William Arthur Ward (1921–94) was an American writer of famous inspirational maxims.
A graduate of McMurry College, Ward received his master’s degree at Oklahoma State University. He served as an administrator of Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth from 1955 until 1993.
Ward published his “Think it Over” epigrams in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and other periodicals since the 1960s. His compositions also appeared in the Reader’s Digest, Science of Mind, and many greeting cards, posters, and wall plaques. His books include Thoughts of a Christian Optimist (1968) and Miracles That I Have Seen (1998.)
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Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.
—William Arthur Ward
Topics: Change, Blessings
The adventure of life is to learn.
The purpose of life is to grow.
The nature of life is to change.
The challenge of life is to overcome.
The essence of life is to care.
The opportunity of life is to serve.
The secret of life is to dare.
The spice of life is to befriend.
The beauty of life is to give.
The joy of life is to love.
—William Arthur Ward
A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.
—William Arthur Ward
Topics: Smile, One liners
Committing a great truth to memory is admirable; committing it to life is wisdom.
—William Arthur Ward
Topics: Wisdom
Failure is delay, but not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead-end street.
—William Arthur Ward
Topics: Failures, Failure, Mistakes
If you believe in prayer, pray; if you believe in serving, serve; if you believe in giving, give.
—William Arthur Ward
The winner persistently programs his pluses; the loser mournfully magnifies his minuses.
—William Arthur Ward
Topics: Winning, Winners
We are more than what we do… much more than what we accomplish… far more than what we possess.
—William Arthur Ward
Optimists enrich the present, enhance the future, challenge the improbable and attain the impossible.
—William Arthur Ward
Topics: Challenges
If you can imagine it,
You can achieve it.
If you can dream it,
You can become it.
—William Arthur Ward
Topics: Ambition
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.
—William Arthur Ward
Topics: Flattery, Criticism, Support, Encouragement
Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.
—William Arthur Ward
Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate.
—William Arthur Ward
We can choose to throw stones, to stumble on them, to climb over them, or to build with them.
—William Arthur Ward
Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards.
—William Arthur Ward
Topics: Opportunity, Opportunities
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