Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.

William James (1842 - 1910)

The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting.

Charles Bukowski (1920 - 1994)

In the beginning there was nothing. God said, 'Let there be light!' And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better.

Ellen DeGeneres

Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.

Og Mandino

Wisdom is what's left after we've run out of personal opinions.

Cullen Hightower

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

Martin Luther King Jr.

If you go in for argument, take care of your temper. Your logic, if you have any, will take care of itself.

Joseph Farrell

There will be a time when loud-mouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self destruct. It never fails.

Richard Rybolt

"Strangers are just friends waiting to happen"

The future is an opaque mirror. Anyone who tries to look into it sees nothing but the dim outlines of an old and worried face.

Jim Bishop

Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.

Confucius

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.

Martha Washington (1732 - 1802)

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.

Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.

Benjamin Franklin

It is common sense to take a method and try it; if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945)

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't.

Anatole France (1844 - 1924)

There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and the tired man who wants a book to read.

G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)

I am going to concentrate on what's important in life. I'm going to strive everyday to be a kind and generous and loving person. I'm going to keep death right here, so that anytime I even think about getting angry at you or anybody else, I'll see death and I'll remember.

Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, Do The Right Thing, 1992

Remember that what you believe will depend very much on what you are.

Noah Porter (1811 - 1892)

"Some men see things as they are and say why.
I dream things that never were and say why not." - Senator Robert F. Kennedy

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.

Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826

Anarchism is founded on the observation that since few men are wise enough to rule themselves, even fewer are wise enough to rule others.

Edward Abbey (1927 - 1989)

Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.

Cherie Carter-Scott

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness; no laziness; no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Lord Chesterfield (1694 - 1773)

The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.

Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ),

Have no friends not equal to yourself.

Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC),

I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.

G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)

When love is in excess it brings a man no honor nor worthiness.

Euripides (484 BC - 406 BC), Medea, 431 B.C.