Grasp a difficulty by the "blade" and it cuts; grasp it by the "handle" and you can use it constructively.

There was Glenn Cunningham, whose legs were so badly burned as a child that he was told he would not walk again. But he became one of the fastest Olympic milers in history. Glenn Cunningham told me that faith and positive thinking are 85 per cent of an athlete's success;

Sound character provides the power with which a person may ride the emergencies of life instead of being overwhelmed by them. Failure is... the highway to success.

I will tell you that there have been no failures in my life. I don't want to sound like some metaphysical queen,but there have been no failures. There have been some tremendous lessons.

Think back for a moment on your own history -- not just where you were born or where you grew up, but the circumstances that contributed to your being right here, right now. What were the moments along the way that wounded or scared you? Chances are, you've had a few. But here's what's remarkable: You are still here, still standing.

The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire.

As long as there is still breath there's forward.

Every experience is a valuable teacher.

Everything that happened to you can be used to strengthen you, if you allow it, if you're open to it.

You're saying thank-you," Maya said, "because your faith is so strong that you don't doubt that whatever the problem, you'll get through it. You're saying thank-you because you know that even in the eye of the storm, God has put a rainbow in the clouds. You're saying thank-you because you know there's no problem created that can compare to the Creator of all things. Say thank-you!

Don't worry when you meet opposition for obeying God. Worry when you don't have opposition, because you're probably not obeying God.

Her still face, with the mouth closed tight from suffering and disillusion and self-denial, and her nose the smallest bit on one side, and her blue eyes so young, quick, and warm, made his heart contract with love.