One thing is clear to me, that no indulgence of passion destroys the spiritual nature so much as respectable selfishness.
—George MacDonald (Scottish Poet, Novelist)
The trick is growing up without growing old.
—Casey Stengel (American Sportsperson)
We do not know why we are born into the world, but we can try to find out what sort of a world it is—at least in its physical aspects.
—Edwin Hubble (American Astronomer)
God’s gifts put man’s best dreams to shame.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning (English Poet)
Those that say they despise riches are saints or liars.
—Austin O’Malley (American Aphorist, Ophthalmologist)
We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. We forget the loves and the betrayals alike, forget what we whispered and what we screamed, forget who we were.
—Joan Didion (American Essayist, Novelist, Memoirist)
The person who exalts himself … will be humbled, because a person who considers himself to be good, intelligent, and kind will not even try to become better, smarter, kinder. The humble person will be exalted, because he considers himself bad and will try to become better, kinder, and more reasonable.
—Leo Tolstoy (Russian Novelist)
Never kiss an ugly girl; she will tell everyone.
—Hebrew Proverb
The essence of love is getting out of oneself and into others. When we care less about our feelings, our rights, our happiness, our security, etc., and begin to concern ourselves with the feelings, rights, happiness, and security of others, we will have found the true power of love.
—Leo Buscaglia (American Motivational Speaker)
Many do with opportunities as children do at the seashore; they fill their little hands with sand, and then let the grains fall through, one by one, till all are gone.
—Thomas Jones
Power tends to confuse itself with virtue and a great nation is peculiarly susceptible to the idea that its power is a sign of god’s favor.
—J. William Fulbright (American Politician)
Though reason is not to be relied upon as a guide universally sufficient to direct us what to do, yet it is generally to be relied upon and obeyed when it tells us what we are not to do.
—Robert South (English Theologian)