Quotes about Growth

Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.

Speak what you think today in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today.

Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be.

Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. What if they are a little coarse and you may get your coat soiled or torn? What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice? Up again, you shall never be so afraid of a tumble.

In the woods too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child. In the woods, is perpetual youth.

Shall I tell you the secret of the true scholar? It is this: every man I meet is my master in some point, and in that I learn of him.

That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed, but our power to do so is increased.

People wish to be settled; only as far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them.

No change in circumstances can repair a defect of character.

Everything teaches transition, transference, metamorphosis: therein is human power, in transference, not in creation; & therein is human destiny, not in longevity but in removal. We dive & reappear in new places.

All men plume themselves on the improvement of society, and no man improves.

It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, Always do what you are afraid to do.