My importance to the world is relatively small. On the other hand, my importance to myself is tremendous. I am read more

My importance to the world is relatively small. On the other hand, my importance to myself is tremendous. I am all I have to work with, to play with, to suffer and to enjoy. It is not the eyes of others that I am wary of, but of my own. I do not intend to let myself down more than I can possibly help, and I find that the fewer illusions I have about myself or the world around me, the better company I am for myself.

My family pride is something inconceivable. I can't help it. I was born sneering.

My family pride is something inconceivable. I can't help it. I was born sneering.

If one takes pride in one's craft, you won't let a good thing die. Risking it through not pushing hard read more

If one takes pride in one's craft, you won't let a good thing die. Risking it through not pushing hard enough is not a humility.

Humans have the ability to shift perspective. We can experience the world through our senses. Or we can remove ourselves read more

Humans have the ability to shift perspective. We can experience the world through our senses. Or we can remove ourselves from our senses and experience the world even less directly. We can think about our life, rather than thinking in our life. We can think about what we think about our life, and we can think about what we think about that. We can shift perceptual positions many times over.

Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character.

Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character.

I bring to my life a certain amount of mess.

I bring to my life a certain amount of mess.

In this country men seem to live for action as long as they can and sink into apathy when they read more

In this country men seem to live for action as long as they can and sink into apathy when they retire.

You don't always get what you ask for, but you never get what you don't ask for... unless it's contagious!.

You don't always get what you ask for, but you never get what you don't ask for... unless it's contagious!.

Every hardship; every joy; every temptation is a challenge of the spirit; that the human soul may prove itself. The read more

Every hardship; every joy; every temptation is a challenge of the spirit; that the human soul may prove itself. The great chain of necessity wherewith we are bound has divine significance; and nothing happens which has not some service in working out the sublime destiny of the human soul.