“There was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer.”

Success, like happiness, is the unexpected side effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.

Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one’s belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one’s right to believe, and obey, his own conscience.

We can discover this meaning in life in three different ways: 1. by doing a deed; 2. by experiencing a value; and 3. by suffering.

A man’s concern, even his despair, over the worthwhileness of life is an existential distress but by no means a mental disease.

Either belief in God is unconditional or it is no belief at all.

Our greatest human freedom is that, despite whatever our physical situation is in life, we are always free to choose our thoughts.

There are two races of men in this world but only these two: the race of the decent man and the race of the indecent man.

It isn’t the past which holds us back, it’s the future; and how we undermine it, today.

It is not freedom from conditions, but it is freedom to take a stand toward the conditions.

Pain is only bearable if we know it will end, not if we deny it exists.

The attempt to develop a sense of humor and to see things in a humorous light is some kind of a trick learned while mastering the art of living.

Man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become the next moment. By the same token, every human being has the freedom to change at any instant.

The quest for meaning is the key to mental health and human flourishing

God is the partner of your most intimate soliloquies.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

The salvation of man is through love and in love.

I ain’t a bit ashamed of anything.

We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly enlightened or peaceful or intelligent. Nevertheless, we have soil good enough to cultivate; we can plant anything in it.

This is so simple I’m ashamed to say it, but I’m sure it’s true. In fact, I would bet my life on it! And that’s why I don’t understand why our propaganda machines are always trying to teach us, to persuade us, to hate and fear other people on the same little world that we live in.

No one knows their place, no one fears failure and no one is ashamed of success.

I don’t think you can really be proud of being gay because it isn’t something you’ve done. You can only be proud of not being ashamed.

Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.

Live never to be ashamed if anything you say or do is published around the world, even if what is said is not true.

Let us not be ashamed to speak what we shame not to think.