“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” —Rabbi Hillel
Desired Haven
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven.
—Psalm 107:28-30
No Patience
“I no longer have patience with myself for the excuses that I make. However, I’ve learned to forgive myself when I trip over a bump in the road.” —Anonymous in Recovery
Beginners and Experts
“The only difference between a beginner and an expert is how quickly you recover.” —Anonymous 74-year-old man, commenting on his 50+ years of square dancing experience
It is Not the Critic Who Counts
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” —Theodore Roosevelt
Compliments and Insults
“Teach yourself how to not let compliments go to your head; then you will know how to not let insults go to your heart.” —Dennis Prager
Victim Empowered
“A victim is not empowered by the actions of others. A victim is empowered by their own determination to not live as a victim.” —Steven R. Hobbs
Try and Fail
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” —Samuel Beckett