John Bigelow

“The best way to compel a man to do his duty is to make it impossible for him not to do it.”

“Most of our pocket wisdom is conceived for the use of mediocre people, to discourage them from ambitious attempts, and generally console them in their mediocrity.”

“Possession is the grave of pleasure.”

“The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.”

“Set a high price on your leisure.”

“We are never so much disposed to quarrel with others as when we are dissatisfied with ourselves.”

“Lying is the vice of slaves.”

“The man who has no enemies has no following.”

“To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old.”

“Be what you are. This is the first step toward becoming better than you are.”

“A wise man will be master of his mind, a fool will be its slave.”

“The first step towards greatness is to be honest.”

“The greatest trust between man and man is the trust of giving counsel.”

“Never do anything that you are not perfectly willing to have published in the newspapers.”