Equal Upon Principle

“I should like to know if, taking this old Declaration of Independence,
which declares that all men are equal upon principle,
you begin making exceptions to it,
where will you stop?
If one man says it does not mean a Negro,
why not another say it does not mean some other man?”

~ Abraham Lincoln,
Lawyer & 16th President of the United States

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Independence & Permanent Peace

“Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral.
I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results.
Nations have frequently won their independence in battle.
But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Pastor, Activist & Humanitarian

Aiming to Always Progress

“I still have sadness and complicated feelings about my divorce.
But how beneficial is it to keep hanging onto those feelings?
If someone lives through an accident, his aim is to become better and healthy.
My aim is always to progress – to make better decisions and be a better father,
a better boyfriend, a better husband if it happens again.

~ Ryan Phillippe,
Actor

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Just As Noteworthy

“There’s so much negative imagery of Black fatherhood.
I’ve got tons of friends that are doing the right thing by their kids and​ doing the right thing as a father.
​”How come that’s not as noteworthy?””

~ Will Smith,
a.k.a Willard Carroll Smith, Jr.,
Actor, Producer, Rapper & Songwriter

It’s a Constant Attitude

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Pastor, Activist & Humanitarian

The Starless Midnight of Racism & War

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war
that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality…
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Pastor, Activist & Humanitarian

That Which is Right, Just & True

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty
by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”

“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right.
A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice.
A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Pastor, Activist & Humanitarian

Your Shared Future

“A ring means a commitment. But more than that, it means that you’ve talked about
your shared future and have decided together on a shared vision of it.”

~ Patti Stanger,
Businesswoman, Matchmaker, Author &
Founder & CEO – Millionaire’s Club International, Inc.

Goals for Your New Year

“Make New Year’s goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year.
This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you’re interested in fully living life in the year to come.”

~ Melody Beattie,
Author

Be a Better You

” As much focus as you can have on expanding yourself and
expanding your wisdom and expanding your best qualities,
I think is the best way to create better businesses. Be a better you.”

~ Will Smith,
a.k.a Willard Carroll Smith, Jr.,
Actor, Producer, Rapper, and Songwriter

Half Our Time Wishing

“Many of us spend half of our time wishing for things
we could have if we didn’t spend half our time wishing.”

~ Alexander Humphreys Woollcott,
Drama Critic, Essayist, Playwright, Editor, Actor, Raconteur & Radio Personality

Life: A Lot of Colors & Situations

” Life is an awful lot of colors and situations to be handled.”

~ Diahann Carroll,
Actor, Advocate, Dancer, Model, Singer, Author, Philanthropist,
Tony Award (1962), Golden Globe Award (1969) & Television Academy Hall of Fame (2011)

Something Beyond What You’ve Mastered

“Unless you try to do something beyond what
you have already mastered, you will never grow.”

~ Author Unknown,

Sincere & Selfless Contribution

“Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment.”

~ Anthony Robbins
a.k.a Anthony J. Mahavorick ,
Life Coach, Speaker, Actor, Philanthropist & Author

Succes = Focus + Effort

“Success at anything will always come down to this:
focus and effort. And we control both.”

~ Dwayne Douglas Johnson,
a.k.a. The Rock,
Professional Wrestler, Actor, Author
& Founder – Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation

Oppose Those Stifling Fears

“Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation.
I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure.
Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.”

~ Charles Stanley,
Founder & President – In Touch Ministries, Senior Pastor – First Baptist Church,
Theologian, Author & Photographer

Today’s Decisions

“The decisions you’re making today
will impact your tomorrows.”

~ Priscilla Shirer,,
Author, Motivational Speaker, & Actress,

Become a Worry-Slapper

“Become a worry-slapper. Treat frets like mosquitoes.
Do you procrastinate when a bloodsucking bug lights on your skin?
‘I’ll take care of it in a moment.’ Of course you don’t!
You give the critter the slap it deserves. Be equally decisive with anxiety.”

~ Max Lucado,
Writer, Speaker, Preacher & Author

The People We Choose

“The most important decision I’ve made in business?
The choices of people I have around me.”

~ Snoop Dogg,
a.k.a. Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr.
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Film Actor, Voice Actor,
Entrepreneur, Investor, Record Producer & Television Director,

Elevating Our World

“I think that once a substantive issue becomes public knowledge,
it is up to each and every one of us to do our part to help implement positive change(s).
That is why I ask ALL viewers of my site, to commit to the act of volunteering.
Consider feeding the homeless or donate to your local food bank;
give of your time at church; or, go a step further by setting up your own non-profit organization
that seeks to make a targeted difference. Even if you decide to help just one person,
such as an elderly neighbor…think of how fulfilling that would be.
If we all learned to share in that sentiment, I honestly believe our world
would be elevated with far more love and unity.”

~ Jackee Harry,
Actress, Singer, Director,
Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1987),
NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1999 & 2000)

Your Impact’s Limits

“The only limits to your impact
is your imagination and commitment.”

~ Anthony Robbins
a.k.a Anthony J. Mahavorick ,
Life Coach, Speaker, Actor, Philanthropist & Author

Chasing Your Dream

“I stopped chasing a dollar and started chasing a dream.”

~ Dr. Cindy Trimm,
Author & Executive Life Coach

The Common Things of Life

“When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way,
you will command the attention of the world.”

~ George Washington Carver,
Botanist and Inventor

Building Great Relationships

“The starting point for building great relationships
is making wise decisions about who we allow close to us.
We need people who will build us up and take us forward,
and good friends will do just that. ”

~ Brian Houston,
Executive Producer, TV Host, College President, Author & Pastor

Control the Flames

“Walking through this life is really walking through fire.
As you get older, you realize there are fire extinguishers.
You do have an ability to control the flames.”

~ Chaka Khan,
Singer, Songwriter, Activist & Grammy Awards (10x)

We CAN Make Our Dreams Come True

“From my mother I learned
the value of prayer,
how to have dreams
and
believe I could make them come true.”

~ Ronald Reagan,
Actor, Sports Announcer, Politician, 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975), &
40th President of the United States (1/20/1981–1/20/1989)

Strength to Not Surrender

“Strength does not come from winning.
Your struggles develop your strengths.
When you go through hardships
and decide not to surrender,
that is strength.”

~ Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Actor, Producer, Businessman, Investor, Author,
Philanthropist, Activist, Politician,
Professional Bodybuilder & 38th Governor of California (2003-2011)

Being a Black Being

“I love being black in America, and
especially being black in Hollywood.”

~ Will Smith,
a.k.a Willard Carroll Smith, Jr.,
Actor, Producer, Rapper & Songwriter

An Enemy Transformed

“Love is the only force
capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pastor, Activist & Humanitarian

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A History of Victory

“I am not a victim. No matter what I have been through,
I’m still here. I have a history of victory.”

~ Steve Maraboli,
Author & Speaker

The Pen is In Your Hands!

“A new year is like a blank book, and the pen is in your hands;
it is your chance to write a beautiful story for yourself.”

~ Author Unknown

Like a Chapter in Your Life’s Book

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.
We can help write that story by setting goals.”

~ Melody Beattie,
Author

Chase Perfection. Catch Excellence!

“Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”

~ Vince Lombardi,
American Football Player,
Coach, and Executive

Two Primary Choices

“There are two primary choices in life:
to accept conditions as they exist
or accept the responsibility for changing them.

~ Denis Waitley,
Motivational Speaker,
Consultant & Author

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Not From the Outside

 

“America will never be destroyed from the outside.
If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

~ Abraham Lincoln,
Lawyer & 16th President of the United States

A Yardstick of Quality

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

~ Steve Jobs,
Entrepreneur, Marketer, Inventor, &
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Apple, Inc.
Founder & CEO of NeXT, Disney Legend (2013, posthumously)
Grammy Trustees Award (2012), California Hall of Fame (2007)
‘Most Powerful Person in Business’ by Fortune Magazine (2007)
Entrepreneur of the Decade’ by Inc. Magazine (1989)
Jefferson Award for Public Service (1987) & National Medal of Technology (1985)

A Vote FOR Them Without Voting

“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.”

