Firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character and one of the best instruments of success. Without it genius wastes its efforts in a maze of inconsistencies.

As fathers commonly go, it is seldom a misfortune to be fatherless; and considering the general run of sons, as seldom a misfortune to be childless.

The mere brute pleasure of reading - the sort of pleasure a cow must have in grazing.

If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Being pretty on the inside means you don't hit your brother and you eat all your peas - that's what my grandma taught me.

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

You must look into people, as well as at them.

A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners.

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

There are often great lessons to be learned at the roots of stress, drama, and heartache. Don’t let the magnitude of the circumstance blind you to the value of the lesson.

The rich kept you waiting so you could feel free to admire all that they had.

Anyone 100% optimistic is on medicine.Anyone 100% pessimistic should be.

True worship, worship that is pleasing to God, radiates throughout a person's entire life.

I know that people think I'm a party king; but, face it, if I finished the bottle every time I took a drink, I wouldn't be able to do the aerials I do onstage.

Reading poetry is an adventure in renewal, a creative act, a perpetual beginning, a rebirth of wonder.

I get a bit of a kick out of exporting private enterprise and incentives.

Every morning I am a beginner.

The gift of food to the hungry is the noblest of all gifts.

You don't want to be outside during blackfly season.