Necessity, oftener than facility, has been the mother of invention; and the most prolific school of all has been the school of difficulty.
SAMUEL SMILESNecessity, oftener than facility, has been the mother of invention; and the most prolific school of all has been the school of difficulty.
SAMUEL SMILESAlthough genius always commands admiration, character most secures respect. The former is more the product of the brain, the latter of heart-power; and in the long run it is the heart that rules in life.
SAMUEL SMILESSelf-control is only courage under another form.
SAMUEL SMILESWoman is the heart of humanity, its grace, ornament, and solace.
SAMUEL SMILESConscience is that peculiar faculty of the soul which may be called the religious instinct.
SAMUEL SMILESIt is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures. Precept, study, advice, and example could never have taught them so well as failure has done.
SAMUEL SMILESLike men, nations are purified and strengthened by trials.
SAMUEL SMILESHope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.
SAMUEL SMILESA fig-tree looking on a fig-tree becometh fruitful,” says the Arabian proverb. And so it is with children; their first great instructor is example.
SAMUEL SMILESIf we opened our minds to enjoyment, we might find tranquil pleasures spread about us on every side. We might live with the angels that visit us on every sunbeam, and sit with the fairies who wait on every flower.
SAMUEL SMILESChildhood is like a mirror, which reflects in after life the images first presented to it.
SAMUEL SMILESThose who aren’t making mistakes probably aren’t making anything.
SAMUEL SMILESCharacter is itself a fortune.
SAMUEL SMILESThe Romans rightly employed the same word (virtus) to designate courage, which is, in a physical sense, what the other is in a moral; the highest virtue of all being victory over ourselves.
SAMUEL SMILESWisdom and understanding can only become the possession of individual men by travelling the old road of observation, attention, perseverance, and industry.
SAMUEL SMILESMen must necessarily be the active agents of their own well-being and well-doing they themselves must in the very nature of things be their own best helpers.
SAMUEL SMILES