Men whose acts are at variance with their words command no respect, and what they say has but little weight. Samuel Smiles More Quotes by Samuel Smiles More Quotes From Samuel Smiles The brave man is an inspiration to the weak, and compels them, as it were, to follow him. Samuel Smiles inspirationbravemen Those who have most to do, and are willing to work, will find the most time. Samuel Smiles willingwork Success treads on the heels of every right effort; and though it is possible to overestimate success to the extent of almost deifying it, as is sometimes done, still in any worthy pursuit it is meritorious. Samuel Smiles effortdonesometimes The women of the poorer classes make sacrifices, and run risks, and bear privations, and exercise patience and kindness to a degree that the world never knows of, and would scarcely believe even if it did know. Samuel Smiles kindnessrunningbelieve Men cannot be raised in masses as the mountains were in he early geological states of the world. They must be dealt with as units; for it is only by the elevation of individuals that the elevation of the masses can be effectively secured. Samuel Smiles mountainmenworld A fig-tree looking on a fig-tree becometh fruitful," says the Arabian proverb. And so it is with children; their first great instructor is example. Samuel Smiles exampletreechildren 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. Samuel Smiles successfulinspirationallying Necessity, oftener than facility, has been the mother of invention; and the most prolific school of all has been the school of difficulty. Samuel Smiles inventionmotherschool Men often discover their affinity to each other by the mutual love they have for a book. Samuel Smiles mutual-lovemenbook Stothard learned the art of combining colors by closely studying butterflies wings; he would often say that no one knew what he owed to these tiny insects. A burnt stick and a barn door served Wilkie in lieu of pencil and canvas. Samuel Smiles butterflydoorsart Character is undergoing constant change, for better or for worse--either being elevated on the one hand, or degraded on the other. Samuel Smiles change-for-the-bettercharacterhands Childhood is like a mirror, which reflects in afterlife the images first presented to it. The first thing continues forever with the child. The first joy, the first sorrow, the first success, the first failure, the first achievement, the first misadventure, paint the foreground of his life. Samuel Smiles afterlifemirrorschildren Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey towards it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. ...Hope sweetens the memory of experiences well loved. It tempers our troubles to our growth and our strength. It befriends us in the dark hours, excites us in bright ones. It lends promise to the future and purpose to the past. It turns discouragement to determination. Samuel Smiles Samuel Smiles determinationdarkmemories Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow Samuel Smiles progresskindmoving The government of a nation itself is usually found to be but the reflux of the individuals composing it. The government that is ahead of the people will be inevitably dragged down to their level, as the government that is behind them will in the long run be dragged up. Samuel Smiles governmentrunninglong The great lesson of biography is to show what man can be and do at his best. A noble life put fairly on record acts like an inspiration to others. Samuel Smiles nobleinspirationmen Great men are always exceptional men; and greatness itself is but comparative. Indeed, the range of most men in life is so limited that very few have the opportunity of being great. Samuel Smiles greatnessopportunitymen This extraordinary metal, the soul of every manufacture, and the mainspring perhaps of civilised society. Of iron. Samuel Smiles ironcivilizationscience Nothing of real worth can be obtained without courageous working. Man owes his growth chiefly to the active striving of the will, that encounter with difficulty which he calls effort; and it is astonishing to find how often results apparently impracticable are then made possible. Samuel Smiles effortrealmen Alexander the Great valued learning so highly, that he used to say he was more indebted to Aristotle for giving him knowledge than to his father Philip for life. Samuel Smiles mentorgivingfather
