"Across the globe, even in the world's 'worst places,' people found ways to turn pain into wisdom and suffering into strength. They made their own actions, their very lives, into a memorial that honored the people they had lost." Eric Greitens, author of The Heart and the Fist

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrogly considered." G.K. Chesterton - Gilbert Keith Chesterton (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936), better known as G. K. Chesterton, was an English writer, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, lay theologian, biographer, and literary and art critic. Chesterton is often referred to as the "prince of paradox. This quote was discovered in A Common Life, a book in The Mitford Series by Jan Karon.

"Attitude is the mind's paintbrush. It can color any situation." Barbara Johnson, (October 4, 1947 – August 27, 2009) was an American literary critic and translator

"Attitudes are self-created. You are free to choose to be victimized by circumstance or people, or you can choose to look at life with an open mind and be victorious. No one else can choose your attitude for you. Your perspective and choice of attitude gives you the power to be in control." Irene Dunlap, author

"Be strong, be kind, be generous of spirit, be understanding and let people know how grateful you are. Don't get even. Comfort the ones I've hurt and let down. Say your prayers and ask for God's understanding and strength. Finish with a smile and some gusto and do what's right and finish strong". (Written in his diary on the night of his defeat to Bill Clinton in 1993) George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who was the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.

"Cultivate a hopeful disposition." Theodore Roosevelt Sr., (September 22, 1831 – February 9, 1878) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was also the father of President Theodore Roosevelt and the paternal grandfather of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

"Danger is an ever-present reality, but fear is a choice! Jesus never promised us safety for following Him; He promised us fruit, fruit like love for the unloved or even our enemies, true joy even with little to nothing, and peace in the midst of insurmountable odds or extreme suffering. God is good and there is no doubt about it! We need to get uncomfortable in our faith, step out of our comfort zones, depend on God, and lean into the arms of our Dad." Justin Wren, author of Fight for the Forgotten

"Discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but seeing with new eyes." Marcel Proust - Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust (10 July 1871 – 18 November 1922), known as Marcel Proust, was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental novel À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time); earlier rendered as Remembrance of Things Past, published in seven parts between 1913 and 1927. He is considered by critics and writers to be one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

"Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it." Francis de Sales (21 August 1567 – 28 December 1622) was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Catholic Church.

"Don't fight the problem. Solve it!" General George Catlett Marshall, December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959) was an American statesman and soldier, famous for his leadership roles during World War II and the Cold War

"For today I will remember: You can't have a good day with a bad attitude, and you can't have a bad day with a good attitude." Unknown; Shared by Mark Labhart about this quote belonging to Mildred Davy, radio host on KTIL, a radio station in Tillamook, Oregon

"Griefs upon griefs! Disappointments upon disappointments. What then? This is a gay, merry world notwithstanding." John Adams, (1735–1826), 2nd president of the US 1797–1801

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination. For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.” Alfred D. Souza Writer, philosopher

" . . . human beings create meaning in three ways: through their work, through their relationships, and by how they choose to meet unavoidable suffering. Every life brings hardship and trial, and every life also offers deep possibilities for meaningful work and love." Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor

"I believe that nothing that happens to me is meaningless . . ." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 4 February 1906 – 9 April 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. This quote is from Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas"

"I expect all officers in this department to take care of their own morale. No one is taking care of my morale." General George Marshall, (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959) was an American statesman and soldier, famous for his leadership roles during World War II and the Cold War

"I had learned that there came a point in their lives when they simply had to listen to their hearts and trust that if they did the right thing, all would work out in the end." Eric Greitens in The Heart and the Fist

"I live by one principle: Enjoy life with no conditions! People say, 'If I had your health, if I had your money, oh, I would enjoy myself.' It is not true. I would be happy if I were lying sick in a hospital bed. It must come from the inside. That is the one thing I hope to have contributed to my children, by example and by talk: to make no conditions, to understand that life is a wonderful thing and to enjoy it, every day, to the full." Arthur Rubinstein, (January 28, 1887 – December 20, 1982) was a Polish American classical pianist.

"If sustained by my fellow-citizens, I shall be grateful and happy; if not, I shall find in the motives which impel me ample grounds for contentment and peace." Andrew Jackson, (1767–1845) 7th president of the US 1829–37; known as Old Hickory

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Maya Angelou, (1928–), US novelist and poet; born Marguerite Ann Johnson

"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito." Democratic Republic of the Congo/African Proverb

"It will be a great day. Come rain or come shine." Dooley Barlowe Kavanagh in Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." Helen Keller, (1880–1968), US writer, social reformer, and academic

"Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it." Charles Swindoll, (born October 18, 1934) is an evangelical Christian pastor, author, educator, and radio preacher

"Life is short. God is good. An’ th’ best things in life are free." The character, Harley, in Come Rain, Come Shine by Jan Karon

"Life is what you make it." (Taken from On the Right Note, August 20, 2007.)

