Your success and happiness lie in you. External conditions are the accidents of life, its outer trappings.

I, who cannot see, find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine.

I fall, I stand still... I trudge on. I gain a little... I get more eager and climb higher and begin to see the widening horizon. Every struggle is a victory.

Worse than being blind would be to be able to see but not have any vision.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.

Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there's a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.