James Allen

Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.

Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.

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.

A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life.

A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life.

The outer conditions of a person's life will always be found to reflect their inner beliefs

The outer conditions of a person's life will always be found to reflect their inner beliefs

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