Joyfulness keeps the heart and face young. A good laugh makes us better friends with ourselves and everybody around us. Orison Swett Marden More Quotes by Orison Swett Marden More Quotes From Orison Swett Marden We do not know what we can bear until we are put to the test. Many a delicate mother, who thought that she could not survive the death of her children, has lived to bury her husband and the last one of a large family, and in addition to all this has seen her home and last dollar swept away; yet she has had the courage to bear it all and to go on as before. When the need comes, there is a power deep within us that answers the call. Orison Swett Marden husband mother children The secret of happiness is in a cheerful, contented mind. He is poor who is dissatisfied; he is rich who is contented with what he has, and can enjoy what others own. Orison Swett Marden secret mind happiness To many a man, and sometimes to a youth, there comes the opportunity to choose between honorable competence and tainted wealth. The young man who starts out to be poor and honorable, holds in his hand one of the strongest elements of success. Orison Swett Marden honesty success opportunity One of the best strengtheners of character and developers of stamina ... is to assume the part you wish to play; to assert stoutly the possession of whatever you lack. Orison Swett Marden wish play character The world makes way for the man with an idea. Orison Swett Marden will-and-determination men ideas We lend power to the things we fear! Orison Swett Marden fear We cannot separate our lives from time. Why is it that we are so extravagant, so thoughtless, in our waste of time, especially in youth, when we cling so tenaciously to life? You cannot separate a wasted hour from the same duration of your life. If you waste your time, you must waste your life. If you improve your time, you cannot help improving your life. Orison Swett Marden duration waste time Many mothers make the mistake of forever looking for the bad in the child, trying to . . . uproot and drive it out. This is like trying to eject the darkness from a room without opening the shutters and letting in the light. As John Newton said, 'I cannot sweep the darkness out, but I can shine it out.' Orison Swett Marden mother motivational children Pessimism has never done anything but tear down and destroy what optimism has built up. Orison Swett Marden optimism tears done What power can poverty have over a home where loving hearts are beating with a consciousness of untold riches of the head and heart? Orison Swett Marden power home heart There is a legend of an artist who long sought for a piece of sandalwood, out of which to carve a Madonna. He was about to give up in despair, leaving the vision of his life unrealized, when in a dream he was bidden to carve his Madonna from a block of oak wood which was destined for the fire. He obeyed and produced a masterpiece from a log of common firewood. Many of us lose great opportunities in life by waiting to find sandalwood for our carvings, when they really lie hidden in the common logs that we burn. Orison Swett Marden block giving-up dream Opportunity is latent in the very foundation of human society. Opportunity is everywhere about us. But the preparation to seize upon the opportunity, and to make the most of it, is to be made by every one for himself ... he will be self-made or never made. Orison Swett Marden preparation self opportunity The wearer of smiles and the bearer of a kindly disposition needs no introduction, but is welcome anywhere. Orison Swett Marden disposition welcome needs There can be no great courage where there is no confidence or assurance, and half the battle is in the conviction that we can do what we undertake. Orison Swett Marden confidence battle half A great many people never really discover themselves until ruin stares them in the face. They do not seem to know how to bring out their reserves until they are overtaken by an overwhelming disaster, or until the sight of their blighted prospects and of the wreck of their homes and happiness stirs them to the very center of their beings.... There is something in defeat which puts new determination into a man of mettle. Orison Swett Marden determination home men Many a man has finally succeeded only because he has failed after repeated efforts. If he had never met defeat he would never have known any great victory. Orison Swett Marden failure success men Every youth owes it to himself and to the world to make the most possible out of the stuff that is in him. Orison Swett Marden stuff time world We advance on our journey only when we face our goal, when we are confident and believe we are going to win out. Orison Swett Marden winning inspirational believe No one has a corner on success. It is his who pays the price. Orison Swett Marden corners pay-the-price pay What a great discrepancy there is between people and the results they achieve! It is due to the difference in their power of calling together all the rays of their ability, and concentrating them upon one point. Orison Swett Marden differences success people
