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An intense anticipation itself transforms possibility into reality our desires being often but precursors of the things which we are capable of performing.

Samuel Smiles

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Samuel Smiles
Age: 91 †
Born: 1812
Born: December 23
Died: 1904
Died: April 16
Author
Biographer
Journalist
Philosopher
Writer
Haddington
East Lothian
Reality
Desires
Things
Performing
Intense
Intention
Precursors
Capable
Precursor
Possibility
Transforms
Desire
Anticipation
Often
Clarity

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The very greatest things - great thoughts, discoveries, inventions - have usually been nurtured in hardship, often pondered over in sorrow, and at length established with difficulty.
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Necessity, oftener than facility, has been the mother of invention and the most prolific school of all has been the school of difficulty.
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The great lesson of biography is to show what man can be and do at his best. A noble life put fairly on record acts like an inspiration to others.
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Those who aren't making mistakes probably aren't making anything.
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Woman, above all other educators, educates humanly. Man is the brain, but woman is the heart, of humanity.
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Life will always be to a large extent what we ourselves make it.
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The great and good do no die even in this world. Embalmed in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which one still listens.
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It will generally be found that men who are constantly lamenting their ill luck are only reaping the consequences of their own neglect, mismanagement, and improvidence, or want of application.
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The path of success in business is invariably the path of common-sense. Nothwithstanding all that is said about lucky hits, the best kind of success in every man's life is not that which comes by accident. The only good time coming we are justified in hoping for is that which we are capable of making for ourselves.
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Knowledge conquered by labor becomes a possession -a property entirely our own.
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The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is in the thrall of his own moral ignorance, selfishness, and vice.
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Marriage like government is a series of compromises. One must give and take, repair and restrain, endure and be patient.
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The life of a good man is at the same time the most eloquent lesson of virtue and the most severe reproof of vice.
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All life is a struggle.... Under competition the lazy man is put under the necessity of exerting himself and if he will not exert himself, he must fall behind. If he do not work, neither shall he eat.
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Work is one of the best educators of practical character.
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Those who have most to do, and are willing to work, will find the most time.
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It is energy - the central element of which is will - that produces the miracle that is enthusiasm in all ages. Everywhere it is what is called force of character and the sustaining power of all great action
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Self-control is only courage under another form.
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The government of a nation itself is usually found to be but the reflux of the individuals composing it. The government that is ahead of the people will be inevitably dragged down to their level, as the government that is behind them will in the long run be dragged up.
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It is not ease, but effort-not facility, but difficulty, makes men. There is, perhaps, no station in life in which difficulties have not to be encountered and overcome before any decided measure of success can be achieved.
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