Inspirational Quotations

Time is short—your obligations are infinite.—Are your houses regulated, your children instructed, the afflicted relieved, the poor visited, the work of piety accomplished?
—Jean Baptiste Massillon (French Bishop)

Never trust a man who speaks well of everybody.
—John Churton Collins (British Literary Critic)

Better a thousand enemies outside the house than one inside.
—Arabic Proverb

Being a woman is a terribly difficult trade since it consists principally of dealings with men.
—Joseph Conrad (Polish-born British Novelist)

There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.
—Denis Waitley (American Motivational Speaker)

There is a canyon of difference between doing your best to glorify God and doing whatever it takes to glorify yourself. The quest for excellence is a mark of maturity. The quest for power is childish.
—Max Lucado (American Author, Minister)

Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet.
—Chinese Proverb

Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.
—Frederick W. Smith (American Entrepreneur)

It is best to do things systematically, since we are only humans, and disorder is our worst enemy.
—Hesiod (Greek Poet)

That charity which longs to publish itself, ceases to be charity.
—Ulrich von Hutten (German Humanist, Reformer)

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time you compose a book your composition of yourself is at stake.
—E. L. Doctorow (American Novelist)

There is nothing to which men cling more tenaciously than the privileges of class.
—Leonard Woolf (British Political Theorist)

Nothing is as frustrating as arguing with someone who knows what he’s talking about.
—Sam Ewing (American Writer)

If you haven’t forgiven yourself something, how can you forgive others?
—Dolores Huerta (American Labor Activist)

Too often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks and shut off the burglar alarm, it’s too late.
—Rita Coolidge (American Singer, Songwriter)

Pride, like humility, is destroyed by one’s insistence that he possesses it.
—Kenneth Bancroft Clark (American Psychologist)

Let every man or woman here, if you never hear me again, remember this, that if you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and with what you are. He who would be great anywhere must first be great in his own Philadelphia.
—Russell Conwell (American Baptist Minister)

You should bring something into the world that wasn’t in the world before. It doesn’t matter what that is. It doesn’t matter if it’s a table or a film or gardening—everyone should create. You should do something, then sit back and say ‘I did that.’
—Ricky Gervais (British Comedian, Writer)

You know about a person who deeply interests you more than you can be told. A look, a gesture, an act, which to everybody else is insignificant tells you more about that one than words can.
—Henry David Thoreau (American Philosopher)

We may draw good out of evil; we must not do evil, that good may come.
—Maria Weston Chapman (American Abolitionist)

The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.
—Richard Leider (American Executive Coach)

Time ripens all things; no man is born wise.
—Miguel de Cervantes (Spanish Novelist)

Every time I see an Erie Railroad engine bearing the name of its faithful driver a thrill goes through me, for I know that the man guiding it has won this rare honor by many years of the most loyal and efficient service. Who will argue that only public men and corporation heads are entitled to have their names emblazoned on the scroll of honor? All workmen care about is money, you say? Wrong. Workers are made of exactly the same stuff as generals or senators or presidents or governors or industrial leaders. It is just as fitting to honor the worthiest of our wage earners as it is to honor others.
—B. C. Forbes (Scottish-born American Journalist)

Satire is tragedy plus time. You give it enough time, the public, the reviewers will allow you to satirize it. Which is rather ridiculous, when you think about it.
—Lenny Bruce (American Comedian)

Better not be at all than not be noble.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (British Poet)

Many are called but few get up.
—Oliver Herford (Canadian-American Writer, Humorist)

He who comes up to his own idea of greatness must always have had a very low standard of it in mind.
—William Hazlitt (English Essayist)

The bravest are the most tender; the loving are the daring.
—Bayard Taylor (American Poet, Travel Writer)

Never trust the teller, trust the tale.
—D. H. Lawrence (English Novelist)

Those who lack the courage will always find a philosophy to justify it.
—Albert Camus (Algerian-born French Philosopher)

Grace tried is better than grace, and more than grace; it is glory in its infancy.
—Samuel Rutherford (Scottish Theologian)

The best answer to bad speech is good speech
—Alan M. Dershowitz (American Legal Scholar)

Satires and lampoons on particular people circulate more by giving copies in confidence to the friends of the parties, than by printing them.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (Irish-born British Playwright)

Our minds have the need to know. When we don’t know we make assumptions – they make us feel safer than not knowing. And we are pretty much always making assumptions.
—Miguel Angel Ruiz (Mexican Author)

