If one can only realize at heart what one’s true nature is, one then will find that it is infinite wisdom, truth, and bliss, without beginning and without end.
—Ramana Maharshi (Indian Hindu Mystic)
The only way you can live a truly creative life or know the highest happiness is by developing your own unique potential.
—Norman Vincent Peale (American Clergyman, Self-Help Author)
Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half.
—John Wanamaker (American Merchant, Civil Servant)
The meaning of man’s life, as we have seen, is not measured by what he has, but by what he is. No matter how many possessions we have amassed, how much wealth we have accrued, how respected and secure our position is in society, how numerous the pieces of information we have accumulated, in moments of lucidity we may still abruptly perceive the dreadful futility of it all, the overwhelming emptiness and pointlessness of such a life.
—Stephen Batchelor (British Buddhist Author, Teacher)
Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.
—Albert Schweitzer (French Theologian)
The most common ego identifications have to do with possessions, the work you do, social status and recognition, knowledge and education, physical appearance, special abilities, relationships, person and family history, belief systems, and often also political, nationalistic, racial, religious, and other collective identifications. None of these is you.
—Eckhart Tolle (German Spiritual Writer)
He who rolls up his sleeves seldom loses his shirt.
—Caroline Schoeder (American Aphorist)
Inspiration and genius—one and the same.
—Victor Hugo (French Novelist)
It is never too late to give up our prejudices. No way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof. What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true today may turn out to be falsehood tomorrow, mere smoke of opinion, which some had trusted for a cloud that would sprinkle fertilizing rain on their fields.
—Henry David Thoreau (American Philosopher)
What is the point of getting angry with others who are angry with you? Getting angry is senseless. It is self-destructive. If you have fire in your house it will burn down your own house, Likewise your anger will hurt you. Oh Lord, help me to deal with my anger.
—Basava (Indian Hindu Philosopher)
The human head is bigger than the globe. It conceives itself as containing more. It can think and rethink itself and ourselves from any desired point outside the gravitational pull of the earth. It starts by writing one thing and later reads itself as something else. The human head is monstrous.
—Gunter Grass (German Novelist, Poet)
It is easier to recognize other people’s mistakes than your own.
—Daniel Kahneman (American-Israeli Psychologist, Economist)
The hardest battle you’re ever going to fight is the battle to be just you.
—Leo Buscaglia (American Motivational Speaker)
People don’t change. Only their costumes do.
—Gene Moore (American Designer, Window Dresser)