American
Humorist,
Author and
Critic
(November 30,
1835 -
April 21,
1910)
"All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure."
"Always do right. This will surprise some people and astonish the rest."
"A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain."
"Crank - a man with a new idea until it succeeds."
"Do something every day that you don't want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain."
"Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live."
"It is not best that we should all think alike; it is difference of opinion which makes horse races."
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
"Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel."
"The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause."
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
"We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it - and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove-lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid again - and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore."
"When you cannot get a compliment any other way pay yourself one."
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."
"The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself."
