“If a sound body and a sound mind, which is as much as to say health and virtue, are to be preferred before all other considerations, ought not men, in choosing a business either for themselves or children, to refuse such as are unwholesome for the body, and such as make a man too dependent, too much obliged to please others, and too much subjected to their humors in order to be recommended and get a livelihood?”

“Our opinions are not in our own power; they are formed and governed much by circumstances that are often as inexplicable as they are irresistible.”

“Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.”

“After all, wedlock is the natural state of man. A bachelor is not a complete human being. He is like the odd half of a pair of scissors, which has not yet found its fellow, and therefore is not even half so useful as they might be together.”

“I would advise you to read with a pen in hand, and enter in a little book short hints of what you find that is curious, or that may be useful; for this will be the best method of imprinting such particulars in your memory.”

“By the collision of different sentiments, sparks of truth are struck out, and political light is obtained. The different factions, which at present divide us, aim all at the public good; the differences are only about the various modes of promoting it.”

“Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.”

“There are in life real evils enough, and it is folly to afflict ourselves with imaginary ones; it is time enough when the real ones arrive.”

“Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow.”

“Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.”

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend."

“We don't have to expect everything from those who govern us; that would be juvenile.” 

“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight” 

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity” 

“Rhetoric is no substitute for reality.” 

Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.

To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly.

Change is the end result of all true learning.

Never confuse motion with action.

Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.

Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.

“They are ALWAYS happy and don’t even have to make an effort to be this way. What is their secret? Why them and not me? I used to wonder. Some people are born with a temperament that makes it easy for them to look on the bright side, but even they have to make choices about their thoughts and attitudes toward life. Any person, no matter how naturally inclined they are toward good moods, can have sour, negative thoughts if they don’t choose differently. Your mind, mouth, moods, and attitudes are all intricately connected. First you think, and then your thoughts turn into words that you speak, and the” 

“Experience gives us confidence, but we never get experience unless we step out and try things we have not tried before.”