Quote

Never do anything for another with the expectation of gratitude. The expectation itself turns the gift into an exchange and suggests a debt is owed you.

Michael Josephson

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Michael Josephson
Age: 81
Born: 1942
Born: December 10
Motivational Speaker
Philosopher
Never
Exchange
Debt
Expectations
Gratitude
Gift
Turns
Owed
Another
Suggests
Anything
Expectation

More quotes by Michael Josephson

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Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.
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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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The opposite of success is not failure. Unsuccessful efforts are not failures unless they so discourage you that you abandon further efforts to achieve your goal. Even then, the venture or effort may be a failure but you are not. Failure is an event not a character trait.
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What you allow you encourage.
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I am not and never will be perfect. I am not always as honest, respectful, responsible, fair or as kind as I should be. All I can do is what I should do: strive every day, with every decision to be the best person I can be. I don’t expect to be perfect but I know I can be better.
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Good intentions are simply not enough. Our character is defined and our lives are determined not by what we want, say or think, but by what we do.
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One problem with gratitude is that it competes with the sense of pride, self-reliance and accomplishment we have. We want to think what we have is the result of our efforts rather than the gifts, good turns and opportunities provided us by others.
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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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The only force that can sustain true and consistent courage is some form of spiritual belief that values like honor, duty, loyalty and integrity above the status, power, money and even security.
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Character is made up of core moral principles called the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness and citizenship. Each of these virtues are independently important but together they provide the foundation for a worthy life.
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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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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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People who fight fire with fire end up with only the ashes of their own integrity.
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Good character is more important than wealth, good looks, popularity and even education. These things do not guarantee happiness and often they become obstacles to developing good character.
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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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If we don't invest now in building character into children we will surely invest more tomorrow in trying to repair adults.
Michael Josephson
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When it comes to building character, wealth, good looks, athletic ability and even a high IQ are more likely to be impediments than advantages.
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Failure is much easier to handle if you just think of it as feedback to guide your next effort.
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Everything you do sends a message about who you are and what you value.
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No leader or organization can achieve breakout growth until it treats, we've always done it this way as an opportunity to think anew rather than as a reason to stop thinking. Keep in mind, tradition should be a guide, not a jailer.
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