William Arthur Ward Quotes

Optimists enrich the present, enhance the future,challenge the improbable and attain the impossible

Forgiveness from others is charity; from God, grace; from oneself, wisdom.

Success never resides in the world of weak wishes, but in the palace of purposeful plans and prayerful persistence.

Once trust is tarnished, it is hard to restore it to its original glow.

The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain - he is inspired by it. The persistent winner is not discouraged by a problem
he is challenged by it. Mountains are created to be conquered; adversities are designed to be defeated; problems are sent to be solved. It is better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills.

Words, like tranquil waters behind a dam, can become reckless and uncontrollable torrents of destruction when released without caution and wisdom.

Christmas can be the end of emptiness and waywardness; The beginning of happiness and purposefulness.

Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.

Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn't always have to be their top priority.

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.

Real optimism knows the difficulties but believes they can be overcome.

A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.

Do more than believe: practice.

Love is more than a noun-it is a verb; it is more than a feeling-it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing.

Every day is a good day to examine our prime-time priorities.

Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare while others are playing; and dream while others are wishing.

Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.

As the valley gives height to the mountain, so can sorrow give meaning to pleasure; as the well is the source of the fountain, deep adversity can be a treasure.

A complaining tongue reveals an ungrateful heart.

Optimism is a seed sown in the soil of faith; pessimism is a seed hoarded in the vault of doubt.

The optimist pleasantly ponders how high his kite will fly; the pessimist woefully wonders how soon his kite will fall.

Another fresh new year is here ... Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! This bright new year is given me To live each day with zest ... To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best! I have the opportunity Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs!

Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.

We are more than what we do ... much more than what we accomplish ... far more than what we possess.

Failure is not fatal. Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. It should challenge us to new heights of accomplishments, not pull us to new depths of despair. From honest failure can come valuable experience.

Delays, disappointments and defeats cause quitters to give up in resignation; losers, to give in the frustration; winners, to come through with determination.

God gave you a gift of 86 400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you

Each of us will one day be judged by our standard of life, not by our standard of living; by our measure of giving, not by our measure of wealth; by our simple goodness, not by our seeming greatness.

When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.

To the optimist, obstacles aare challenges, roadblocks are inspirations, and problems are invitations to achievement.

God gave you a gift of 84,600 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you?

Real optimism is exposed to the worst but expects the best.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live. Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom. Only a person who risks is free. The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; and the realist adjusts the sails

The more patient we are, the more understanding we become.

Too many of us hear without heeding, read without responding, confess without changing, profess without practicing, worship without witnessing, and seek without sharing.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

Today is a most unusual day, because we have never lived it before; we will never live it again; it is the only day we have.

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To hope is to risk pain.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

There is one thing we can do better than anyone else: we can be ourselves.

A religion without the Holy Ghost, though it had all the ordinances and all the doctrines of the New Testament, would certainly not be Christianity.

Men never plan to be failures; they simply fail to plan to be successful

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.

A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are grateful.

A friend is one who joyfully sings with you when you are on the mountaintop, and silently walks beside you through the valley.

Real optimism sees the negatives but accentuates the positive.

When we shut people out, we wall ourselves in;When we stop building bridges, we start erecting fences.

Before you speak, listen.
Before you write, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you invest, investigate.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.
Before you retire, save.
Before you die, give.

To the optimist all doors have handles and hinges; to the pessimist, all doors have locks and latches.

Skillful listening is the best remedy for loneliness, loquaciousness, and laryngitis.

A mediocre music teacher tells. A good music teacher explains. A superior music teacher demonstrates. A great music teacher inspires.

A pinch of praise is worth a pound of scorn. A dash of encouragement is more helpful than a dipper of pessimism. A cup of kindness is better than a cupboard of criticism.

