The truest politeness comes of sincerity. Samuel Smiles More Quotes by Samuel Smiles More Quotes From Samuel Smiles 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 mentor giving father The best school of discipline is home. Family life is God's own method of training the young, and homes are very much as women make them. Samuel Smiles discipline home school Necessity is always the first stimulus to industry, and those who conduct it with prudence, perseverance and energy will rarely fail. Viewed in this light, the necessity of labor is not a chastisement, but a blessing,--the very root and spring of all that we call progress in individuals and civilization in nations. Samuel Smiles perseverance blessing spring The highest culture is not obtained from the teacher when at school or college, so much as by our ever diligent self-education when we become men. Samuel Smiles college teacher school All experiences of life seems to prove that the impediments thrown in the way of the human advancement may for the most part be overcome by steady good conduct, honest zeal, activity, perseverance and above all, by a determined resolution to surmount. Samuel Smiles advancement perseverance overcoming For want of self-restraint many men are engaged all their lives in fighting with difficulties of their own making, and rendering success impossible by their own cross-grained ungentleness; whilst others, it may be much less gifted, make their way and achieve success by simple patience, equanimity, and self-control. Samuel Smiles fighting success life It is natural to admire and revere really great men. They hallow the nation to which they belong, and lift up not only all who live in their time, but those who live after them. Their great example becomes the common heritage of their race; and their great deeds and great thoughts are the most glorious legacies of mankind. Samuel Smiles example race men The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear. Samuel Smiles wise men peace Honorable industry always travels the same road with enjoyment and duty, and progress is altogether impossible without it. Samuel Smiles progress duty impossible Any number of depraved units cannot form a great nation. Samuel Smiles units form numbers So much does the moral health depend upon the moral atmosphere that is breathed, and so great is the influence daily exercised by parents over their children by living a life before their eyes, that perhaps the best system of parental instruction might be summed up in these two words: 'Improve thyself.' Samuel Smiles eye character children Imitation is for the most part so unconscious that its effects are almost unheeded, but its influence is not the less permanent on that account. It is only when an impressive nature is placed in contact with an impressionable one that the alteration in the character becomes recognizable. Yet even the weakest natures exercise some influence upon those about them. The approximation of feeling, thought, and habit is constant, and the action of example unceasing. Samuel Smiles exercise feelings character If character be irrecoverably lost, then indeed there will be nothing left worth saving. Samuel Smiles saving lost character There is no act, however trivial, but has its train of consequences. Samuel Smiles consequence train Commonplace though it may appear, this doing of one's duty embodies the highest ideal of life and character. There may be nothing heroic about it; but the common lot of men is not heroic. Samuel Smiles hero character men Thus the brave and aspiring life of one man lights a flame in the minds of others of like faculties and impulse; and where there is equally vigorous effort, like distinction and success will almost surely follow. Thus the chain of example is carried down through time in an endless succession of links--admiration exciting imitation, and perpetuating the true aristocracy of genius. Samuel Smiles flames light men All that is great in man comes through work; and civilization is its product. Samuel Smiles products men civilization The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is in the thrall of his own moral ignorance, selfishness, and vice. Samuel Smiles selfishness ignorance evil Labour may be a burden and a chastisement, but it is also an honour and a glory. Without it, nothing can be accomplished. Samuel Smiles burden glory may An intense anticipation itself transforms possibility into reality; our desires being often but precursors of the things which we are capable of performing. Samuel Smiles anticipation desire reality
