ANDRE GIDE

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.

MARY OLIVER

When it’s over, I want to say -
All my life I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom taking the world into my arms.
When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Be resolutely and faithfully what you are. Be humbly what you aspire to be.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

My EIGHTY PLUS blog today includes two paintings by Abraham Solomon, a poem by William Makepeace Thackeray, an unusual aspect of Scottish life in the 18th century, and a real treat for octogenarians who are still kids at heart!!!

http://80plus.blogspot.com

WINSTON CHURCHILL

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

LOU HOLTZ

Ability is what you're capable of doing.
Motivation determines what you do.
Attitude determines how well you do it.

JIM BEGGS

Before you put on a frown, make absolutely sure there are no smiles available.

Ancient Egyptian Saying

Silence is more profitable than abundance of speech.

JONATHAN SWIFT

We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to
make us love one another.

BUDDHA

Believe nothing because a wise man said it.
Believe nothing because it is generally held true.
Believe nothing because it is written.
Believe nothing because it is said to be divine.
Believe nothing because someone else believes it.
But believe only what you yourself judge to be true.

ANON

A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top

JOHN'S QUIET CORNER is a new blog which started today.
I'm hoping that it will provide a few relaxing minutes.
The address is -
http://john-quietcorner.blogspot.com

WISE MEN SAY will continue daily and EIGHTY PLUS every Friday.

JEAN KERR

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it is possible you haven’t grasped the gravity of the situation.

GANDHI

Seven Blunders of the World -

1. Wealth without work
2. Pleasure without conscience
3. Knowledge without character
4. Commerce without morality
5. Science without humanity
6. Worship without sacrifice
7. Politics without principle

ANON

Be content with what you have,
Rejoice in the way things are,
When you realise there is nothing lacking -
The World belongs to You!

JOHN RUSKIN

It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Vessels large may venture more,
But little boats should keep near shore.

AMY CARMICHAEL

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

HILAIRE BELLOC

Before the curse of statistics fell upon mankind we lived a happy innocent life, full of merriment and go, and informed by fairly good judgment.

DENG MING-DAO

seek silence
gladden silence
adore silence

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

It is not enough to be busy - so are the ants. The question is - what are we busy about?

PLUTARCH

To make no mistakes is not in the power of man, but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.

GEORGE SAND

Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.

BUDDHA

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.

THOMAS FULLER

That which is bitter to endure may be sweet to remember.

BEN HOGAN

As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.

CHOGYAM TRUNGPA

First thought, best thought.

WINSTON CHURCHILL

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

ANON

Speak well of your enemies.
After all, you made them.

PLATO

Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.

PETER USTINOV

Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.

Chinese Proverb

Those who drink the water should remember with gratitude those who dug the well.

ALAN PATON

When a deep injury is done us, we can never recover until we forgive.

ANTONIO MACHADO

Traveller, there is no path,
Paths are made by walking.

CHARLOTTE GRAY

Human beings who leave behind them no great achievements, but only a sequence of small kindnesses, have not had wasted lives.

ARNOLD BENNETT

It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top.

BUDDHA

He who experiences the unity of life sees his own self in all beings, and all beings in his own self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.

ANON

Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it like the flu.
Someone smiled at me today,
And I started smiling too.

KIN HUBBARD

Don’t knock the weather. Nine-tenths of people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in a while.

WILLIAM BLAKE

No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.

Spanish Proverb

The door to the human heart can be opened only from the inside.

HELEN KELLER

When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.

THOMAS CARLYLE

Oh, give us the man who sings at his work.

EDMUND HILLARY

It is not the mountain that we conquer but ourselves.

LAO-TZU

At the centre of your being you have the answer. You know who you are and you know what you want.

DR.SEUSS

You have brains in your head, You have feet in your shoes,
You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

He that waits upon fortune is never sure of a dinner.

BUDDHA

Teach this triple truth to all:- A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.

THOMAS PARNELL

Let those love now who never loved before. Let those who always loved now love the more.

ANON

No one needs a smile as much as he who has none to give.

