Before you wear a crown of gold, life sometimes makes you wear a crown of thorns.
~ Matshona Dhliwayo
If you have never reached rock bottom, you have never attended the school of greatness.
Don’t be too busy growing old that you forget to grow up.
In poverty, friends are few; in prosperity, acquaintances are numerous; in affluence, associates are countless.
In life, those with heart certainly outdo those with ‘smart’.
Lies spread quicker than truth because they have longer legs.
When dealing with two faced people, it is difficult to know which face is uglier, the real one or the manufactured one.
Looking on the bright side of life is better than looking on the dark side of despair.
It is impossible to graduate from the University of Life with no scars.
A tree will not wither and die because the wind blew away one leaf.
A tree dances for the wind not because it enjoys it, but because it doesn’t want to break.
The world says fit in, the universe says stand out.
The richest person in the cemetery is the one who left the most happy memories.
The only race you are guaranteed to win is the one you run alone.
The distance between two minds is understanding.
In calm waters you still find sharks.
Genius is in you, but like a seed, you determine whether it dies or grows.
Stand alone when it is to your benefit, with others when it is to your advantage, and with everyone when it is to your empowerment.
Talk less. Do more. Fear less. Achieve more.
A bee does not need to follow you to give you honey: you follow it. Become a person of value and you too won’t have to beg anyone to follow you.
You were born to shine, don’t ever let anyone steal your light.
Jealousy stings, envy poisons, anger harms, and hate murders.
Behind you, leave your enemies. Beside you, keep your family. Around you, maintain your friends. Within you, cherish God.
Don’t use your energy to hate on anyone, use it to create the life you desire.
Water is soft, but can maneuver any obstacle; be shrewd, and be gentle, and you too will be able to do likewise.
Don’t strive to be superior to others, strive to be better than you were yesterday.
Leave beauty marks in the lives of those you meet, not scars.
Pain teaches you more than pleasure. Failure teaches you more than success. Poverty teaches you more than prosperity. Adversity teaches you more than comfort.
Dark times don't create stars, it is at night when what has always been in the star is revealed.
A flower takes a while to grow, but can die in an instant; this is how it is with trust.
If death blew a trumpet each time he was coming, there would be no one to greet him on arrival.
It is the worst people in your life that teach you the best lessons.
Expand your mind. Nurture your heart. Develop your body. Cultivate your soul.
Mind-power takes you to the mountaintop. Heart-power takes you the stars. Soul-power takes you to the edge of the universe.
Think outside of the box. Work outside of the box. Dream outside of the box. Succeed outside of the box.
Your mind is a weapon. Your heart is an asset. Your soul is a treasure. Your life is a jewel.
The first time you succeed it is chance, the second time it is luck, the third time it is skill, the fourth time it is talent, and the fifth time it is genius.
Symphonies begin with one note, fires with one flame, gardens with one flower, and masterpieces with one stroke.
If you want to lead a pleasant life, be good to yourself; if you want to lead a happy life, be good to others; and if you want to lead an exceptional life, be good to everyone.
Charity is fortune, avarice is poverty, peace is treasure, and happiness is wealth.
