A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life.
—James Allen (British Self-Help Author)
An unquestioned mind is the world of suffering.
—Byron Katie (American Speaker)
Of course, the liar often imagines that he does no harm as long as his lies go undetected. But the one lied to almost never shares this view. The moment we consider our dishonesty from the point of view of those we lie to, we recognize that we would feel betrayed if the roles were reversed.
—Sam Harris (American Neuroscientist, Atheist, Author)
A symphonic conductor should reconcile himself to the realization that, regardless of his approach or temperament, the eventual result is the same — the orchestra will hate him.
—Oscar Levant (American Musician)
There are those who say that when civilization progresses a bit further transportation facilities will move into the skies and under the ground, and that our streets will again be quiet, but I know perfectly well that when that day comes some new device for torturing the old will be invented.
—Tanizaki Jun’ichiro (Japanese Novelist)
Who is rich? He that rejoices in his Portion.
—Benjamin Franklin (American Founding Father, Inventor)
The shy man does have some slight revenge upon society for the torture it inflicts upon him. He is able, to a certain extent, to communicate his misery. He frightens other people as much as they frighten him. He acts like a damper upon the whole room, and the most jovial spirits become, in his presence, depressed and nervous.
—Jerome K. Jerome (English Humorist, Novelist)
The first step to knowledge is to know that we are ignorant.
—Richard Cecil
Of a great spirit is moderation in prosperity.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca) (Roman Rhetorician)
When death finally comes, you will welcome it like an old friend, aware of how dreamlike and impermanent the whole phenomenal world really is.
—Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (Tibetan Buddhist Teacher)
Knowledge humanizes mankind, and reason inclines to mildness, but prejudices eradicate every tender disposition.
—Montesquieu (French Political Philosopher)