Mrs. Wiggs was a philosopher, and the sum and substance of her philosophy lay in keeping the dust off her rose-colored spectacles.

All the higher forms of life have evolved from some one's ideal of justice, liberty or beauty; and the belief that nothing is too good to be true.

It ain't no use putting up your umbrella till it rains.

Solitude, if rightly used, becomes not only a privilege but a necessity. Only a superficial soul fears to fraternize with itself.

It is not what we have but what we do with what we have that constitutes the value of life.

What can people not accomplish if they will but master the secret of steadfast perseverance.

there ain't no use in dyin' 'fore yer time. Lots of folks is walkin' 'round jes' as dead as they'll ever be.

The fascinating thing about ideals is that no sooner have we gained a desired peak than we find farther and higher peaks beyond. The thrilling adventure never ends.

Half of our sorrows come from setting exalted standards for people and then breaking our hearts when they fail to live up to them.

Joy is at its keenest when contrasted with sorrow, courage at its height when it follows fear, faith at its noblest when it grows from doubt.

When one has a famishing thirst for happiness, one is apt to gulp down diversions wherever they are offered.

We are nothing; less than nothing, and dreams. We are only what might have been, and must wait upon the tedious shores of Lethe millions of ages before we have existence, and a name.

I saw a great many men die afterwards, some suffering horribly, but I do not recall any death that affected me quite so much as that of this first victim in my platoon.

I can't really articulate what I feel.

The supreme religious challenge is to see God’s image in one who is not in our image.

You know in the U.S. everyone has a gun in the room. That's not the reason why you go and invade the home with anti-terrorist forces.

No one is longing to meet a desperate needy, angry, withholding, controlling person. If your beloved is out there they can't pick up your signals if you're dwelling in those spaces within yourself.

It begins, as most things begin, with a song.

America believes in freedom. The English don't believe in it. They don't believe in happiness.

However, music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business is.

Contentment comes when you find the people, places, and events in life you were created to impact.