Jump out the window if you are the object of passion. Flee it if you feel it. Passion goes, boredom remains.
—Coco Chanel (French Fashion Designer)

To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the inner music that words make.
—Truman Capote (American Novelist)

When a man opens the car door for his wife, it’s either a new car or a new wife.
—Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (British Prince)

Never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity.
—Neil Simon (American Playwright)

The future is here. It’s just not widely distributed yet.
—William Gibson (American-Canadian Sci-Fi Author)

A fresh mind keeps the body fresh. Take in the ideas of the day, drain off those of yesterday. As to the morrow, time enough to consider it when it becomes today.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (British Author, Politician)

To enjoy enduring success we should travel a little in advance of the world.
—John D. MacDonald (American Novelist)

The capacity to give one’s attention to a sufferer is a very rare and difficult thing; it is almost a miracle; it is a miracle. Nearly all those who think they have this capacity do not possess it. Warmth of heart, impulsiveness, pity are not enough.
—Simone Weil (French Philosopher, Political Activist)

Our expression and our words never coincide, which is why the animals don’t understand us.
—Malcolm de Chazal (Mauritian Writer, Painter)

Everybody has that thing where they need to look one way but they come out looking another way and that’s what people observe. You see someone on the street and essentially what you notice about them is the flaw. It’s just extraordinary that we should have been given these peculiarities. Something is ironic in the world and it has to do with the fact that what you intend never comes out like you intend it.
—Diane Arbus (American Photographer)

Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
—Satchel Paige (American Baseball Player)

Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed.
—Corita Kent (American Nun, Artist)

Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not giving up when they don’t.
—Max Lucado (American Author, Minister)

A man shares his days with hunger, thirst, and cold, with the good times and the bad, and the first part of being a man is to understand that.
—Louis L’Amour (American Novelist)

Art is the signature of civilizations.
—Beverly Sills (American Singer)

When schemes are laid in advance, it is surprising how often the circumstances will fit in with them.
—William Osler (Canadian Physician)

The mere stuffing of the mind with a knowledge of facts is not education.
—Joseph F. Smith (American Religious Leader)

The first condition of happiness is a clear conscience.
—David O. McKay (American Author)

In keeping people straight, principle is not as powerful as a policeman.
—Abel Hermant (French Novelist, Critic)

Rising tuition fees and the growing costs associated with higher education have long been debated, but the expenses students face extend far beyond the tuition line item. When breaking down how money flows in an academic setting, it becomes clear that the picture is more complex than just the cost of classes.

From the meals served on campus to the books stacked in bookstores, every corner of a university has its hand in a student’s pocket. Understanding these expenditures is critical, not just to make sense of where student money goes, but also to highlight the systemic issues that make higher education increasingly expensive.

The Hidden Burden of Student Debt and Financial Planning

One of the most significant challenges for students navigating the financial landscape of higher education is debt. Tuition, fees, housing, and daily living expenses often combine into a mountain of obligations that many cannot cover through family savings or part-time jobs alone. As a result, loans become a lifeline, but one with long-term consequences.

The true cost of borrowing often remains hidden until years after graduation, when repayment schedules start to dictate financial decisions. Students might enter repayment with optimism, only to find that interest accrual doubles or triples what was initially borrowed. This reality makes budgeting essential, yet many are unprepared for the scale of the obligation. Using tools like an online student debt calculator can provide clarity by helping borrowers see the lifetime impact of interest, repayment plans, and varying loan terms.

Tuition as the Core but Not the Whole

While tuition fees dominate discussions, they often represent only part of the full financial picture. Universities justify rising tuition with arguments about maintaining faculty quality, investing in research, and keeping facilities updated. However, tuition alone rarely accounts for the complete bill that lands in a student’s inbox. Mandatory fees for technology, athletic programs, and campus development initiatives frequently add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the balance sheet each semester.

These supplementary charges often lack transparency, making it difficult for students to distinguish between essential services and institutional overhead. For many, the frustration lies not in paying for education, but in feeling compelled to subsidize projects or services they never use.

Cafeteria and Meal Plan Economics

Food on campus is another area where student money steadily flows. At first glance, meal plans may seem convenient, but they often lock students into rigid systems where value does not always match the price. A prepaid meal swipe might cover an entrée and drink, but leave little flexibility for healthier options or snacks throughout the day.

Universities defend meal plan costs by citing food supply expenses, staff wages, and facility upkeep. However, a closer look often reveals inflated prices compared to off-campus dining alternatives. Students bound by residency requirements during their early academic years usually have no choice but to purchase these plans, effectively transforming cafeteria dining into a captive market.

