Samuel Smiles Quotes on Man (11 Quotes)

For want of self-restraint many men are engaged all their lives in fighting with difficulties of their own making, and rendering success impossible by their own cross-grained ungentleness whilst others, it may be much less gifted, make their way and achieve success by simple patience, equanimity, and self-control.

Man cannot aspire if he looked down; if he rise, he must look up.

Men must necessarily be the active agents of their own well-being and well-doing they themselves must in the very nature of things be their own best helpers.

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.

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.

The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.

Man cannot aspire if he looks down if he rises, he must look up.

I'm as happy a man as any in the world, for the whole world seems to smile upon me!

The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.

Men who are resolved to find a way for themselves will always find opportunities enough; and if they do not find them, they will make them.

It is possible that the scrupulously honest man may not grow rich so fast as the unscrupulous and dishonest one but the success will be of a truer kind, earned without fraud or injustice. And even though a man should for a time be unsuccessful, still he must be honest better lose all and save character. For character is itself a fortune....