There's no grander sight in the world than that of a person fired with a great purpose, dominated by one unwavering aim.

We cannot rise higher than our thought of ourselves.

No man can hope to accomplish anything great in this world until he throws his whole soul, flings the force of his whole life, into it. It is not enough simply to have a general desire to accomplish something. There is but one way to do that; and that is, to try to be somebody with all the concentrated energy we can muster.

It is just the little touches after the average man would quit that make the master's fame.

There is a legend of an artist who long sought for a piece of sandalwood, out of which to carve a Madonna. He was about to give up in despair, leaving the vision of his life unrealized, when in a dream he was bidden to carve his Madonna from a block of oak wood which was destined for the fire. He obeyed and produced a masterpiece from a log of common firewood. Many of us lose great opportunities in life by waiting to find sandalwood for our carvings, when they really lie hidden in the common logs that we burn.

Doing common things uncommonly well.

We must give more in order to get more. It is the generous giving of ourselves that produces the generous harvest.