I think sometimes the critics want me to beat people down, and that’s not in me. I want to lift people up.

You and I, the people of God, have permission to come before the throne of Heaven at any time we will, and we are encouraged to come there with great boldness.

My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.

A true man hates no one.

Attitude and enthusiasm play a big part in my life. I get excited about the things that inspire me. I also believe in laughing and having a good time.

Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest.

Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them.

Be careful what you set your heart upon – for it will surely be yours.

I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.

A man is what he thinks about all day long.

Your friend is your needs answered.

I hate to see anybody sink. I hate to see anybody lose their dream, lose their home, something like that.

A man’s growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends.

Life’s a bit like mountaineering – never look down.

I don’t have any stress. I’m very lucky. I live a very healthy life.

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.

The secret to happiness is to face the fact that the world is horrible.

If you want to reach the top, don’t run over others. Likely, the only way you’ll reach the top is to be carried there by others.

We cannot despair of humanity, since we ourselves are human beings.

How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.

We will move forward, we will move upward, and yes, we will move onward.

Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.

Forward, as occasion offers. Never look round to see whether any shall note it… Be satisfied with success in even the smallest matter, and think that even such a result is no trifle.

I believe everyone should have a good death. You know, with your grandchildren around you, a bit of sobbing. Because after all, tears are appropriate on a death bed. And you say goodbye to your loved ones, making certain that one of them has been left behind to look after the shop.

However my parents – both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing quirk that would never pay a mortgage or secure a pension.

Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained.

Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.

Obama’s policies have been approximately the same as Bush’s, though there have been some slight differences, but that’s not a great surprise. The Democrats supported Bush’s policies.

I’ve never responded well to entrenched negative thinking.

Our life is what our thoughts make it.

Shared joys make a friend, not shared sufferings.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

My whole family have all been through a difficult time. My focus is my children, our children.

The Occupy movement did create spontaneously communities that taught people something: you can be in a supportive community of mutual aid and cooperation and develop your own health system and library and have open space for democratic discussion and participation. Communities like that are really important.

We are not going to be satisfied by politicians saying ‚we support you‘ and then walking away. We won’t be satisfied until they meet our demands and act. That’s why simply taking a selfie or posting support on Twitter isn’t enough. That’s why we have to keep striking.

People tend to dwell more on negative things than on good things. So the mind then becomes obsessed with negative things, with judgments, guilt and anxiety produced by thoughts about the future and so on.

He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.

Giving up cannot be an option.

Rose Adams is a wonderful Christian woman who cared for my mother, Morrow Coffey Graham, in her last years of life.

I’m very disappointed in Obama. I was very much in support of him in the beginning, but I cannot support war. I cannot support droning. I cannot support capitulating to the banks.

What good are fans? You can’t eat applause for breakfast. You can’t sleep with it.

Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.

A family looks for ways to support and inspire one another.

Mirth is like a flash of lightning, that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment; cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.

I never had a mother. I suppose a mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled.

‚Royal Beatings‘ was my first story, and it was published in 1977. But I sent all my early stories to ‚The New Yorker‘ in the 1950s, and then I stopped sending for a long time and sent only to magazines in Canada. ‚The New Yorker‘ sent me nice notes, though – penciled, informal messages. They never signed them. They weren’t terribly encouraging.

I was very worried about my mother, growing up – a lot. I do not want my children to be worried about me.

I go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon Washington. Unless the great God, who assisted him, shall be with me and aid me, I must fail; but if the same omniscient mind and almighty arm that directed and protected him shall guide and support me, I shall not fail – I shall succeed.

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.

My favorite affirmation when I feel stuck or out of sorts is: Whatever I need is already here, and it is all for my highest good. Jot this down and post it conspicuously throughout your home, on the dashboard of your car, at your office, on your microwave oven, and even in front of your toilets!

The best morale exist when you never hear the word mentioned. When you hear a lot of talk about it, it’s usually lousy.

My mother insisted that her children read.

My mother had a saying: ‚Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you’re not the last.‘

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

The good things of prosperity are to be wished; but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired.

Whenever death may surprise us, let it be welcome if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.

Give a man health and a course to steer, and he’ll never stop to trouble about whether he’s happy or not.

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.

General consultant to mankind.

Fires can’t be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks.

I only want my work to make people happy.