Top 157 Quotes & Sayings by William Arthur Ward

Lose yourself in generous service and every day can be a most unusual day, a triumphant day, an abundantly rewarding day!

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

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

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

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

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.

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

Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.

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.

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

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

Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.

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

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

Wise are they who have learned these truths: Trouble is temporary. Time is tonic. Tribulation is a test tube.

Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.

Humanity either makes, or breeds, or tolerates all its afflictions.

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

A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.

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

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.

The more generous we are, the more joyous we become. The more cooperative we are, the more valuable we become. The more enthusiastic we are, the more productive we become. The more serving we are, the more prosperous we become.

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

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

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

The greatest failure is the failure to try.

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.

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.

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

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.

Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others.

Real optimism sees the negatives but accentuates the positive.

A complaining tongue reveals an ungrateful heart.

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

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

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

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

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

Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate.

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?

The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of like is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give.

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

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.

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

Blessed is the person who sees the need, recognizes the responsibility, and actively becomes the answer.

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

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

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!

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

Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and ingratitude for today’s blessings.

A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strenghs; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.

A Winner's Blueprint for Achievement BELIEVE while others are doubting. PLAN while others are playing. STUDY while others are sleeping. DECIDE while others are delaying. PREPARE while others are daydreaming. BEGIN while others are procrastinating. WORK while others are wishing. SAVE while others are wasting. LISTEN while others are talking. SMILE while others are frowning. COMMEND while others are criticizing. PERSIST while others are quitting.

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.

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

What you believe is more important than what you possess. What you live is more lasting than what you profess. Whom you inspire is more significant than whom you impress.

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

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.

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

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.