Politeness goes far, yet costs nothing.

It will generally be found that men who are constantly lamenting their ill luck are only reaping the consequences of their own neglect, mismanagement, and improvidence, or want of application.

All life is a struggle.... Under competition the lazy man is put under the necessity of exerting himself; and if he will not exert himself, he must fall behind. If he do not work, neither shall he eat.

It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures. Precept, study, advice, and example could never have taught them so well as failure has done.

Life will always be to a large extent what we ourselves make it.

Purposes, like eggs, unless they be hatched into action, will run into rottenness.

An intense anticipation itself transforms possibility into reality; our desires being often but precursors of the things which we are capable of performing.