Never ascribe to malice that which can adequately be explained by incompetence.
—Napoleon I (Emperor of France)
To accuse others for one’s own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one’s education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one’s education is complete.
—Epictetus (Ancient Greek Philosopher)
The extremes of vice and virtue are alike detestable; absolute virtue is as sure to kill a man as absolute vice is, let alone the dullnesses of it and the pomposities of it.
—Samuel Butler
Nothing happens by itself. It all will come your way, once you understand that you have to make it come your way, by your own exertions.
—Ben Stein (American Writer)
Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, serves also to moderate it.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (French Writer)
History is the devil’s scripture.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (English Romantic Poet)
The essence of pleasure is spontaneity.
—Germaine Greer (Australia Academic)
He is incapable of a truly good action who finds not a pleasure in contemplating the good actions of others.
—James Joyce (Irish Novelist)
I am a lie who always speaks the truth.
—Jean Cocteau (French Poet, Artist)
If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.
—Cicero (Roman Philosopher)
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
—Buddhist Teaching
Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.
—Tacitus (Roman Orator, Historian)
When you set goals, something inside of you starts Saying, “Let’s go, let’s go,” and ceilings start to move up.
—Zig Ziglar (American Author)