“Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot; it rapidly crystallizes into habit, and habit solidifies into circumstance.”

The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set.

Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.

A man’s worldly success will be in the measure that he sacrifices his confused animal thoughts.

The sole and supreme use of suffering is to purify, to burn out all that is useless and impure.

If your real desire is to be good, there is no need to wait for the money before you do it; you can do it now, this very moment, and just where you are.

A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.

He who would accomplish little need sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much. He who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.

The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.

He who has conquered weakness, and has put away all selfish thoughts, belongs neither to oppressor nor oppressed. He is free.

A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.

He no longer acts from self but does what is right – what is universally and eternally right.

He is poor who is dissatisfied; he is rich who is contented with what he has, and he is richer who is generous with what he has.

The circumstances which a man encounters with suffering are the result of his own mental inharmony.

Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions.

Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not long remain so if you but perceive an Ideal and strive to reach it.

The calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control.

So I am deeply saddened and shocked over the current legislation that is now in place against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community here in Russia. In my opinion, it is inhumane and it is isolating.

It is excruciating to be an unbeliever with a spirit that is deeply religious.

From the depths of the West of Europe, a young child will be born of poor people, he who by his tongue will seduce a great troop; his fame will increase towards the realm of the East.

The loudest cries are heard in silence.

These sharp edges you left behind, they cut so deep; and I guess maybe I am just not dying enough.

How do you defeat terrorism? Don’t be terrorized.

What kind of living will it be when you – Oh, God! Would you like to live with your soul in the grave?

She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom.