and have a weight to keep it from turning a somersault. The same with man. No man will succeed unless he is ready to face and overcome difficulties and is prepared to assume responsibilities.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
The wise don’t expect to find life worth living; they make it that way.
—Unknown
Make good use of bad rubbish.
—Elisabeth Beresford (1926–2010) British Children’s Writer
Leave a Reply