The virtues of society are vices of the saint. The terror of reform is the discovery that we must cast away our virtues, or what we have always esteemed such, into the same pit that has consumed our grosser vices.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.
—Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Nearly every man who develops an idea works at it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then gets discouraged. That’s not the place to become discouraged.
—Thomas Edison (1847-1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Perhaps a man’s character was like a tree, and his reputation like its shadow; the shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of the circumstances.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared; but only men of character are trusted.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychologist, Psychiatrist
The next best thing to knowing something is knowing where to find it.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.
—Malcolm Forbes (1919–90) American Publisher
No one reaches a high position without daring.
—Publilius Syrus Syrian-born Latin Writer
Virtuous and vicious everyone must be; few in extremes, but all in degree.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
The time is always right to do what?s right.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Wickedness is always easier than virtue; for it takes the short cut to everything.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist