Elbert Hubbard Quotes

Every tyrant who has lived has believed in freedom for himself.

An idea that is not dangerous is not worthy of being called an idea at all.

A pessimist? That’s a person who has been intimately acquainted with an optimist.

The thing we fear we bring to pass.

Friendship, like credit, is highest when it is not used.

Often we can help each other most by leaving each other alone; at other times we need the hand-grasp and the word of cheer.

It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do.

Die, v.: To stop sinning suddenly.

It is easy to get everything you want, provided you first learn to do without the things you cannot get.

Little minds are interested in the extraordinary; great minds in the commonplace.

The ineffable joy of forgiving and being forgiven forms an ecstasy that might well arouse the envy of the gods.

Fear is the thought of admitted inferiority.

Secrets are things we give to others to keep for us.

It’s pretty hard to be efficient without being obnoxious.

The man who has no problems is out of the game.

A woman will doubt everything you say except it be compliments to herself.

Art is the beautiful way of doing things. Science is the effective way of doing things. Business is the economic way of doing things.

There is something that is much more scarce, something finer far, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.

The man who knows it can’t be done counts the risk, not the reward.

The greatest mistake you can make in life is continually fearing that you’ll make one.

Never explain – your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.

Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation.

A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.

Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.

The supernatural is the natural not yet understood.

Christianity supplies a Hell for the people who disagree with you and a Heaven for your friends.

Positive anything is better than negative nothing.

One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.

Fear clogs; faith liberates.

So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.

Men are only as great as they are kind.

The church saves sinners, but science seeks to stop their manufacture.

The reason men oppose progress is not that they hate progress, but that they love inertia.

Where much is expected from an individual, he may rise to the level of events and make the dream come true.

The idea that is not dangerous is not worthy of being called an idea at all.

I would rather be able to appreciate things I can not have than to have things I am not able to appreciate.

This will never be a civilized country until we spend more money for books than we do for chewing gum.

The happiness of this life depends less on what befalls you than the way in which you take it.

Art is not a thing; it is a way.

Responsibility is the price of freedom.

If you suffer, thank God! It is a sure sign that you are alive.

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.

Every man is a damn fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit.

We work to become, not to acquire.

If you can’t answer a man’s arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names.

A conservative is a man who is too cowardly to fight and too fat to run.

Life is just one damned thing after another.

The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment.

He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much.

God will not look you over for medals degrees or diplomas, but for scars.

The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.

The love we give away is the only love we keep.

There is no failure except in no longer trying.

Character is the result of two things: mental attitude and the way we spend our time.

Be pleasant until ten o’clock in the morning and the rest of the day will take care of itself.

He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words.

Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.

Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to retain love is to give it away.

Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer to your goal.

We are punished by our sins, not for them.