I've always been too hard on myself to behave like I've arrived or even to enjoy whatever success I've had. I've always envisioned myself higher than where I was and I still do. With each success I think, 'That's nice but I'm supposed to go there!'

Whatever causes night in our souls may leave stars. Cimourdain was full of virtues and truth, but they shine out of a dark background.

Victor Hugo

Laziness never arrived at the attainment of a good wish.

Miguel de Cervantes

There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.

Jane Austen

Marriage is a mistake every man should make.

George Jessel

Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake from turning into a failure.

James Altucher

Gypsy was the name my brother gave a pet turtle he had. I always thought it was so peculiar.

Joel Hodgson

The ordinary can be like medicine.

Sherman Alexie

The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.

John Muir

The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.

Francis Bacon

Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. In the first stage of life the mind is frivolous and easily distracted; it misses progress by failing in consecutiveness and persistence. This is the condition of children and barbarians.

George Santayana, The Life of Re

The strongest proof that in the name of science we pursue unworthy and sometimes even harmful things is the existence of a science of punishment.

Leo Tolstoy

I get stubborn and dig in when people tell me I can't do something and I think I can. It goes back to my childhood when I had problems in school because I have a learning disability.

Ann Bancroft