Every person who has grown to any degree of usefulness, every person who has grown to distinction, almost without exception has been a person who has risen by overcoming obstacles, by removing difficulties, by resolving that when he met discouragement he would not give up.

Great men cultivate love and only little men cherish a spirit of hatred; assistance given to the weak makes the one who gives it strong; oppression of the unfortunate makes one weak.

A race, like an individual, lifts itself up by lifting others up.

I believe that any man's life will be filled with constant and unexpected encouragement, if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day, and as nearly as possible reaching the high-water mark of pure and useful living.

No one can degrade us except ourselves.

It means a great deal, I think, to start off on a foundation which one has made for oneself.

Dignify and glorify common labor. It is at the bottom of life that we must begin, not at the top.