The meaning of things 

lies not in the things themselves, 

but in our attitude towards them.

In a democracy, 

the majority of the citizens 

is capable of exercising 

the most cruel oppressions 

upon the minority.

Without words, 

without writing 

and without books 

there would be no history, 

there could be no concept of humanity.

It is a fine seasoning for joy 

to think of those we love.

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.

All experience is an arch 

wherethrough gleams that untravelled world 

whose margin fades for ever and for ever 

when I move.

The only means of strengthening one's intellect 

is to make up one's mind about nothing, 

to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts.

The most positive men are the most credulous.

Imagination is the real and eternal world 

of which this vegetable universe 

is but a faint shadow.

The mind is its own place 

and in itself, 

can make a Heaven of Hell, 

a Hell of Heaven.

The mind unlearns with difficulty 

what it has long learned.

The great use of life 

is to spend it for something that will outlast it.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, 

but the parent of all the others.

He that complies against his will 

is of his own opinion still.

The brain is wider than the sky.

The world of reality has its limits; 

the world of imagination is boundless.

Let us be grateful 

to people who make us happy, 

they are the charming gardeners 

who make our souls blossom.

The person who reads too much 

and uses his brain too little 

will fall into lazy habits of thinking.

Man is what he believes.

Animals are such agreeable friends — 

they ask no questions; 

they pass no criticisms.

With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, 

and the deep power of joy, 

we see into the life of things.

If you have somebody who's brilliant and highly creative 

with a different point of view than you have, 

and a very different intellectual background, 

great things can happen.

Somewhere, 

something incredible 

is waiting to be known.

Pursue some path, 

however narrow and crooked, 

in which you can walk 

with love and reverence.

Quality is never an accident. 

It is always the result of intelligent effort.

The key to education 

is the experience of beauty.

Our dead are never dead to us, 

until we have forgotten them.

If there is a sense of reality, 

there must also be a sense of possibility.

What makes us human, I think, 

is an ability to ask questions, 

a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.

Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.

Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, 

and its power of endurance — 

the cheerful man will do more in the same time, 

will do it better, 

will preserve it longer, 

than the sad or sullen.

Happiness resides not in possessions, 

and not in gold, 

happiness dwells in the soul.

Beauty is in the heart of the beholder.

Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.

There are few circumstances which so strongly distinguish the philosopher, 

as the calmness with which he can reply to criticisms 

he may think undeservedly severe.

Start with what is right 

rather than what is acceptable.

Truth is not only violated by falsehood; 

it may be equally outraged by silence.

The true triumph of reason 

is that it enables us
to get along with 

those who do not possess it.

The tears of the world are a constant quality. 

For each one who begins to weep, 

somewhere else another stops. 

The same is true of the laugh.

A happy life is one which is in accordance with its own nature.

Learn from yesterday, 

live for today, 

hope for tomorrow. 

The important thing is 

not to stop questioning.

Reason is a harmonising, controlling force 

rather than a creative one.

The language of friendship 

is not words 

but meanings.

The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.

In action 

a great heart is the chief qualification. 

In work, 

a great head.

Imagination is the beginning of creation. 

You imagine what you desire, 

you will what you imagine 

and at last you create what you will.

In the realm of ideas 

everything depends on enthusiasm... 

in the real world 

all rests on perseverance.

Truth in philosophy means that concept and external reality correspond.

Language is the dress of thought.

Many individuals have, 

like uncut diamonds, 

shining qualities beneath a rough exterior.