Top 155 Quotes & Sayings by Michael Josephson

What a person says and does in ordinary moments when when no one is looking reveals more about true character than grand actions taken while in the spotlight. Our true character is revealed by normal, consistent, everyday attitudes and behavior, not by self-conscious words or deeds or rare acts of moral courage.

The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks is not in the event itself but how you think about it and what you do after it. Every failure and setback can become part of your success or an excuse for quitting or failing. People who develop the discipline of positivity are both happier and more successful.

Go out there and do your part to change the world. You may not change all you had hoped but the world will be better for the caring demonstrated by your effort.

Gratitude should be felt and experienced sincerely, expressed generously and received graciously.

Success in anything important rarely comes without the Five Horsemen of Success: planning, effort, positivity, perseverance and resilience.

To the barefoot man, happiness is a pair of shoes. To the man with old shoes, it's a pair of new shoes. To the man with new shoes, it's stylish shoes. And of course, the fellow with no feet would be happy to be barefoot. Measure your life by what you have not by what you don't.

Our character is revealed by how we treat people who cannot help us or hurt us.

Pretty isn't beauty. Pretty is how you look; Beauty is who you are. Pretty is in the face and body; Beauty is in the heart, mind and soul. Pretty fades; Beauty grows.

The surest way to escape anxiety and defeat despair is action. Do, don't dwell.

Ethics is not for wimps. It's not easy being a good person. That's why it's such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement

The way we treat people we think can't help or hurt us - like housekeepers, waiters, and secretaries - tells more about our character than how we treat people we think are important. How we behave when we think no one is looking or when we don't think we will get caught more accurately portrays our character than what we say or do in service of our reputations.

When someone is nasty or treats you poorly, don't take it personally. It says nothing about you, but a lot about them.

Failure is much easier to handle if you just think of it as feedback to guide your next effort.

You don't have to be sick to get better.

Character is the moral strength to do the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay.

I am not and never will be perfect. I am not always as honest, respectful, responsible, fair or as kind as I should be. All I can do is what I should do: strive every day, with every decision to be the best person I can be. I don’t expect to be perfect but I know I can be better.

Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.

Your life is your ship and you are the captain. Choose your course, take the wheel firmly and get on your way.

Don't ask whether it is going to be easy. Ask whether it is worth it.

Honesty doesn't always pay, but dishonesty always costs.

A person of character seeks true happiness in living a life of purpose and meaning, placing a higher value on significance than success.

Gratefulness is a payment everyone can afford.

Leadership is not a matter of authority, it is a matter of influence. A true leader teaches others to understand more, motivates them to be more and inspires them to become more.

What will matter in the end is not what you bought but what you built; not what you got but what you gave; not what you learned by what you taught. What will matter is not your competence but your character.

When was the last time you wrote a thank you note? When was the last time you went beyond a mechanical "thank you" to express authentic gratitude? We can enrich the lives of others and ourselves by making it a habit to express genuine appreciation for what others have done for us.

People of character do the right thing, not because they think it will change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the world.

An ounce of action is worth a ton of good intentions.

Integrity, respect, compassion, and fairness become obstacles to people who think winning is everything

Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New year will bring new opportunities.

Lincoln described character is a tree and reputation as its shadow. The tree will always be what it is but the shadow we see depends on where we stand and the angle of the light.

Character is not only doing the right thing when no one is looking, it's doing the right thing when everyone is looking. It's being willing to do the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay.

What will matter is not your success but your significance.

There's no such thing as business ethics; there's just ethics. And ethics makes no concessions for the real or imagined necessities of making a profit.

If you want to be happy, learn to be alone without being lonely. Learn that being alone does not mean being unhappy. The world is full of plenty of interesting and enjoyable things to do and people who can enrich your life.

Character is made up of core moral principles called the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness and citizenship. Each of these virtues are independently important but together they provide the foundation for a worthy life.

There are two sure ways to fail: never get started and quit before you succeed. Many companies promote the language of risk-taking and innovation but are so concerned with short term profit goals that their culture discourages innovation (trying new things) and abandons promising projects too soon. It shouldn't require exceptional moral courage to try new things and stick with them.

Everything you do sends a message about who you are and what you value.

The ethical person should do more then he is required to do, and less than he is allowed to.

If we don't invest now in building character into children we will surely invest more tomorrow in trying to repair adults.

Whatever you do, make a difference. Earn the right to look back at something and say, 'I did that.'

It is not enough that we express our gratitude, we must experience it. We truly honor the must think about our blessings, separately and cumulatively It is not enough to count our blessings and express our gratitude if we don't truly feel grateful.

Neither the intensity of your feelings nor the certainty of your convictions is any assurance that you are right.

People who fight fire with fire end up with only the ashes of their own integrity.

Don't let others define you. Don't let the past confine you. Take charge of your life with confidence and determination and there are no limits on what you can do or be.

The key to a better life: Complain less, appreciate more. Whine less, laugh more. Talk less, listen more. Want less, give more. Hate less, love more. Scold less, praise more. Fear less, hope more.

Beware of people who constantly assert their integrity and honor. People of character don't have to point it out.

Discipline yourself to start each day identifying something to be grateful about. The world opens to those who approach it with a grateful heart.

Success comes in cans. Failures comes in can'ts.

Physical courage to a person of honour is easier and less risky than acts that could subject him to embarrassment or humiliation or a diminished career or reputation. These things he must live with. To die for honor is an easier thought to bear.

The choices you make in your life will make your life. Choose wisely.

A good coach improves your game. A great coach improves your life.

Sometimes the dues we pay to maintain integrity are pretty high, but the ultimate cost of moral compromise is so much higher.

Happiness is the peace of mind that comes from feeling that I am living a worthy life in the company of people I love and in the service of something bigger than myself.

The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it.

We judge our own character by our best intentions and most noble acts, but we will be judged by our last worst act.

Take pride in how far you've come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don't forget to enjoy the journey.

A caring heart that listens is often more valued than an intelligent mind that talks.

Sportsmanship is the ethical and moral dimension of sports. It is demonstrated by a number of attributes and attitudes such as fair play, respect for the rules and traditions of the sport and various traits of good character including integrity (abiding by the letter and spirit of the rules and concepts of honor); demonstrated respect for others including teammates, opponents, officials and spectators; accountability, self-control, and graciousness in victory and defeat.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.

Not everything that is good for you is fun and not everything that is fun is good for you.