The willow which bends to the tempest, often escapes better than the oak which resists it; and so in great calamities, it sometimes happens that light and frivolous spirits recover their elasticity and presence of mind sooner than those of a loftier character.
~ Albert Schweitzer
One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.
In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
One truth stands firm. All that happens in world history rests on something spiritual. If the spiritual is strong, it creates world history. If it is weak, it suffers world history.
Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.
Everything deep is also simple and can be reproduced simply as long as its reference to the whole truth is maintained. But what matters is not what is witty but what is true.
The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.
Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.
Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.
Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.
A great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up.
A man is ethical only when life, as such, is sacred to him, that of plants and animals as that of his fellow men, and when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in need of help.