Housing and the Cost of Living on Campus

Living arrangements significantly shape student budgets. On-campus housing is often marketed as a way to integrate socially and academically, but the financial side tells a different story. Dormitory fees, when compared to off-campus rentals, frequently skew higher per square foot. While utilities, internet, and security are bundled into the package, the total expense rarely represents a bargain.

Universities justify these costs by emphasizing convenience and community. Yet students often find themselves sharing small rooms with minimal privacy, paying a premium for the privilege. Those who remain in campus housing beyond their freshman years sometimes do so out of necessity rather than preference, particularly in areas where affordable off-campus housing is scarce.

Course Materials and the Textbook Industry

Few expenses generate as much student frustration as textbooks and course materials. Unlike tuition or housing, where at least some justification can be traced to physical infrastructure or salaries, textbook pricing often feels arbitrary. A single course might require books costing hundreds of dollars, and the cycle of new editions renders older, used copies useless due to minimal updates paired with drastically altered problem sets or chapter structures.

The publishing industry thrives on this model, with universities often partnering directly with suppliers to streamline sales. While digital alternatives have introduced some competition, even e-textbooks are frequently locked behind licensing restrictions that prevent resale or long-term ownership.

Technology Fees and Digital Infrastructure

In today’s learning environment, digital infrastructure is non-negotiable. Universities charge technology fees to maintain servers, provide online course platforms, and ensure campus-wide connectivity. While these fees appear logical, they often operate with little transparency. Students may find themselves paying hundreds annually for access to platforms that resemble commercial software already available at lower costs.

The irony is that many of these platforms are required for course completion, giving students no alternative but to absorb the cost. Institutions frame these fees as necessary to keep pace with modern education, but the burden inevitably falls on students, who may already own personal devices and pay for internet at home.

Extracurriculars and Campus Life Spending

Beyond academics, students also contribute financially to the broader campus experience. Activity fees support clubs, the student government, and recreational programs. While participation in these areas fosters community, the mandatory nature of such fees means that even those uninterested in extracurriculars end up paying.

This can be seen as part of the broader philosophy of higher education, where holistic development is valued as much as classroom learning. However, when evaluating where student money goes, the challenge lies in balancing inclusivity with fairness.

Administrative and Institutional Overhead

A less visible but highly influential component of student spending is administrative overhead. Universities employ vast numbers of non-teaching staff in roles ranging from admissions to marketing. Salaries, benefits, and departmental budgets consume a significant portion of institutional resources, yet the correlation between these costs and student benefits is often unclear.

Critics argue that administrative bloat drives tuition higher without a corresponding increase in educational quality. While some administrative functions are necessary for smooth operations, the expansion of departments unrelated to direct learning raises questions about efficiency.

Long-Term Implications of Spending Patterns

Understanding where student money goes has implications beyond semester budgets. It shapes perceptions of higher education’s fairness, accessibility, and value. When costs appear opaque or misaligned with tangible benefits, trust in the system erodes. For many graduates, the financial impact lingers well into adulthood, influencing career choices, delaying milestones like homeownership, and even shaping attitudes toward future educational pursuits.

Students enter higher education with the expectation of growth, opportunity, and transformation. Yet alongside intellectual development comes the heavy reality of financial strain. From cafeteria meals that cost more than their off-campus equivalents to course materials that become obsolete within a year, the financial ecosystem of universities reflects both necessity and exploitation.

Illusion is the dust the devil throws in the eyes of the foolish.
—Minna Antrim (American Writer, Epigrammist)

Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
—Christopher Lasch (American Historian)

Having more than you need can be a liability masquerading as an advantage, and no sense of “enough” can look like ambition but often leads you over the edge.
—Morgan Housel (American Financial Journalist, Investor)

It is easy to fool yourself. It is more difficult to fool the people you work for. It is still more difficult to fool the people you work with. And it is almost impossible to fool the people who work under your direction.
—Harry Bates Thayer (American Business Executive)

Crash programs fail because they are based on theory that, with nine women pregnant, you can get a baby in a month.
—Wernher von Braun (American Engineer)

I don’t pity any man who does hard work worth doing. I admire him. I pity the creature who does not work, at whichever end of the social scale he may regard himself as being.
—Theodore Roosevelt (American Head of State)

