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.

An easy and luxurious existence does not train men to effort or encounter with difficulty; nor does it awaken that consciousness of power which is so necessary for energetic and effective action in life.

Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.

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

The great high-road of human welfare lies along the old highway of steadfast, well-doing; and they who are the most persistent, and work in the truest spirit, will invariably be the most successful; success treads on the heels of every right effort.

We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success. We often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery.

The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual.

The shortest way to do many things is to do one at a time.

Hope... is the companion of power, and the mother of success; for who so hopes has within him the gift of miracles.