The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want.
—Ben Stein (b.1944) American Lawyer, Writer, Economist, Humorist
Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes and I am left the same. The more things change the more I am the same. I am what I started with, and when it is all over I will be all that is left of me.
—Hugh Prather (1938–2010) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
It is often hard to bear the tears that we ourselves have caused.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist, Essayist, Critic
There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader, Head of State
Camouflage is a game we all like to play, but our secrets are as surely revealed by what we want to seem to be as by what we want to conceal.
—Russell Lynes (1910–91) American Art Historian, Photographer, Author, Editor
What you have outside you counts less than what you have inside you.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
We catch frightful glimpses of ourselves in the hostile eyes of others.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Up to a point a man’s life is shaped by environment, heredity, and movements and changes in the world about him. Then there comes a time when it lies within his grasp to shape the clay of his life into the sort of thing he wishes to be. Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, “This I am today; that I will be tomorrow”.
—Louis L’amour
I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
—Edward Everett Hale (1822–1909) American Unitarian Clergyman
Idleness is an inlet to disorder, and makes way for licentiousness. People who have nothing to do are quickly tired of their own company.
—Jeremy Collier (1650–1726) English Anglican Theater Critic, Theologian
Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor.
—Alexis Carrel (1873–1944) American Surgeon, Biologist
A man may be so much of every thing, that he is nothing of any thing.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist, Biographer, Poet, Writer, Literary Critic
Learning how to operate a soul figures to take time.
—Timothy Leary (1920–96) American Psychologist, Author
Endurance is frequently a form of indecision.
—Elizabeth Bibesco (1897–1945) English Poet, Short Story Writer, Novelist
Self-denial is simply a method by which man arrests his progress.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
To be nobody-but-yourself–in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else–means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.
—E. E. Cummings (1894–1962) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Artist
The greatest pride, or the greatest despondency, is the greatest ignorance of one’s self.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher
If in the last few years you haven’t discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead.
—Gelett Burgess
To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying “Amen” to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Author
There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one’s self.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.
—Anais Nin (1903–77)
If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.
—James A. Michener (1907–97) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Historian
Every man is two men; one is awake in the darkness, the other asleep in the light.
—Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Every man is the painter and the sculptor of his own life.
—John Chrysostom (349–407) Greek Christian Saint, Religious Leader
Oh! that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright, Poet, Author
The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright, Poet, Theater Personality
In every part and corner of our life, to lose oneself is to be the gainer; to forget oneself is to be happy.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Author
Living is being born slowly. It would be a little too easy if we could borrow ready-made souls.
—Antoine De Saint-Exupery (1900–44)
He that neither knows himself nor thinks he can learn of others is not fit for company.
—Benjamin Whichcote (1609–83) British Anglican Priest, Theologian, Philosopher
Never mind searching for who you are. Search for the person you aspire to be.
—Robert Brault
Man never knows what he wants; he aspires to penetrate mysteries and as soon as he has, he wants to reestablish them. Ignorance irritates him and knowledge cloys.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.
—Alan Watts (1915–73) British Buddhist Philosopher, Writer, Speaker
We are sure to be losers when we quarrel with ourselves; it is civil war.
—Charles Caleb Colton (1780–1832) English Angelic Priest, Writer, Collector
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
Misfortunes one can endure – they come from outside, they are accidents. But to suffer for one’s own faults – ah! there is the sting of life.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
If you can go through life without ever experiencing pain you probably haven’t been born yet. And if you’ve gone through pain and think you know exactly why, you haven’t examined all the options.
—Neil Simon
Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.
—Anais Nin (1903–77)
Reputation is in itself only a farthing-candle, of wavering and uncertain flame, and easily blown out, but it is the light by which the world looks for and finds merit.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic, Editor, Diplomat
Man is never alone. Acknowledged or unacknowledged, that which dreams through him is always there to support him from within.
—Laurens van der Post (1906–96) South African-born British Political leader, Author, Educator, Journalist, Humanitarian
Man is a wonder to himself; he can neither govern nor know himself.
—Benjamin Whichcote (1609–83) British Anglican Priest, Theologian, Philosopher
In vain he seeketh others to suppress who hath not learned himself first to subdue.
—Edmund Spenser (1552–99) English Poet