It is defeat that turns bone to flint, gristle to muscle, and makes men invincible.

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.

We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started.

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones.

Some men are like pyramids, which are very broad where they touch the ground, but grow narrow as they reach the sky.

As for marigolds, poppies, hollyhocks, and valorous sunflowers, we shall never have a garden without them, both for their own sake, and for the sake of old-fashioned folks, who used to love them.

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.

The thistle is a prince. Let any man that has an eye for beauty take a view of the whole plant, and where will he see a more expressive grace and symmetry; and where is there a more kingly flower?

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself.

He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has.

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.

I reckon responsible behavior is something to get when you grow older. Like varicose veins.

There is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness.

On the way up here to the podium, a gentleman came up to me and said, "Governor, you are as good a politician as you were an actor." What a cheap shot.

I don't direct the plays of others.

The person who has a firm trust in the Supreme Being is powerful in his power, wise by his wisdom, happy by his happiness.

There are more Negroes in jail with me than there are on the voting rolls.

Know thy opportunity.

Stories are artifacts, not really made things which we create and can take credit for, but pre-existing objects which we dig up.

Those are fools however learned Who have not learned to walk with the world.

Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. America from border to border and coast to coast and all the ships at sea. Let's go to press.