Dr Phil McGraw

Forgiveness of those who have transgressed against you, or those you love, is not about them; it is about you. It is a gift to yourself.

The people change, the common denominator is you.

How often, for example, have you said or heard someone else say, “All I really want in this life is to be happy”? It sounds like a commonsense answer, but as a life goal, it is destined for failure. My dog, Barkley, wants to be happy. Does that mean that the two of you want the same things? I don’t think so. I’ll bet everything I own that you and Barkley define happiness very differently. So unless you’re willing to settle for someone scratching your belly and letting you sleep under the coffee table, you might want to be a little more precise about what you as a unique individual really want.

There is no reality, only perception.

You have to name it to claim it.

People who consistently win have a clear and thoughtful strategy. They know what they need to do and when they need to do it. They write it down so they stay on course, and avoid any alternative that does not get them closer to the finish line.

History is more or less bunk.

Power begins with having a crystal-clear view of reality and what each and every person in your life is driven by.

We lift ourselves by our thoughts. We climb upon our vision of ourselves.

All begins with you surrounding yourself with the right people—the good and authentic people—and “unsurrounding” yourself with the wrong people. And we both know there are plenty of wrong people in this world.

I am become death, shatterer of worlds.

Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.

It is one thing to show a man that he is in error, and another to put him in possesion of the truth.

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.

The nice thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.

The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity.

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.

I was brought up to be a gentleman. That means you know how to walk, talk and dress the part.

I think I am actually humble. I think I’m much more humble than you would understand.

I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers. A man thinking or working is always alone, let him be where he will.

When hungry, eat your rice; when tired, close your eyes. Fools may laugh at me, but wise men will know what I mean.