Our self-image strongly held essentially determines what we become.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
Most of the things worth doing in the world
had been declared impossible before they were done.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Justice, Lawyer
The incontestable truth is that America has been built up by optimists, not by pessimists, but by men possessing courage, confidence in the nation’s destiny, by men willing to adventure, to shoulder risks terrifying to the timid.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Take Time
Take time to work … it is the price of success.
Take time to think … it is the source of power.
Take time to play, … it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, … it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, … it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream, … it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to love & be loved, … it is the privilege of the Gods.
Take time to look around … it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to laugh … it is the music of the soul.
—English Prayer
The optimist thinks that this is the best of all possible worlds; the pessimist knows it.
—J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904–67) American Theoretical Physicist
I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door — or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.
—Joan Rivers (1933–2014) American Comedian, TV Personality, Actor
Positive thinking won’t let you do anything but it will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.
—Zig Ziglar (b.1926) American Author, Motivational Speaker, Author
Think you can, think you can’t; either way, you’ll be right.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
It was his optimism that Freud bequeathed to America and it was the optimism of our youthfulness, our freedom from the sterner, sadder tradition of Europe which enabled us to seize his gift.
—Karl Menninger (1893–1990) American Psychiatrist
The soul contains the event that shall befall it, for the event is only the actualization of its thoughts; and what we pray to ourselves for is always granted.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher, Lecturer, Essayist, Poet
I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among the creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of kindness and compassion.
—William Faulkner (1897–1962) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
To expect defeat is nine-tenths of defeat itself.
—Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909) Italian-born American Novelist, Writer
He who has not faith in others shall find no faith in them.
—Laozi (b.604BCE–d:Unknown) Chinese Philosopher
Each of us makes his own weather, determines the color of the skies in the emotional universe which he inhabits.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
Our minds can shape the way a thing will be because we act according to our expectations.
—Federico Fellini (1920–93) Italian Film Director
Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.
—Zig Ziglar (b.1926) American Author, Motivational Speaker, Author
A man is what he thinks about all day long.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher, Lecturer, Essayist, Poet
Positive anything is better than negative thinking.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched.
—George Jean Nathan (1882–1958) American Drama Critic, Editor
If you pretend to be good, the world takes you very seriously. If you pretend to be bad, it doesn’t. Such is the astounding stupidity of optimism.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
Think of only three things: your God, your family and the Green Bay Packers — in that order.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Sportsperson
Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it.
—Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) American New Thought Writer, Teacher
Kill the snake of doubt in your soul, crush the worms of fear in your heart and mountains will move out of your way.
—Kate Seredy
Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
All things are possible until they are proved impossible—and even the impossible may only be so as of now.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
The soul refuses limits and always affirms an optimism, never a pessimism.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher, Lecturer, Essayist, Poet
An optimist is a fellow who believes a housefly is looking for a way to get out.
—George Jean Nathan (1882–1958) American Drama Critic, Editor
As both capitalist and communist states — not to mention the technological world –have evolved under the illusion that men purposefully built them, ideological optimism seeps into every niche of our lives. It is made worse by mass culture which feeds our
—Stephen Vizinczey (b.1933) Hungarian-born Canadian Novelist, Literary Critic, Author
There are in life as many aspects as attitudes towards it; and aspects change with attitudes… Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different. Life would undergo a change of appearance because we ourselves had undergone a change in attitude.
—Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) New Zealander Short story
What after all has maintained the human race on this old globe despite all the calamities of nature and all the tragic failings of mankind, if not faith in new possibilities and courage to advocate them?
—Jane Addams (1860–1935) American Social Activist, Political Activist, Author, Lecturer
To make the world a friendly place, one must show it a friendly face.
—James Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer
An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
—Burton Hillis (William E. Vaughan) (1915–77) American Columnist, Author
Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole!
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
So always look for the silver lining|And try to find the sunny side of life.
—P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Humorist
If you constantly think of illness, you eventually become ill; if you believe yourself to be beautiful, you become so.
—Shakti Gawain (b.1948) American Author, Environmentalist
We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The realist sees reality as concrete. The optimist sees reality as clay.
—Robert Brault
If you expect nothing, you’re apt to be surprised. You’ll get it.
—Malcolm Forbes (1919–90) American Publisher
What we prepare for is what we shall get.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Academic, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
The world is the best of all possible worlds, and everything in it is a necessary evil.
—F. H. Bradley (1846–1924) British Philosopher
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author, Social Activist, Educator
Gray skies are just clouds passing over.
—Duke Ellington
What one believes to be true either is true or becomes true within limits to be found experientially and experimentally. These limits are beliefs to be transcended.
—John Lyly (1554–1606) English Dramatist, Novelist, Writer
When you have vision it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than pessimistic.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Christian Pastor, Author, Educator, Radio Personality
Why you are born and why you are living depend entirely on what you are getting out of this world and what you are giving to it. I cannot prove that this is a balance of mathematical perfection, but my own observation of life leads me to the conclusion that there is a very real relationship, both quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you contribute and what you get out of this world.
—Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960) American Songwriter, Composer, Theater Producer, Writer
We must dare to think unthinkable thoughts.
—J. William Fulbright (1905–95) American Political leader, Politician
Miracles never cease to amaze me. I expect them, but their consistent arrival is always delightful to experience.
—Mark Victor Hansen (b.1948) American Public Speaker, Motivational Speaker, Writer
The optimist thinks this is the best of all worlds. The pessimist fears it is true.
—J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904–67) American Theoretical Physicist
The mathematics of high achievement—
Begin with a dream.
DIVIDE the problems and conquer them one by one.
MULTIPLY the exciting possibilities in your mind.
SUBTRACT all the negative thoughts to get started.
ADD enthusiasm and determination.
And the RESULT will be the attainment of your goal.
—Anonymous
Failure is impossible.
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906) American Civil Rights Leader
Happiness will never be any greater than the idea we have of it.
—Maurice Maeterlinck (1862–1949) Belgian Playwright, Poet, Essayist
Persistent prophecy is a familiar way of assuring the event.
—George Gissing (1857–1903) English Novelist
Honor begets honor, trust begets trust; faith begets faith; and hope is the mainspring of life.
—Henry L. Stimson (1867–1950) American Political leader, Military Leader, Lawyer
The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him.
—Henry L. Stimson (1867–1950) American Political leader, Military Leader, Lawyer
A man who calls bullshit fertilizer.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson