Samuel Smiles Quotes - Page 2

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• The experience gathered from books, though often valuable, is but the nature of learning; whereas the experience gained from actual life is one of the nature of wisdom.

  Samuel Smiles

  Wisdom, Nature, Book

  Samuel Smiles (2014). “Self-Help”, p.258, Cambridge University Press

  8 Copy quote

• 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

  Men, Mountain, World

  7 Copy quote

• 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

  Children, Character, Eye

  Samuel Smiles (1859). “Self-help; with illustrations of character and conduct”, p.295

  7 Copy quote

• 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

  Children, Tree, Example

  Samuel Smiles (1872). “Character”, p.33

  8 Copy quote

• No laws, however stringent, can make the idle industrious, the thriftless provident, or the drunken sober.

  Samuel Smiles

  Law, Sober, Idle

  Samuel Smiles (2009). “Self-Help: With Illustrations of Character and Conduct”, p.5, The Floating Press

  39 Copy quote

• Home is the first and most important school of character. It is there that every human being receives his best moral training, or his worst; for it is there that he imbibes those principles of conduct which endure through manhood, and cease only with life.

  Samuel Smiles

  Home, School, Character

  Samuel Smiles (1872). “Character”, p.31

  6 Copy quote

• It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures. Precept, study, advice, and example could never have taught them so well as failure has done.

  Samuel Smiles

  Motivational, Positive, Success

  Samuel Smiles (1872). “Character”, p.352

  40 Copy quote

• Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.

  Samuel Smiles

  Self Esteem, Men, Self Respect

  Samuel Smiles (1871). “Self-help: With Illustrations of Characters, Conduct, and Perseverance”, p.362

  35 Copy quote

• Character is itself a fortune.

  Samuel Smiles

  Character, Fortune

  Samuel Smiles (1861). “Self-help: With Illustrations of Character and Conduct”, p.276

  21 Copy quote

• The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual.

  Samuel Smiles

  Inspirational, Self, Roots

  'Self-Help' (1859)

  11 Copy quote

• It is not ease, but effort-not facility, but difficulty, makes men. There is, perhaps, no station in life in which difficulties have not to be encountered and overcome before any decided measure of success can be achieved.

  Samuel Smiles

  Life, Men, Effort

  Samuel Smiles (1861). “Self-help: With Illustrations of Character and Conduct”, p.348

  8 Copy quote

• The work of many of the greatest men, inspired by duty, has been done amidst suffering and trial and difficulty. They have struggled against the tide, and reached the shore exhausted.

  Samuel Smiles

  Work, Men, Suffering

  Samuel Smiles (1910). “Character. Repr”

  12 Copy quote

• Progress however, of the best kind, is comparatively slow. Great results cannot be achieved at once; and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.

  Samuel Smiles

  Moving On, Success, Perseverance

  Samuel Smiles (2014). “Self-Help”, p.52, Cambridge University Press

  24 Copy quote

• Persons with comparatively moderate powers will accomplish much, if they apply themselves wholly and indefatigably to one thing at a time.

  Samuel Smiles

  Time, Accomplish, Persons

  Samuel Smiles (1868). “Self-Help; with Illustrations of Character, Conduct, and Perseverance by Samuel Smiles”, p.225

  7 Copy quote

• The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the true source of national vigour and strength. Help from without is often enfeebling in its effects, but help from within invariably invigorates

  Samuel Smiles

  Self, Roots, Growth

  Samuel Smiles (1861). “Self-help: With Illustrations of Character and Conduct”, p.15

  31 Copy quote

• Those who aren't making mistakes probably aren't making anything.

  Samuel Smiles

  Mistake, Making Mistakes, Daring

  8 Copy quote

• 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

  May, Glory, Burden

  Samuel Smiles (1872). “Character”, p.88

  9 Copy quote

• There are many counterfeits of character, but the genuine article is difficult to be mistaken.

  Samuel Smiles

  Character, Genuine, Difficult

  Samuel Smiles (1873). “Self-help; with Illustrations of Character, Conduct, and Perseverance”, p.400

  8 Copy quote

• The knowledge and experience which produce wisdom can only become a man's individual possession and property by his own free action; and it is as futile to expect these without laborious, painstaking effort, as it is to hope to gather a harvest where the seed has not been sown.

  Samuel Smiles

  Wisdom, Men, Effort

  Samuel Smiles (1861). “Self-help: With Illustrations of Character and Conduct”, p.32

  19 Copy quote

• For want of self-restraint many men are engaged all their lives in fighting with difficulties of their own making.

  Samuel Smiles

  Fighting, Men, Self

  Samuel Smiles (1872). “Character”, p.239

  8 Copy quote

• Purposes, like eggs, unless they be hatched into action, will run into rottenness.

  Samuel Smiles

  Running, Eggs, Purpose

  Samuel Smiles (1861). “Self-help: With Illustrations of Character and Conduct”, p.353

  19 Copy quote

• 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

  Determination, Memories, Dark

  6 Copy quote

• Even happiness itself may become habitual. There is a habit of looking at the bright side of things, and also of looking at the dark side. Dr. Johnson has said that the habit of looking at the best side of a thing is worth more to a man than a thousand pounds a year. And we possess the power, to a great extent, of so exercising the will as to direct the thoughts upon objects calculated to yield happiness and improvement rather than their opposites.

  Samuel Smiles

  Exercise, Dark, Men

  Samuel Smiles (1868). “Self-Help; with Illustrations of Character, Conduct, and Perseverance by Samuel Smiles”, p.391

  21 Copy quote

• 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

  Inspiration, Men, Noble

  Samuel Smiles (1872). “Character”, p.269

  6 Copy quote

• It will generally be found that men who are constantly lamenting their ill luck are only reaping the consequences of their own neglect, mismanagement, and improvidence, or want of application.

  Samuel Smiles

  Inspirational, Men, Effectiveness

  Samuel Smiles (1861). “Self-help, with Illustrations of Character and Conduct”, p.229

  16 Copy quote

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