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The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.

Samuel Smiles

Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.
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Burden Hope Journey Ourselves Shadow Sun
Those who aren’t making mistakes probably aren’t making anything.
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Failure Inspirational Mistake
Help from without is often enfeebling in its effects, but help from within invariably invigorates.
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External Help
Men cannot be raised in masses as the mountains were in he early geological states of the world. They must be dealt with as units; for it is only by the elevation of individuals that the elevation of the masses can be effectively secured.
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Himself Man Mountain Raise Secure World
Even happiness itself may become habitual. There is a habit of looking at the bright side of things, and also of looking at the dark side.
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Bright Darkness Happiness Side
Commit a child to the care of a worthless, ignorant woman, and no culture in after-life will remedy the evil you have done.
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Children Commitment Evil Ignorance Woman Yourself
The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.
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Focus Short Way
The government of a nation itself is usually found to be but the reflux of the individuals composing it. The government that is ahead of the people will be inevitably dragged down to their level, as the government that is behind them will in the long run be dragged up.
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Government Level Nation People
Obedience, submission, discipline, courage–these are among the characteristics which make a man.
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Courage Discipline Man Obedience Submission
The brave man is an inspiration to the weak, and compels them, as it were, to follow him.
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Brave Follow Himself Man Weakness
It is energy – the central element of which is will – that produces the miracle that is enthusiasm in all ages. Everywhere it is what is called force of character and the sustaining power of all great action.
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Action Character Element Energy Force Greatness Miracle Production
The work of many of the greatest men, inspired by duty, has been done amidst suffering and trial and difficulty. They have struggled against the tide, and reached the shore exhausted.
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Difficult Greatness Man Reach Struggle Suffering Trial Work
Like men, nations are purified and strengthened by trials.
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Man Nation Purity Strength
There are many counterfeits of character, but the genuine article is difficult to be mistaken.
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Article Character Difficult Mistake
Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow.
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Best Kind Progress Slow
The tiniest bits of opinion sown in the minds of children in private life afterwards issue forth to the world, and become its public opinion; for nations are gathered out of nurseries.
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Issue Mindset Nation Opinion World
Woman is the heart of humanity, its grace, ornament, and solace.
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Grace Heart Humanity Solace Woman
Great men stamp their mind upon their age and nation.
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Age Greatness Man Mindset Nation
He who never made a mistake, never made a discovery.
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Discover Himself Mistake
Purposes, like eggs, unless they be hatched into action, will run into rottenness.
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Action Egg Purpose Run
Work is one of the best educators of practical character.
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Best Education Practice Work
It is the close observation of little things which is the secret of success in business, in art, in science, and in every pursuit of life.
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Business Life Observation Pursuit Secret Success
Man cannot aspire if he looked down; if he rise, he must look up.
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Aspiration Himself Man Rise
Riches are oftener an impediment than a stimulus to action; and in many cases they are quite as much a misfortune as a blessing.
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Action Blessing Fortune Quite
Conscience is that peculiar faculty of the soul which may be called the religious instinct.
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Conscience Religious Soul Weird
Stothard learned the art of combining colors by closely studying butterflies wings; he would often say that no one knew what he owed to these tiny insects. A burnt stick and a barn door served Wilkie in lieu of pencil and canvas.
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Butterfly Color Learning Service Study
Men whose acts are at variance with their words command no respect, and what they say has but little weight.
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Act Man Respect Weight Word

The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.

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The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.

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