Inspirational Tidbits

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

“I have learned through bitter experience the one supreme lesson to conserve my anger, and as heat conserved is transmitted into energy, even so our anger controlled can be transmitted into a power that can move the world.”

:: (1869 - 1948) Indian political and spiritual leader

Washington Irving

"An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather."

:: (1783-1859) American author, essayist, biographer and historian

Margaret Mead

“We’ve been living through a period in which the old have been recklessly discarded and disallowed … Given an opportunity to participate meaningfully in new knowledge and new skills, and new styles of life, the elderly can embody the changing world in such a way that their grand-children – and all children of the youngest generation – are given a mandate to be part of the new and yet maintain human ties with the past which, however phrased, is part of our humanity.”

:: (1901-1978) American cultural anthropologist

Martin Luther King, Jr

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."

:: (1929 - 1968)

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Those who cannot tell what they desire or expect, still sigh and struggle with indefinite thoughts and vast wishes."

:: (1803 - 1882) American Poet, Essayist

Francis of Assisi

He who works with his hands is a laborer.

He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.

He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.

:: (1182 - 1226)

Martin Luther King, Jr

An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.

:: (1929 - 1968)

Denis Johnston

"Men do not invent myths. They only invent fables, and tell lies. True myths create themselves, and find their expression in the men who serve their purpose."

:: (1901 - 1984) Irish dramatist, playwright, reporter, writer

Maya Angelou

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.

View the video clip of Oprah Winfrey's interview.

Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.

And, there on television, she said it was "exciting." Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts.They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist first.

The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this:

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that "making a living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance." I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Mario Andretti

"Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs."

:: (1940~) Italian-born American Auto Racer

Pablo Picasso

"An idea is a point of departure and no more. As soon as you elaborate it, it becomes transformed by thought."

:: (1881-1973) Spanish Painter, Sculptor

Lao-Tzu

"Quarrel with a friend and you are both wrong."

:: (604-531BC) Chinese Philosopher, Co-founder of Taoism

Saint Augustine of Hippo

"He that is jealous is not in love."

:: (354-430AD) Numidian-born Theologian

Og Mandino

"The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. Therefore I saith the surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work for which you are paid."

:: (1923-1996 ) Speaker / Writer

Alexander Graham Bell

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."

:: (1847-1922) Scottish-born American Inventor, Educator, Telephone Pioneer