“Show me a man of average ability but extraordinary desire and I will show you a winner everytime.”

The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell.

You are what you think. So just think big, believe big, act big, work big, give big, forgive big, laugh big, love big and live big.

tall oaks from little acorns grow.

You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he is willing to climb a little.

The man who dies rich, dies disgraced

That best portion of a good man’s life— His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love.

He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dare not is a slave.

A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.

We cannot afford to lose the Negro. We have urgent need of all and more. Let us therefore turn our efforts to making the best of him.

I am as a speck of dust in the sun, and not even so much, in this solemn, mysterious, unknowable universe.

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.

When fate hands us a lemon, let’s try to make lemonade.

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what people say. I just watch what they do.

TEAMWORK: the fuel that allows common people attain uncommon results.

All human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes.

There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.

Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.

My imperfections will never override God’s promises. God’s promises are not dependent on my ability to always choose well, but rather on His ability to use well.

That’s universal – we all want to bring every good thing to our children. But what’s not universal is our ability to provide every good thing.

God never intended for us to rely on others for our sense of well being. Only He is equipped to provide that.

If you give someone more than they can do, they will do it. If you give them only what they can do, they will do nothing.

The ability to network successfully can be one of the greatest assets in business. It allows some people to find incredible opportunities, while others just watch from the sidelines.

I’ve always had a fascination with making your own music but never have been skilled enough to play the instrument, so to be able to make music without the ability was awesome.

We are the opening verse of the opening page of the chapter of endless possibilities.