Quote

Lincoln described character is a tree and reputation as its shadow. The tree will always be what it is but the shadow we see depends on where we stand and the angle of the light.

Michael Josephson

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Michael Josephson
Age: 82
Born: 1942
Born: December 10
Motivational Speaker
Philosopher
Tree
Stand
Light
Lincoln
Character
Described
Always
Angle
Reputation
Shadow
Depends

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Gratitude is not a payment for a kindness but another form of gift.
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A certain formula for an unhappy life is pursue someone else's definition of success. Until you define your own goals and purposes your life is not your own and there can be no sense of fulfillment no matter how much you achieve.
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Go out there and do your part to change the world. You may not change all you had hoped but the world will be better for the caring demonstrated by your effort.
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If you pay too much attention to your reputation, you could lose your character.
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America is a song that sounds the best when we all sing together - at least for a while.
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Neither heredity nor environment determine character. But whether we give in to or overcome the negative messages we are exposed to as we wend our way through life is often determined by whether our parents, teachers, mentors and friends exposed us to good examples and morally inspiring ideas.
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Gratitude is most treasured when it is unexpected. When we expect, even demand gratitude, we treat it simply as payment due for some service we rendered and we squeeze any good feeling out of it.
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Don't sacrifice a good life for a good time.
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There is within you, waiting to be called, a great source of power called courage. Call its name and it will give you the strength to confront challenges despite fear and to continue and the heart to continue with bold confidence despite the pain of caused by tragedy.
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If you want to be happy, learn to be alone without being lonely. Learn that being alone does not mean being unhappy. The world is full of plenty of interesting and enjoyable things to do and people who can enrich your life.
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What will matter in the end is not what you bought but what you built not what you got but what you gave not what you learned by what you taught. What will matter is not your competence but your character.
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A caring heart that listens is often more valued than an intelligent mind that talks.
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Whatever you do, make a difference. Earn the right to look back at something and say, 'I did that.'
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Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.
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Character is ethics in action.
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Gratitude should be felt and experienced sincerely, expressed generously and received graciously.
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Our expectation of the gratitude of others for what we've done for them is sometimes exaggerated because of our deep desire for appreciation and approval. When our good work or good deeds go unrewarded by hoped for praise, we feel like failures so we treat those who denied us our due as betrayers.
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Ethics doesn't require us to ignore our self-interests or demand a life of self-sacrifice. It requires that we know the difference between what we want and what we should do
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What a person says and does in ordinary moments when when no one is looking reveals more about true character than grand actions taken while in the spotlight. Our true character is revealed by normal, consistent, everyday attitudes and behavior, not by self-conscious words or deeds or rare acts of moral courage.
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In life, we all get scored on every day. The wonderful thing is, if we do our best with courage and tenacity, we might be outscored but we can never be beaten.
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