The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. (Henry David Thoreau, 19th century American essayist and philosopher) Is Thoreau’s observation accurate? Was it true in his lifetime? Today? The daily news, on TV, in hard print, or on social media might seem to...
The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one’s relationship has a glowing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase. (Sir Hugh Walpoe, 20th century English novelist) Speaking of meeting such a friend,...
The practice of scales solves the greatest number of technical problems in the shortest amount of time. (Andrés Segovia, Spanish classical guitarist). Remember when your mother insisted that you take piano lessons? Many of us started but soon gave up. The repetition...
You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices. (Deepak Chopra, author) The ability to choose is one of the few factors in life that we can...
The family characteristic that should be most evident in us is summed up in these words, “walk in love.” (Elyse Fitzpatrick, author) Today it’s very evident that the family unit is in trouble. Single mothers, absentee fathers, children out of control—these are...
Knowing is confirmed in showing. One cannot be complete without the other. (Paraphrase of Kip Cone, pastor-teacher) Everyone would agree, probably, that knowledge is a good thing. After all, you have to know something in order to act. But as Cone points out, unless...
That which grows fast, withers as rapidly. That which grows slowly, endures. (Josiah Gilbert Holland, 19th century American novelist and poet) In a society of fast-moving, goal-driven people, we don’t see much patience. Instant gratification drives our desires and...
If there [is] to be independence, self-sufficiency, or freedom, then we first [have] to understand, accept, and discharge our responsibilities. (Paraphrase of Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court Associate Justice) Americans prize their independence and freedom. Many are...
Mistakes are painful when they happen, but years later a collection of mistakes, called experience, will lead us to success. (Denis Waitley, motivational speaker) No one likes to make mistakes. We don’t start out any day or any project with the intention of making...
To the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself. (William Blake, 18th-19th century English poet. Blake wrote, “The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all...
Your own resolution (persistence) to succeed is more important than any other one thing. (Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States) Consider the journey of the gangly farm boy from Kentucky to the White House, and you must be impressed by his perseverance....
You can’t leave a footprint that lasts if you’re always walking on tiptoe. (Marion Blakey, business executive) We sometimes say that someone is “tip-toeing around,” implying that maybe they are avoiding reality or a possible unfavorable reaction to their activity....