James Allen

Before complaining that you are a slave to another, be sure that you are not a slave to self. Look read more

Before complaining that you are a slave to another, be sure that you are not a slave to self. Look within;...You will find there, perchance, slavish thoughts, slavish desires, and in your daily life and conduct slavish habits. Conquer these; cease to be a slave to self, and no man will have the power to enslave you.

The suspicious believe everybody to be suspicious; the liar feels secure in the thought that he is not so foolish read more

The suspicious believe everybody to be suspicious; the liar feels secure in the thought that he is not so foolish as to believe that there is such a phenomenon as a strictly truthful person; the envious see envy in every soul; the miser thinks everybody is eager to get his money;...and the abandoned sensualist looks upon the saint as a hypocrite

He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would
achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain read more

He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would
achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must
sacrifice greatly.

The man who cannot endure to have his errors and shortcomings brought to the surface and made known, but tries read more

The man who cannot endure to have his errors and shortcomings brought to the surface and made known, but tries to hide them, is unfit to walk the highway of truth.

A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out
to accomplish it. He should make read more

A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out
to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of
his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a
worldly object, according to his nature at the time being; but whichever
it is, he should steadily focus his thought forces upon the object which
he has set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and
should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to
wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the
royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought. Even if he
fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must
until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the
measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting point for
future power and triumph.