James Allen

Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your read more

Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.

The suspicious believe everybody to be suspicious; the liar feels secure in the thought that he is not so foolish read more

The suspicious believe everybody to be suspicious; the liar feels secure in the thought that he is not so foolish as to believe that there is such a phenomenon as a strictly truthful person; the envious see envy in every soul; the miser thinks everybody is eager to get his money;...and the abandoned sensualist looks upon the saint as a hypocrite

A man has to learn that he cannot command things, but that he can command himself; that he cannot coerce read more

A man has to learn that he cannot command things, but that he can command himself; that he cannot coerce the wills of others, but that he can mold and master his own will: and things serve him who serves Truth; people seek guidance of him who is master of himself.

A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out
to accomplish it. He should make read more

A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out
to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of
his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a
worldly object, according to his nature at the time being; but whichever
it is, he should steadily focus his thought forces upon the object which
he has set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and
should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to
wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the
royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought. Even if he
fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must
until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the
measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting point for
future power and triumph.

To put away aimlessness and weakness, and to begin to think with
purpose, is to enter the ranks of those read more

To put away aimlessness and weakness, and to begin to think with
purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize
failure as one of the pathways to attainment; who make all conditions
serve them, and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and accomplish
masterfully.