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." Vivian Greene

"Little things mean a lot, people! It doesn't have to be all sparkle and shine." Anonymous, taken from Somewhere Safe with Someone Good by Jan Karon

"My daddy made _______ a bad name. I’m going to make _______ a good name." Spoken by Sammy Barlowe, a character in Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon - (By inserting your last name in place of each of the lines you can make this quote work for you. You can Romans 8:28 any past bad history to turn around anything into a great thing in your life as you raise your family, mix with friends etc.)

"Once there was an old and very wise man. Every day he and his granddaughter would sit ouside a gas station in his rocking chair, waiting to greet tourists as they passed through his small town. One day a tall man who surely had to be a tourist began looking around as if he were checking out the area for a place to live. 'So what kind of town is this?' he asked.
The old man replied, 'Well, what kind of town are you from?'
The tourist said, 'One where everyone is very critical of each other. It's a real negative place to live.'
The old man said, 'You know, that's just how this town is.'
Later, a family passing through also stopped for gas. The father stepped out and asked the old man, 'Is this town a good place to live?'
'Well, what about the town you're from?'
The father said, 'In the town I'm from everyone is very close and always willing to lend a helping hand. I really hate to leave it.'
The old man smiled and said, 'You know, that's a lot like this small town.'
After the family had left the granddaughter looked up and asked, 'Grandpa, how come when the first man came you told him this was a terrible place to live, yet when that family came you told them it was a wonderful place to live?'
The old man looked down into his granddaughter's wondering blue eyes and said, 'No matter where you go, you take your attitude with you. And that's what makes it terrible or wonderful' Yes, life is what you make it!" (On the Right Note, August 20, 2007)

"Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional!"  Tim Hansel, the founder of Summit Expedition, a wilderness survival school for individuals seeking deeper experiences with themselves, others, and God. In great demand as a speaker and seminar leader, Tim is also the author of the best-selling When I Relax I Feel Guilty and What Kids Need Most in a Dad.

"Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind." William James, (1842 - 1910) American Philosopher

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing. That's why we recommend it daily." Zig Ziglar, (November 6, 1926 – November 28, 2012) was an American author, salesman, and motivational speaker

"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents." Andrew Carnegie, (1835–1919), US industrialist and philanthropist; born in Scotland.

"Rejoice ever more." John Adams, (1735–1826), 2nd president of the US 1797–1801

"Someone has said that in Ireland there’s no such thing as bad weather - only the wrong clothes." 3rd person comment in In the Company of Others by Jan Karon

"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way."  Unknown

"The path was worn and slippery. My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself, 'It's a slip and not a fall.' " Abraham Lincoln, (1809–65), 16th president of the US 1861–65, after losing a senate race

"The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better." Barbara Pletcher

"The significant, life-forming times are the dull, in-between times." Father Tim, a character in In This Mountain by Jan Karon - Jan Karon is an American novelist who writes for both adults and young readers. She is the author of the New York Times-bestselling Mitford novels, featuring Father Timothy Kavanagh, an Episcopal priest, and the fictional village of Mitford.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein, (1879–1955), US theoretical physicist

"They say the best men are born out of their faults and that they often improve later on, more than if they'd never done anything wrong." Sonia, wife of the main character, Ove, in A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Sonia said this to her husband after he told her he'd lied about something."

"Two men looked out through prison bars. One saw mud, the other stars." Oscar Wilde, (1854–1900), Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and wit; full name Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde.

" . . . we are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it." Josef, a character in The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews

"We can choose to find a hundred excuses why we can't do something and a hundred ways of getting it done. The choice lies with us." Pooja Bedi, (born 11 May 1970) is a former Bollywood actress, television talk show host of India

"We who lived in the concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: The last of his freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning (During WWII Dr. Frankl was imprisoned at Auschwitz, where he was stripped of his identity as a medical doctor and forced to work as a common laorer. His father, mother, brother, and wife died in the concentration camps. All his notes, which represented his life's work, were destroyed. Yet Frankl emerged from Auschwitz believing that everything can be taken from a man but one thing . . ."

"Where you tend a rose, my Lad, a thistle cannot grow." Frances Hodgson Burnett, (1849–1924), US novelist; born in Britain

"Yabba Dabba Doo!" F. Flintstone, Fred W. Flintstone or Frederick J. Flintstone, is the protagonist of the animated sitcom The Flintstones, which aired during prime-time on ABC during the original series' run from 1960 to 1966.

"You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses." Ziggy, an American cartoon series

"You only need one ray of light to chase all the shadows away." Sonia, wife of the main character Ove in A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

"You can get through anything in life." Amy Higdon, Nestucca Valley Middle School 6th grader, 2001

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