Right Attitudes

Great people aren’t those who are happy at times of convenience and content, but of how they are in times of catastrophe and controversy.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (American Civil Rights Leader)

The rewards of great living are not external things, withheld until the crowning hour of success arrives; they come by the way, — in the consciousness of growing power and worth, of duties nobly met, and work thoroughly done. To the true artist, working always in humility and sincerity, all life is a reward, and every day brings a deeper satisfaction. Joy and peace are by the way.
—Hamilton Wright Mabie (American Essayist, Editor)

He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses faith, loses all.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (American Humanitarian)

Show me a person who has never made a mistake and I’ll show you somebody who has never achieved much.
—Joan Collins (English Actress)

The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.
—Mother Teresa (Roman Catholic Nun)

Every person is the creation of himself, the image of his own thinking and believing. As individuals think and believe, so they are.
—Claude M. Bristol (American Self-Help Author)

Grab a chance and you won’t be sorry for a might have been.
—Arthur Ransome (English Novelist, Journalist)

There had been times when he knew, somewhere in him, that he would get used to it, whatever it was, because he had learnt that some hard things became softer after a very little while.
—Nick Hornby (English Author)

Thought expands, but paralyzes; action animates, but narrows.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Poet)

The ground’s generosity takes in our compost and grows beauty! Try to be more like the ground.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (Persian Muslim Mystic)

Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.
—Janwillem van de Wetering (Dutch Crime Novelist)

Moments of kindness and reconciliation are worth having, even if the parting has to come sooner or later.
—Alice Munro (Canadian Writer)

There is safety in numbers.
—Common Proverb

Question everything. Every stripe, every star, every word spoken. Everything.
—Ernest J. Gaines (American Novelist, Short-Story Writer)

If one does not fail at times, then one has not challenged himself.
—Ferdinand Porsche (Austrian Car Designer)

The great thing about people with intellectual disabilities is that they’re not people who discuss philosophy… What they want is fun and laughter, to do things together and fool around, and laughter is at the heart of community.
—Jean Vanier (French-Canadian Humanitarian)

Sorrow is easy to express and so hard to tell.
—Joni Mitchell (Canadian Singer, Songwriter)

Wicked thoughts and worthless efforts gradually set their mark on the face, especially the eyes.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (German Philosopher)

Man is stark mad; he cannot make a flea, and yet he will be making gods by the dozens.
—Michel de Montaigne (French Essayist)

The origin of civilization is man’s determination to do nothing for himself which he can get done for him.
—H. C. Bailey (English Novelist)

The stakes are too high for government to be a spectator sport.
—Barbara Jordan (American Educator, Politician)

For we must share, if we would keep, that blessing from above; ceasing to give, we cease to have; such is the law of love.
—Richard Chenevix Trench (Irish Archbishop, Poet)

The only people who attain power are those who crave for it.
—Erich Kastner (German Author)

Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face.
—Carol Moseley Braun (American Politician)

The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.
—Swedish Proverb

For every poet it is always morning in the world; history a forgotten, insomniac night. The fate of poetry is to fall in love with the world in spite of history.
—Derek Walcott (West Indian Poet)

Enough is often too much in our material world, but seldom enough in our material world.
—Bob Woodward (American Journalist)

Some people, however long their experience or strong their intellect, are temperamentally incapable of reaching firm decisions.
—James Callaghan (British Labour Statesman)

The doctrines of grace humble man without degrading, and exalt without inflating him.
—Charles Hodge (American Theologian)

There’s small Revenge in Words, but Words may be greatly revenged.
—Benjamin Franklin (American Founding Father, Inventor)

A fault confessed is half redressed.
—African Proverb