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Samuel Smiles

Samuel Smiles Quotes

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Famous Samuel Smiles Quotes

“What we are accustomed to decry as great social evils, will, for the most part, be found to be only the out-growth of our own perverted life; and though we may endeavor to cut them down and extirpate them by means of law, they will only spring up again with fresh luxuriance in some other form, unless the conditions of human life and character are radically improved.”

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Book:Self-help
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“Imitation is for the most part so unconscious that its effects are almost unheeded, but its influence is not the less permanent on that account. It is only when an impressive nature is placed in contact with an impressionable one that the alteration in the character becomes recognizable. Yet even the weakest natures exercise some influence upon those about them. The approximation of feeling, thought, and habit is constant, and the action of example unceasing.”

CharacterFeelingsActionInfluenceEffectsExampleHabitExerciseAccountsConstantContactPermanentUnconsciousImitationImpressiveAlterationsApproximationImpressionable
Book:Happy Homes and the Hearts that Make Them. Or Thrifty People and why They Thrive
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“Many are the lives of men unwritten, which have nevertheless as powerfully influenced civilization and progress as the more fortunate Great whose names are recorded in biography. Even the humblest person, who sets before his fellows an example of industry, sobriety, and upright honesty of purpose in life, has a present as well as a future influence upon the well-being of his country; for his life and character pass unconsciously into the lives of others, and propagate good example for all time to come.”

MenWellsPersonsCountryCharacterPurposeNamesProgressInfluenceHonestyExampleIndustryCivilizationFellowsAll TimeWell BeingFortunatePurpose Of LifeNeverthelessBiographiesSobrietyLives Of OthersGood ExamplesUnwritten
Book:Self-help: With Illustrations of Character and Conduct
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“Experience serves to prove that the worth and strength of a state depend far less upon the form of its institutions than upon the character of its men; for the nation is only the aggregate of individual conditions, and civilization itself is but a question of personal, improvement.”

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Book:Self-help; with Illustrations of Character, Conduct, and Perseverance
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“It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. To possess this character is a dignity of itself, commanding the instinctive homage of every generous mind, and those who will not bow to titular rank will yet do homage to the gentleman. His qualities depend not upon fashion or manners, but upon moral worth; not on personal possessions, but on personal qualities.”

MindHas BeensCharacterNamesQualityMoralStageFashionDependsDignityPossessionMannersGenerousGentlemanBowsHomagePersonal Qualities
Author:Samuel Smiles
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“So much does the moral health depend upon the moral atmosphere that is breathed, and so great is the influence daily exercised by parents over their children by living a life before their eyes, that perhaps the best system of parental instruction might be summed up in these two words: 'Improve thyself.'”

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Book:Self-help; with illustrations of character and conduct
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“The crown and glory of life is character. It is the noblest possession of a man, constituting a rank in itself, and an estate in the general good-will; dignifying every station, and exalting every position in society. It exercises a greater power than wealth, and secures all the honor without the jealousies of fame. It carries with it an influence which always tell; for it is the result of proved honor, rectitude, and consistency-qualities which, perhaps more than any other, command the general confidence and respect of mankind.”

MenCharacterLife IsWealthResultsQualityGreaterInfluenceMankindPositionHonorExerciseFameGloryPossessionCommandCarrieStationsCrownsEstatesConsistencyGood WillGreater PowerRectitude
Book:Happy Homes and the Hearts that Make Them. Or Thrifty People and why They Thrive
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“It is possible that the scrupulously honest man may not grow rich so fast as the unscrupulous and dishonest one; but the success will be of a truer kind, earned without fraud or injustice. And even though a man should for a time be unsuccessful, still he must be honest: better lose all and save character. For character is itself a fortune. . . .”

MenShouldKindMayStillsCharacterSuccessGrowsLosesRichHonestHonestyFortuneInjusticeBeing HonestFraudHonest ManUnsuccessful
Book:Self-Help: With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance
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“It is not eminent talent that is required to ensure success in any pursuit, so much as purpose-not merely the power to achieve, but the will to labour energetically and perseveringly. Hence energy of will may be defined to be the very central power of character in a man-in a word, it is the Man himself.”

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Book:Self-help: With Illustrations of Character and Conduct
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