Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.

No thing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.

Every act you have ever performed since the day you were born was performed because you wanted something.

Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.

We acquire a particular quality by acting in a particular way.

I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.

The two qualities that chiefly inspire regard and affection [are] that a thing is you own and that it is your only one.

If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

Waves are inspiring not because they rise and fall, but because each time they fall they never fail to rise again.

A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspire others.

Most people die with their music still locked up inside them.

Keep your mind off the things you don’t want by keeping it on the things you do want.

How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself?

If we do not make common cause to save the good old ship of the Union on this voyage, nobody will have a chance to pilot her on another voyage.

Can’t is the worst word that is written or spoken; Doing more harm here than slander and lies; On it is many a strong spirit broken, And with it many a good purpose dies.

Dying is nothing. What is terrible is not to live.

Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.

Either you run the day, or the day runs you.

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.

Free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or good or joy worth having.