As universal a practice as lying is, and as easy a one as it seems, I do not remember to have heard three good lies in all my conversation.
—Jonathan Swift (Irish Satirist)

Pursue not a victory too far. He hath conquered well that hath made his enemy fly; thou mayest beat him to a desperate resistance, which may ruin thee.
—George Herbert (Welsh Anglican Poet)

True originality consists not in a new manner but in a new vision.
—Edith Wharton (American Novelist, Short-story Writer)

It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out; it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.
—Robert W. Service (Canadian Poet)

Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
—Scott Adams (American Cartoonist)

You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.
—Zig Ziglar (American Author)

The world is shrinking together; it is finding itself neighbor to itself in strange, almost magic degree.
—W. E. B. Du Bois (American Sociologist, Activist)

I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn’t wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine.
—Bertrand A. Russell (British Philosopher, Mathematician)

Empathy frequently informs our earliest days with our infants as we try to figure out what they need, how to comfort and satisfy them
—Katherine Ellison (American Journalist)

Man’s great misfortune is that he has no organ, no kind of eyelid or brake, to mask or block a thought, or all thought, when he wants to.
—Paul Valery (French Critic, Poet)

We can teach ourselves to see things the way they ARE. Only with vision can we begin to see things the way they CAN BE.
—Max De Pree (American Businessman)

The camera cannot lie, but it can be an accessory to untruth.
—Harold Evans (British-American Journalist)

You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, and I guarantee you’ll win no matter the outcome.
—Robin Williams (American Actor, Comedian)

Fame is but the breath of people, and that often unwholesome.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (French Philosopher)

Neither man nor nation can exist without a sublime idea.
—Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Russian Novelist)

Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep.
—Felix Frankfurter (Austrian-Born Jurist)

Over the years your bodies become walking autobiographies, telling friends and strangers alike of the minor and major stresses of your lives.
—Marilyn Ferguson (American Author)

Real education should educate us out of self into something far finer—into a selflessness which links us with all humanity.
—Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor (British Politician)

Country people tend to consider that they have a corner on righteousness and to distrust most manifestations of cleverness, while people in the city are leery of righteousness but ascribe to themselves all manner of cleverness.
—Edward Hoagland (American Essayist)

A man is usually more careful of his money than of his principles.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (American Jurist, Author)

There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with.
—Harry Crews (American Novelist, Critic)

There is no insanity so devastating in man’s life as utter sanity.
—William Allen White (American Journalist)

When a great man has some one object in view to be achieved in a given time, it may be absolutely necessary for him to walk out of all the common roads.
—Edmund Burke (British Philosopher, Statesman)

Lies are essential to humanity. They are perhaps as important as the pursuit of pleasure and moreover are dictated by that pursuit.
—Marcel Proust (French Novelist)

A friend you have to buy; enemies you get for nothing.
—Yiddish Proverb

The ideal society would enable every man and woman to develop along their individual lines, and not attempt to force all into one mould, however admirable.
—J. B. S. Haldane (British Scientist)

He teaches me to be good who does me good.
—Thomas Fuller (English Cleric, Historian)

No change in musical style will survive unless it is accompanied by a change in clothing style. Rock is to dress up to.
—Frank Zappa (American Rock Guitarist, Singer, Composer)

Power does not satisfy, on the contrary it is like a drug and always requires greater doses.
—Luciano De Crescenzo (Italian Film Actor, Director, Engineer)

It’s only a thought, and a thought can be changed.
—Louise Hay (American Self-Help Author)

Creation is a better means of self-expression than possession; it is through creating, not possessing, that life is revealed.
—Vida Dutton Scudder (American Social Activist)

We lay aside letters never to read them again, and at last we destroy them out of discretion, and so disappears the most beautiful, the most immediate breath of life, irrecoverable for ourselves and for others.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Poet)

Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless.
—B. F. Skinner (American Psychologist)

What is the opposite of two? A lonely me, a lonely you.
—Richard Wilbur (American Poet, Translator)

It is the public scandal that offends; to sin in secret is no sin at all.
—Moliere (French Playwright)

Sloppy thinking gets worse over time.
—Jenny Holzer (American Conceptual Artist)

True, a little learning is a dangerous thing, but it still beats total ignorance.
—Pauline Phillips (Abigail van Buren) (American Advice Columnist)

I can’t remember the names of all the clubs we went to.
—Shaquille O’Neal (American Sportsperson)

Optimism and self-pity are the positive and negative poles of modern cowardice.
—Cyril Connolly (British Literary Critic)