Quotes to inspire and reflect

If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

While one should always study the method of a great artist, one should never imitate his manner. The manner of an artist is essentially individual; the method of an artist is absolutely universal. The first is personality, which no one should copy; the second is perfection, which all should aim at.

Upon those who step into the same rivers different and ever different waters flow down.

Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.

Education is the leading of human souls to what is best, and making what is best out of them.

Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.

Live dangerously and you live right.

Nothing is worth doing unless the consequences may be serious.

Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn.

Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.

Nothing is more useful than silence.

There are but few saints amongst scientists, as among other men, but truth itself is a goal comparable with sanctity.

Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good; try to use ordinary situations.

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.

From error to error, one discovers the entire truth.

Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.

Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you?

He has spent his life best who has enjoyed it most; God will take care that we do not enjoy it any more than is good for us.

A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do you know that his future will not be equal to our present?

The surest hindrance of success is to have too high a standard of refinement in our own minds, or too high an opinion of the judgment of the public. He who is determined not to be satisfied with anything short of perfection will never do anything to please himself or others.

Talent finds its models, methods, and ends in society, exists for exhibition, and goes to the soul only for power to work. Genius is its own end, and draws its means and the style of its architecture from within.

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. The real geniuses simply have their bright ideas closer together.

We take care of our health, we lay up money, we make our roof tight and our clothing sufficient, but who provides wisely that he shall not be wanting the best property of all -- friends?

Genius is a bend in the creek where bright water has gathered, and which mirrors the trees, the sky and the banks. It just does that because it is there and the scenery is there. Talent is a fine mirror with a silver frame, with the name of the owner engraved on the back.

Do not speak harshly to any one; those who are spoken to will answer thee in the same way. Angry speech is painful: blows for blows will touch thee.

One often contradicts an opinion when what is uncongenial is really the tone in which it was conveyed.

Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there.

They (who) seek to establish systems of government based on the regimentation of all human beings by a handful of individual rulers. . . call this a new order. It is not new and it is not order.

For glory gives herself only to those who have always dreamed of her.

To govern is always to choose among disadvantages.

For what is liberty but the unhampered translation of will into act?

I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.

A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.

One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.

Nature is not cruel, pitilessly, indifferent. This is one of the hardest lessons for humans to learn. We cannot admit that things might be neither good nor evil, neither cruel nor kind, but simply callous -- indifferent to all suffering, lacking all purpose.

Education is what most receive, many pass on, and few possess.

Then he saw also that it matters little what profession, whether of religion or irreligion, a man may make, provided only he follows it out with charitable inconsistency, and without insisting on it to the bitter end. It is in the uncompromisingness with which dogma is held and not in the dogma or want of dogma that the danger lies.

Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.

If you would stand well with a great mind, leave him with a favorable impression of yourself; if with a little mind, leave him with a favorable impression of himself.

Seek ye first the good things of the mind, and the rest will either be supplied or its loss will not be felt.

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.

The way to procure insults is to submit to them: a man meets with no more respect than he exacts.

All human power is a compound of time and patience.

If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of potential -- for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints; possibility never.

Happy is he who can give himself up.

Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself - and thus make yourself indispensable.