Instead of possibilities, I have realities in my past, not only the reality of work done and of love loved, but of sufferings bravely suffered. These sufferings are even the things of which I am most proud, though these are things which cannot inspire envy.

To the European, it is a characteristic of the American culture that, again and again, one is commanded and ordered to 'be happy.' But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue. One must have a reason to 'be happy.' Once the reason is found, however, one becomes happy automatically. As we see, a human being is not one in pursuit of happiness but rather in search of a reason to become happy, last but not least, through actualizing the potential meaning inherent and dormant in a given situation.

Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.

Pain is only bearable if we know it will end, not if we deny it exists.

When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves.

No one can take from us the ability to choose our attitudes toward the circumstances in which we find ourselves. This is the last of human freedoms.

No man should judge unless he asks himself in absolute honesty whether in a similar situation he might not have done the same.