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. Samuel Smiles More Quotes by Samuel Smiles More Quotes From Samuel Smiles The influence of woman is the same everywhere. Her condition influences the morals, manners, and character of the people of all countries. Where she is debased, society is debased; where she is morally pure and enlightened, society will be proportionately elevated. Samuel Smiles women character country It is not eminent talent that is required to ensure success in any pursuit, so much as purpose-not merely the power to achieve, but the will to labour energetically and perseveringly. Hence energy of will may be defined to be the very central power of character in a man-in a word, it is the Man himself. Samuel Smiles power spiritual character The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve. Samuel Smiles adversity inspirational men The possession of a library, or the free use of it, no more constitutes learning, than the possession of wealth constitutes generosity. Samuel Smiles library generosity use Home is the first and most important school of character. It is there that every human being receives his best moral training, or his worst; for it is there that he imbibes those principles of conduct which endure through manhood, and cease only with life. Samuel Smiles home character school The cheapest of all things is kindness, its exercise requiring the least possible trouble and self-sacrifice. Win hearts, said Burleigh to Queen Elizabeth, and you have all men's hearts and purses. Samuel Smiles queens kindness heart The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual. Samuel Smiles self roots inspirational Genius, without work, is certainly a dumb oracle, and it is unquestionably true that the men of the highest genius have invariably been found to be amongst the most plodding, hard-working, and intent men -- their chief characteristic apparently consisting simply in their power of laboring more intensely and effectively than others. Samuel Smiles hard-work dumb men The noble people will be nobly ruled, and the ignorant and corrupt ignobly. Samuel Smiles ignorant noble people 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. Samuel Smiles struggle men fall Whatever is done for men takes away from the stimulus and necessity of doing things for themselves. The value of legislative as an agent in human advancement has been much over-estimated. No laws, however stringent, can make the idle industrious, the thriftless provident or the drunken sober. Samuel Smiles done law men Riches are oftener an impediment than a stimulus to action; and in many cases they are quite as much a misfortune as a blessing. Samuel Smiles riches blessing action Cheerfulness is also an excellent wearing quality. It has been called the bright weather of the heart. Samuel Smiles quality heart weather Opportunities ... fall in the way of every man who is resolved to take advantage of them. Samuel Smiles opportunity men fall Men whose acts are at variance with their words command no respect, and what they say has but little weight. Samuel Smiles weight littles men Many are the lives of men unwritten, which have nevertheless as powerfully influenced civilization and progress as the more fortunate Great whose names are recorded in biography. Even the humblest person, who sets before his fellows an example of industry, sobriety, and upright honesty of purpose in life, has a present as well as a future influence upon the well-being of his country; for his life and character pass unconsciously into the lives of others, and propagate good example for all time to come. Samuel Smiles honesty character country It is observed at sea that men are never so much disposed to grumble and mutiny as when least employed. Hence an old captain, when there was nothing else to do, would issue the order to "scour the anchor. Samuel Smiles anchors men order Commit a child to the care of a worthless, ignorant woman, and no culture in after-life will remedy the evil you have done. Samuel Smiles women evil children Example teaches better than precept. It is the best modeler of the character of men and women. To set a lofty example is the richest bequest a man can leave behind him. Samuel Smiles example character men Life is of little value unless it be consecrated by duty. Samuel Smiles duty life-is littles
