Right Attitudes

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)

The essence of a quote is the compression of a mass of thought and observation into a single saying.
—John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (British Statesman)

Generosity takes many forms—we may give our time, our energy, our material possessions, our love. All are expressions of caring, of compassion, of connection, and of renunciation—the ability to let go.
—Joseph Goldstein (American Buddhist Teacher)

Success seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.
—Conrad Hilton (American Hotelier)

If you want to succeed in the world you must make your own opportunities as you go on. The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time coming. You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the road side until someone comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence.
—John Bartholomew Gough (American Temperance Orator)

There is an electricity about a friendship relationship. We are both more relaxed and more sensitive, more creative and more reflective, more energetic and more casual, more excited and more serene. It is as though when we come in contact with our friend we enter into a different environment.
—Andrew M. Greeley (American Priest, Author, Sociologist)

Begin to act from your dominion. Declare the truth by telling yourself that there is nothing to be afraid of, that you no longer entertain any images of fear.
—Ernest Holmes (American New Thought Writer)

Jesus wept; Voltaire smiled. From that divine tear and from that human smile is derived the grace of present civilization.
—Victor Hugo (French Novelist)

Gentle and true, simple and kind was she, Noble of mien, with gracious speech to all, And gladsome looks a pearl of womanhood.
—Edwin Arnold (English Poet)

Nothing is more expensive than penuriousness, nothing more anxious than carelessness, and every duty which is bidden to wait returns with seven fresh duties at its back.
—Charles Kingsley (English Clergyman)

The grace of God is a wind which is always blowing.
—Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (Indian Hindu Philosopher)