Archives for September 2024

Happiness and sadness run parallel to each other.
When one takes a rest,
the other one tends to take up the slack.
—Hazelmarie ‘Mattie’ Elliott (American Author)

The sleep of reason produces monsters.
—Francisco Goya (Spanish Artist)

The real and lasting victories are those of peace and not of war.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Philosopher)

There are obviously two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.
—James Truslow Adams (American Historian)

Why should we strive, with cynic frown, to knock their fairy castles down?
—Eliza Cook (English Poet)

Experience has taught me that there is one chief reason why some people succeed and others fail. The difference is not one of knowing, but of doing. The successful man is not so superior in ability as in action. So far as success can be reduced to a formula, it consists of this: doing what you know you should do.
—Roger Babson (American Economist)

Not to go back is somewhat to advance. And men must walk, at least, before they dance.
—Alexander Pope (English Poet)

Testimony is like an arrow shot from a long bow; its force depends on the strength of the hand that draws it.—But argument is like an arrow from a cross bow, which has equal force if drawn by a child or a man.
—Robert Boyle (Irish Scientist, Philosopher)

The world of achievement has always belonged to the optimist.
—J. Harold Wilkins (American Businessman)

My clearest recollection of a long-ago interview with Thomas A. Edison is of a single sentence that was painted and hung on a wall in his room. In effect, the sentence was, “It is remarkable to what lengths people will go to avoid thought.” That is tragically true. Some of think, more of us think we think, and most of us don’t even think of thinking. The result is a somewhat cockeyed world.
—Channing Pollock (American Playwright, Critic)

Finance would be better if it was taught by the psychology and history departments at universities.
—Morgan Housel (American Financial Journalist, Investor)

Be the master of your will, and the slave of your conscience.
—Yiddish Proverb

Life is not so important as the duties of life.
—John Randolph (American Politician)

The timid man calls himself cautious, the sordid man thrifty.
—Publilius Syrus (Syrian-born Latin Writer)

Glory comes too late, after one as been reduced to ashes.
—Martial (Ancient Roman Latin Poet)

Like what you do, if you don’t like it, do something else.
—Paul Harvey (American Broadcaster)

Reason conquers all.
—Marcus Manilius (Roman Poet)

There’s no thrill in easy sailing when the skies are clear and blue, there’s no joy in merely doing things which any one can do. But there is some satisfaction that is mighty sweet to take, when you reach a destination that you thought you’d never make.
—Edgar Guest (English-born American Poet)

Creativity is almost always: unlearned. Ask young children, “Are you creative?” They’ll all raise a hand. By age 16, none of them will because they’ve had their creativity gently squeezed out of them by those who think conventionally.
—John Cleese (British Comic Actor, Writer)

It’s not the having, it’s the getting.
—Elizabeth Taylor (American Actress)

Differences of opinion give me but little concern; but it is a real pleasure to be brought into communication with any one who is in earnest, and who really look to God’s will as his standard of right and wrong, and judges of actions according to their greater or less conformity.
—Thomas Arnold (English Educationalist)

Home is where you come to when you have nothing better to do.
—Margaret Thatcher (British Head of State)

Every moment that I am centered in the future, I suffer a temporary loss of this life.
—Hugh Prather (American Christian Author)

When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.
—Walter Lippmann (American Journalist)

If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can make the world safe for diversity.
—John F. Kennedy (American Head of State)

Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
—Kenny Rogers (American Singer-Songwriter)

Every beginning is a consequence. Every beginning ends something.
—Paul Valery (French Critic, Poet)

A beautiful literature springs from the depth and fullness of intellectual and moral life, from an energy of thought and feeling, to which nothing, as we believe, ministers so largely as enlightened religion.
—William Ellery Channing (American Theologian, Poet)

Cease not to be the sculptor of thine own image.
—Plotinus (Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mystic)

Nature is not cruel, only pitilessly indifferent. This is one of the hardest lessons for humans to learn. We cannot admit that things might be neither good nor evil, neither cruel nor kind, but simply callous—indifferent to all suffering, lacking all purpose.
—Richard Dawkins (British Ethologist, Atheist)

When you go into court you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty.
—Norm Crosby (American Comedian)

The way to peace and joy is the way of letting go. Let go of people and things: Let God take over!
—Dada J. P. Vaswani (Indian Hindu Philosopher)

The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies.
—Ray Bradbury (American Science-Fiction Writer)

How great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from its birth an angel commissioned to guard it.
—Jerome (Greek Priest)

When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples.
—Stephen Crane (American Writer)

The pleasure of reading without application is a dangerous pleasure. Useless books we should lay aside, and make all possible good use of those from which we may reap some fruit.
—John Foster Dulles (American Politician)

There is no substitute for virtue. Keep your thoughts virtuous. Rise above the filth that’s all around you in this world and stand tall in strength and virtue. You can do this and you will be happier for it for as long as you live. God bless you in cherishing, developing and holding on to this great gift, the quality of personal virtue.
—Gordon B. Hinckley (American Mormon Religious Leader)

Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine.
—Christina Rossetti (English Poet)

Old men are twice children.
—Greek Proverb

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; but, define yourself.
—Harvey Fierstein (American Actor)