Quotes by Orison Swett Marden

A lobster, when left high and dry among the rock, does not have the sense enough to work his way back to the sea, but waits for the sea to come to him.  If it does not come, he remains where he is and dies, although the slightest effort would enable him to reach the waves, which are perhaps within a yard of him.  The world is full of human lobsters; people stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies, are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat.

Deep within man dwell these slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action.

Joyfulness keeps the heart and face young.  A good laugh makes better friends with ourselves and everybody around.

There is no investment you can make which will pay you so well as the effort to scatter sunshine and good cheer through your establishment.

Your expectation opens or closes the doors of your supply. If you expect grand things, and work honestly for them, they will come to you, your supply will correspond with your expectation.

If we put the emphasis upon the right things. If we live the life that is worth while, and then fail, we will survive all disasters, we will out-live all misfortune. We should be so well balanced and symmetrical, that nothing which could ever happen could throw us off our center, so that no matter what misfortune should overtake us, there would still be a whole magnificent man or woman left after being stripped of everything else.

Wisdom is knowledge which has become a part of one's being.

What we sincerely believe regarding ourselves is true for us.

Our trials, our sorrows, and our griefs develop us. . . .

He can who thinks he can, and he can't who thinks he can't. This is an inexorable, indisputable law.