Every person has the power to make others happy.
Some do it simply by entering a room
others by leaving the room.
Some individuals leave trails of gloom;
others, trails of joy.
Some leave trails of hate and bitterness;
others, trails of love and harmony.
Some leave trails of cynicism and pessimism;
others trails of faith and optimism.
Some leave trails of criticism and resignation;
others trails of gratitude and hope.
What kind of trails do you leave?

Do more than be fair: be kind.

Our words reveal our thoughts; our manners mirror our self-esteem; our actions reflect our character; our habits predict the future.

Everyone has a common, yet unique, responsibility to the future: to make the most of today.

The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment.

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it

This bright new year is given me

A good teacher explains, while a great teacher inspires

The essence of life is to care. The beauty of life is to give.

Christmas is more that a time of festivities, family, and friends; it is a season of generosity, gladness, and gratitude.

Do you depend on others for motivation - or can you motivate yourself?

Whatever gets your goat gets your attention. Whatever gets your attention gets your time. Whatever gets your time gets you. Whatever gets you becomes your master. Take care, lest a little thing horn in and get your goat

The surest cure for loneliness,
the quickest way to happiness,
is found in this, a simple creed:
Go serve someone in greater need.

The more we count the blessings we have, the less we crave the luxuries we haven't.

Before you speak, listen.

The winner asks, "May I help?" The loser asks, "Do you expect me to do that?"

A second-class is a first-class mistake.

Excellence without effort is as futile as progress without preparation.

The regeneration of a sinner is an evidence of power in the highest sphere
moral nature; with the highest prerogative
to change nature; and operating to the highest result
not to create originally, which is great; but to create anew, which is greater.

Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.

Before you act, listen.
Before you react, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.

The greatest ideas, the most profound thoughts, and the most beautiful poetry are born from the womb of silence

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. -

It is wise to direct your anger towards problems
not people; to focus your energies on answers
not excuses.

Giving is more than a responsibility-it is a privilege; more than an act of obedience-it is evidence of our faith.

Will someone else's life be brighter tomorrow, because of what you have done today?

Flying off the handle sometimes causes hammers and humans to lose their heads, as well as their effectiveness.

The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision.

America needs fewer men obsessed with erecting fences of hate, suspicion and name calling.

Our greatest challenge-our greatest opportunity-is found in these words: 'Choose ye this day ... '.

To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity

Encourage me, and I will not forget you.

The persistent winner is not discouraged by a problem - he is challenged by it.

TODAY can be a healthy unusual day for you-and for others-if you take time to give someone a smile ... to express a word of kindness ... to lend a helping hand to someone in need ... to write a note of gratitude ... to give a word of encouragement to someone who is temporarily overcome with problems ... to share a portion of your material possessions with others.

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.

Gratitude is the the energy of faith.

Risks
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.

Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.

Today's patience can transform yesterday's discouragements into tomorrow's discoveries. Today's purposes can turn yesterday's defeats into tomorrow's determination.

We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge. We are most like God when we forgive.

Empathy feels these thoughts; your hurt is in my heart, your loss is in my prayers, your sorrow is in my soul, and your tears are in my eyes.

Freedom's enemies are waste, lethargy, indifference, immorality, and the insidious attitude of something for nothing.

Christmas is more than a time of music, merriment and mirth; it is a season of meditation, mangers and miracles. Christmas is more than a time of carols, cards and candy; it is a season of dedication and decision.

Real optimism is aware of problems but recognizes the solutions, knows about difficulties but believes they can be overcome, sees the negatives but accentuates the positives, is exposed to the worst but expects the best, has reason to complain but chooses to smile.

We can learn much from wise words, little from wisecracks, and less from wise guys.

Man, like the bridge, was designed to carry the load of the moment, not the combined weight of a year at once.

We must be silent before we can listen. We must listen before we can learn. We must learn before we can prepare. We must prepare before we can serve. We must serve before we can lead.

I have the opportunity, once more to right some wrongs, to pray for peace, to plant some trees, and sing more joyful songs.

Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.