“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.”

Foolish men imagine that because judgment for an evil thing is delayed, there is no justice; but only accident here below. Judgment for an evil thing is many times delayed some day or two, some century or two, but it is sure as life, it is sure as death.

Of all God’s creatures, Man alone is poor.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do that with all thy might and leave the issues calmly to God.

No iron chain, or outward force of any kind, could ever compel the soul of man to believe or to disbelieve: it is his own indefeasible light, that judgment of his; he will reign and believe there by the grace of God alone!

Every noble work is at first impossible.

No man lives without jostling and being jostled; in all ways he has to elbow himself through the world, giving and receiving offence.

A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge.

No man sees far, most see no farther than their noses.

Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It’s a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment.

In every phenomenon the beginning remains always the most notable moment.

To say that we have a clear conscience is to utter a solecism; had we never sinned we should have had no conscience. Were defeat unknown, neither would victory be celebrated by songs of triumph.

The eternal stars shine out again, so soon as it is dark enough.

No person is important enough to make me angry.

Every day that is born into the world comes like a burst of music and rings the whole day through, and you make of it a dance, a dirge, or a life march, as you will.

They only are wise who know that they know nothing.

Tell a person they are brave and you help them become so.

It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top.

It is my art. I am better at it than I ever was. And I will do it as long as I can. When you reach a certain age you can slough off what is unnecessary and concentrate on what is. And why not?

A harmful truth is better than a useful lie.

Everyday is a gift, every gift is a chance to feel certain and every certainty is a exhilarating inspiration to do better.

Just set yourself a goal and try and stick to it. Because you’ll always end up better than where you started.

There is something better, if possible, that a man can give than his life. That is his living spirit to a service that is not easy, to resist counsels that are hard to resist, to stand against purposes that are difficult to stand against.

It’s not getting any better for the American people. It seems to be getting worse. That’s predictable; education is a cycle. Stupidity breeds more stupidity.

You’re stronger, and you’re better, and you’re ready for whatever.