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The noble people will be nobly ruled, and the ignorant and corrupt ignobly.

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
Corrupt
Ignorant
Noble
People
Nobly
Ruled

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Hope... is the companion of power, and the mother of success for who so hopes has within him the gift of miracles.
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Practical wisdom is only to be learned in the school of experience. Precepts and instruction are useful so far as they go, but, without the discipline of real life, they remain of the nature of theory only.
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The healthy spirit of self-help created among working people would, more than any other measure, serve to raise them as a class and this, not by pulling down others, but by levelling them up to a higher and still advancing standard of religion, intelligence, and virtue.
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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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One might almost fear, writes a thoughtful woman, seeing how the women of to-day are lightly stirred up to run after some new fashion or faith, that heaven is not so near to them as it was to their mothers and grandmothers.
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Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.
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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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To set a lofty example is the richest bequest a man can leave behind.
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It is observed at sea that men are never so much disposed to grumble and mutiny as when least employed. Hence an old captain, when there was nothing else to do, would issue the order to scour the anchor.
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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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Example teaches better than precept. It is the best modeler of the character of men and women. To set a lofty example is the richest bequest a man can leave behind him.
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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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Genius, without work, is certainly a dumb oracle, and it is unquestionably true that the men of the highest genius have invariably been found to be amongst the most plodding, hard-working, and intent men -- their chief characteristic apparently consisting simply in their power of laboring more intensely and effectively than others.
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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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Energy of will may be defined to be the very central power of character in a man.
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Self-control is only courage under another form.
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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.
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For want of self-restraint many men are engaged all their lives in fighting with difficulties of their own making.
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The work of many of the greatest men, inspired by duty, has been done amidst suffering and trial and difficulty. They have struggled against the tide, and reached the shore exhausted.
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Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.
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