Excellence without effort is as futile as progress without preparation.

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.

Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.

Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare while others are playing; and dream while others are wishing.

When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” —

Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and ingratitude for today’s blessings.

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.

Always it’s Spring)and everyone’s in love and flowers pick themselves.

Our work is not to become a better person, but to become present to the perfection we already are.

In the Envoy Corps, you take what is offered, Virginia Vidaura said, somewhere in the corridors of my memory. And that must sometimes be enough.

Those that hate goodness are sometimes nearer than those that know nothing at all about it and think they have it.

Poetry is an art practiced with the terribly plastic material of human language.

My first language is both English and Spanish. My mom was raised in Los Angeles, so with her we spoke English, but my father was born in Cuba, so with him we spoke Spanish.

Great chefs know it's the appearance of food that counts...but great eaters know its the amount of food that counts

There is no feeling in this world to be compared with self-reliance--do not sacrifice that to anything else.

One should indeed read Pope with his notes available, in the Twickenham edition possibly, to see what a vast amount he did understand about Homer.

The thing about Uggs is that they're so comfortable. Once you've worn them, you don't want to go back.