Stress is not the spice of life any more than arsenic is. And without it, you won't feel bored.

Nothing is given to man on earth - struggle is built into the nature of life, and conflict is possible - the hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen.

A hero has faced it all: he need not be undefeated, but he must be undaunted.

We all enjoy pushing ourselves to accomplish our objectives. But we don't need stress to get there.

If you're successful and stressed out, you're succeeding in spite of your stress, not because of it.

The truth is that stress doesn't come from your boss, your kids, your spouse, traffic jams, health challenges, or other circumstances. It comes from your thoughts about these circumstances.

Negative thoughts stick around because we believe them, not because we want them or choose them.

The reason humans experience so much more stress than other species isn't just because we think more, but also because we think differently.

Look closer at the stress in your own life and you can identify that negative emotions are always built on counterfactual statements.

Stress is the negative whirlwind of emotions that gets imposed on top of our stimulation and engagement.

Some people are so used to experiencing stress that they don't remember what life was like without it.

Trademark yourself with the mark of excellence.

People who live through transplants or disasters like Sept. 11 are survivors.

Desire reveals design, and design reveals destiny.

I think that much of this was running in background as I contemplated whether or not to attend the PS 99 reunion, although I certainly anticipated that I would not; it smelled like death, not youth.

In all fiction, when a man is faced with alternatives he chooses one at the expense of others.

Oh, and the easiest way to make someone furious is to tell her to calm down.

So, that is my final lesson from the universe - you just do what you need to do, and stay on track.

I decided years ago that if I'm going to keep teaching contemplation, then the last years of my life should be contemplative.

Sometimes I wanted to believe something so badly, I deliberately manufactured excuses and ignored painful reality.

You'll never meet a nicer guy than Owen Wilson.