“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness.”

We can’t control the impressions others form about us, and the effort to do so only debases our character.

It’s time to stop being vague. If you wish to be an extraordinary person, if you wish to be wise, then you should explicitly identify the kind of person you aspire to become.

Men are not troubled by things themselves, but by their thoughts about them.

Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do. Hold to your true aspirations no matter what is going on around you.

We all dread a bodily paralysis, and would make use of every contrivance to avoid it; but none of us is troubled about a paralysis of the soul.

Events do not just happen, but arrive by appointment.

Don’t be concerned with other people’s impressions of you. They are dazzled and deluded by appearances. Stick with your purpose. This alone will strengthen your will and give your life coherence.

Anything worth putting off is worth abandoning altogether.

Don’t consent to be hurt and you won’t be hurt – this is a choice over which you have control.

If you seek Truth, you will not seek to gain a victory by every possible means; and when you have found Truth, you need not fear being defeated.

What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.

What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.

Freedom and happiness are won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.

Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.

Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself.

All religions must be tolerated for every man must get to heaven in his own way.

Average people can’t stand with people who are chasing success.

Intelligent individuals learn from every thing and every one; average people, from their experiences. The stupid already have all the answers.

I am only an average man, but by George, I work harder at it than the average man.

If I’m going to be anything more than average, if anyone is going to remember me, then I need to go further, in art, in life, in everything!

All I knew is that I never wanted to be average.

I don’t have any extraordinary gifts. I’m just an average Joe who grew up very poor in rural Alabama.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

I’m intimidated by the fear of being average.