Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.

Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.

The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.

The man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of everything else to which he is justly entitled.

The average person puts only 25% of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%.

Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.

To be granted some kind of usable talent and to be able to use it to the fullest extent of which you are capable—this, to me, is a kind of joy that is almost unequaled.

The question, 'Who ought to be boss?' is like asking 'Who ought to be the tenor in a quartet?' Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.

All limitations are self-imposed.

Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, nevertheless they give up their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it, and then it’s gone. But to surrender what you are, and live without belief - that’s more terrible than dying—more terrible than dying young.

Unless you believe you will not understand.

You can close more business in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you.

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.

When the intensity of emotional conviction subsides, a man who is in the habit of reasoning will search for logical grounds in favor of the belief which he finds in himself.

Religion is a great force—the only real motive force in the world; but what you fellows don't understand is that you must get a man through his own religion and not through yours.

The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck.

I think most of the people involved in any art always secretly wonder whether they are really there because they are good—or there because they’re lucky.