WILLIAM BLAKE

Can I see another's woe,
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief,
And not seek for kind relief?

from Fragrantheart.com

Nature is always giving and from her comes the richness of life. I too find my life a lot richer when I give.

Attrib. WILDE, TWAIN, WC FIELDS etc.

Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down till the feeling passes.

IKKYU

Many paths lead from
The foot of the mountain,
But at the peak
We all gaze at the
Single bright moon

WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.

The DALAI LAMA

Chairman Mao once said that political power comes from the barrel of a gun. Of course it is true that violence can achieve certain short-term objectives. But it cannot obtain long-lasting ends. If we look at history, we find that in time humanity’s love of peace, justice and freedom triumphs over cruelty and oppression. That is why I am a fervent believer in non-violence.

ARTHUR ASHE

From what we get, we can make a living. What we give, however, makes a life.

ANON

Cease wretch to mourn to weep -
Sip up the sun,
We dance along death's icy rim,
But is the dance less fun?

ANTON CHEKHOV

A good upbringing means not that you won’t spill sauce on the tablecloth, but that you won’t notice it when someone else does.

ANNE FRANK

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

JOHN RUSKIN

What we think or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only thing of consequence is what we do.

LAO-TZU

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.

SOCRATES

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.

GROUCHO MARX

I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.

MARY ANNE RADMACHER

May your walls know joy. May every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility.

VICTOR HUGO

Adversity makes men and prosperity makes monsters.

ANON

The Meaning of Life is to give life Meaning.

MOTHER TERESA

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

GEOFFREY SMITH

If I am depressed or if I think the world’s a filthy place, I just go and look at a flower.

WILLIAM BLAKE

He who binds himself to joy
Doth the winged life destroy,
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity’s sunrise.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

JESUS of NAZARETH

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

MARK TWAIN

It's noble to be good. It's still nobler to teach others to be good - and less trouble.

from FragrantHeart.com

This day I awaken to joy, to love, to life, for that is who I truly am. I am joy, I am love, I am life.

BUDDHA

Cease to do evil, start to do good……work out your own salvation with diligence.

ZADOK RABINWITZ

A man's dreams are an index to his greatness.

RICHARD LOVELACE

Stone wall do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone that soar above
Enjoy such liberty.

CONFUCIUS

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.

ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

The truest greatness lies in being kind,
The truest wisdom in a happy mind.

ANON

If you don't have a smile, I'll give you one of mine.

HENRY MILLER

Develop an interest in life as you see it - the people, things, literature , music. The world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.

LOU HOLTZ

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER Jr.

Giving is the secret of a healthy life - not necessarily money, but whatever a person has of encouragement, sympathy and understanding.

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES

Tell me what company thou keepst, and I'll tell thee what thou art.

ANON

You can complain that the roses have thorns, or you can rejoice that the thorns have roses.

RABINDRANATH TAGORE

The same stream of life, that runs through my veins night and day, runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. My pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

THOMAS CARLYLE

The block of granite, which was an obstacle in the path of the weak, becomes a stepping stone in the path of the strong.

PHYLLIS DILLER

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

It is better to be faithful than famous.

JOHN BURROUGHS

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.

Ancient Chinese Proverb

A single conversation across a table with a wise man is worth a month's study of books.

DEEPAK CHOPRA

Giving connects two people, the giver and the receiver, and this connection gives birth to a new sense of belonging.

MARK TWAIN

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.

BLAISE PASCAL

All the good maxims have been written. It only remains to put them into practice.

W.E.HENLEY

I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.

ANON

Laundry is the only thing that should be separated by colour.

BUDDHA

He who receives kindness should never forget it, but he who performs it should never remember it.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Allow yourself to trust joy and embrace it. You will find you dance with everything.

DR.SEUSS

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting! So - get on your way!

JOHN RUSKIN

Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip into it nor draw from it, but it overflows into the hand that drops treasures into it. Drop malice into it and it overflows hate. Drop in charity and it overflows love.