Anna Quindlen

Until you’ve lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was.

To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.

What gives life its value you can find – and lose. But never posess. This holds good above all for “the Truth about Life.

Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.

Man has to suffer. When he has no real afflictions, he invents some.

That dog don’t hunt.

Think about all of the times, situations, and circumstances where you have gotten caught up in making your self right rather than happy… The harder you fight to win, the bigger you lose.

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

No American ought to be compelled to strike for his rights. He ought to receive them naturally, easily, as a matter of course.

Much depends on people knowing what opportunity means; it doesn’t mean a silver platter, it oftener means a spade. Self-help means something sterner than ‘help yourself’–reach over and take it.

The more things a man is ashamed of, the more respectable he is.

The short successes that can be gained in a brief time and without difficulty, are not worth much.

If money is your hope for independence, you will never have it. The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability.

I define nothing. Not beauty, not patriotism. I take each thing as it is, without prior rules about what it should be.

Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.