Inspirational Quotes

Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.

Edith Wharton Quotes

Culture Identity Perception Perspective The American landscape has no foreground and the American mind no background.

Adaptation Author's Views Literature Politics Quality I have never known a novel that was good enough to be good in spite of its being adapted to the author's political views.

Acceptance Contentment Enjoyment Happiness Mindfulness If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time.

Assertiveness Boundaries Communication Decision Making Time Management When people ask for time, it's always for time to say no. Yes has one more letter in it, but it doesn't take half as long to say.

Legal System Marriage Personal Growth Society Virtue A New York divorce is in itself a diploma of virtue.

Duty Focus Limitation Responsibility Sacrifice The worst of doing one's duty was that it apparently unfitted one for doing anything else.

Creativity Innovation Originality Perspective Vision True originality consists not in a new manner but in a new vision.

Art Creativity Innovation Maturity Tradition Another unsettling element in modern art is that common symptom of immaturity, the dread of doing what has been done before.

Acceptance Appreciation Courage Perseverance Resilience To be able to look life in the face: that's worth living in a garret for, isn't it?

Adaptability Flexibility Growth Resilience Strength Misfortune had made Lily supple instead of hardening her, and a pliable substance is less easy to break than a stiff one.

Comfort Companionship Joy Love Loyalty My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.

Experience Learning Life Morality Wisdom Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered through personal experience does not become a part of the moral tissue.

Curiosity Exploration Human Nature Knowledge Mystery What's the use of making mysteries? It only makes people want to nose 'em out.

Awareness Change Habit Resilience Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive.

Aging Calm Death Freedom Universe Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty breadth of the universe, old age flowing free with the delicious near-by freedom of death.

Criticism Humor Introspection Perception Self-awareness After all, one knows one's weak points so well, that it's rather bewildering to have the critics overlook them and invent others.

Ideas Innovation Intellectual Environment Thoughts Value of Creativity The air of ideas is the only air worth breathing.

Destiny Imagination Potential Reflection Self-awareness There are moments when a man's imagination, so easily subdued to what it lives in, suddenly rises above its daily level and surveys the long windings of destiny.

Communication Expression Perception Subtlety Understanding Silence may be as variously shaded as speech.

Emotional Struggle Life Memory Reflection Regret He had to deal all at once with the packed regrets and stifled memories of an inarticulate lifetime.

Emotional Depth Interest and Challenge Life Perspective Personal Values Relationships I don't know if I should care for a man who made life easy; I should want someone who made it interesting.

Abundance Happiness Materialism Money Mindset Wealth The only way not to think about money is to have a great deal of it.

Guidance Inspiration Leadership Positivity Self Reflection There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

Caution Human Nature Monotony Sin Vices Beware of monotony; it's the mother of all the deadly sins.

Balance Courage Determination Resilience Risk Taking Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope.

Curiosity Depth of Knowledge Emotional Impact Learning Passion In any really good subject, one has only to probe deep enough to come to tears.

Memory Narrative Perception Subjectivity Truth I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.