Life and Existence

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.

Mediocre minds usually dismiss anything which reaches beyond their own understanding.

Be vigilant; guard your mind against negative thoughts.

A great many people think they are thinking when they are rearranging their prejudices.

Do not be embarrassed by your mistakes. Nothing can teach us better than our understanding of them. This is one of the best ways of self-education.

Bad habits are like chains that are too light to feel until they are too heavy to carry.

Genius means little more than the faculty of perceiving in an unhabitual way.

Habit is stronger than reason.

Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

DifficuIties mastered are opportunities won.

As for myself, I always willingly acknowledge my own self as the principal cause of every good and of every evil which may befall me; therefore I have always found myself capable of being my own pupil, and ready to love my teacher.

When the water starts boiling,it is foolish to turn off the heat.

You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.

What I am looking for is not out there … it’s in me.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.

I deny nothing, but doubt everything.

The wisest is he that knows only that he knows nothing.

You can never plan the future by the past.

You can never plan the future by the past.

I came upstairs into the world; for I was born in a cellar.

I came upstairs into the world; for I was born in a cellar.

My first act of free will shall be to believe in free will.

Men may change their climate, but they cannot change their nature. A man that goes out a fool cannot ride or sail himself into common sense.

Men may change their climate, but they cannot change their nature. A man that goes out a fool cannot ride or sail himself into common sense.