~ George Jean Nathan,
Drama Critic & Magazine Editor

Work the Democracy

“I’m tired of hearing it said that democracy doesn’t work.
Of course IT doesn’t work. WE are supposed to work it.”

~ Alexander Humphreys Woollcott,
Drama Critic, Essayist, Playwright, Editor, Actor, Raconteur & Radio Personality

Making Our Voices Heard, Now

“People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people.
Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those
who make themselves heard and who vote – a very different thing.”

~ Walter Henry Judd,
Medical Missionary (1925-1931),
Missionary Physician (1934-1938), Orator,
U.S. House of Representatives, Minnesota (1943-1963) &
Presidential Medal of Freedom (1981)

 

Backs Turned Against the Fire Burns Behinds

Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad, looking at an album of photographs

 

“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision.
If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds,
then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”

~ Abraham Lincoln,
Lawyer & 16th President of the United States

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Will We Deny Ourselves, Now?

“Nobody will ever deny the American people the right to vote
except the American people themselves
and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”

~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
Statesman & 32nd President of the United States (3.4.1933 – 4.12.1945)

Attempting Something Great

“I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail
than to attempt to do nothing and succeed.”

~ Dr. Robert Harold Schuller,
Pastor, Motivational Speaker, Author
& Founder of the Crystal Cathedral

Thoughts Have Wings

“I hold it true that thoughts are things
Endowed with bodies, breath, and wings,
And that we send them forth to fill
The world with good results – or ill.”

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox,
Author & Poet

Adorned with Our Smiles

“Nothing you wear is more important than your smile.”

~ Connie Stevens
a.k.a Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingoglia ,
Actress, Film Director, Screenwriter & Singer

Turning the Invisible

“Setting goals is the first step
in turning the invisible into the visible.”

~ Anthony Robbins
a.k.a Anthony J. Mahavorick,
Life Coach, Speaker, Actor, Philanthropist & Author

Don’t Rob It, Bless It!

“You must decide if you are going to rob the world or bless it
with the rich, valuable, potent, untapped
resources locked away within you.”

~ Myles Munroe,
Inspirational / Motivational Speaker,
Founder of Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI),
Founder of Myles Munroe International (MMI),
Author

Sticking with Love

“I have decided to stick with LOVE.
HATE is too great a burden to bear.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Pastor, Activist & Humanitarian

Intellectually Made

“When you make a decision to forgive, it’s a decision that you have to make intellectually.”

~ T. D. Jakes, Sr.,
Bishop/Chief Pastor of The Potter’s House,
Author & Filmmaker

Showing the Real Pictures

“Maybe we should always show pictures.
…, pictures of our wounded service people,
pictures of maimed innocent civilians.
We can only make decisions about war if we see what war actually is —
and not as a video game where bodies quickly disappear
leaving behind a shiny gold coin.”

~ Jon Stewart
a.k.a Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz,
Comedian, Writer, Producer, Director, Actor, Media Critic,
& Television Host, The Daily Show (1999-2015)

What Kind of Legacies Are We Leaving?

“The choices we make about the lives we live determine the kinds of legacies we leave.”

~ Tavis Smiley,
Talk Show Host, Author, Political Commentator,
Entrepreneur, Advocate & Philanthropist

Style-of-Life Lies

“Euphemisms persist (for some people) because lying
is an indispensable part of making life tolerable.”

~ Bergen Evans,
Professor of English, TV Show Host,
& George Foster Peabody Award (1957)

Thoughts Boomerang!

 

“You never can tell when you send a word,
Like an arrow shot from a bow
By an archer blind, be it cruel or kind,
Just where it may chance to go.
It may pierce the breast of your dearest friend.
Tipped with its poison or balm,
To a stranger’s heart in life’s great mart,
It may carry its pain or its calm.

You never can tell when you do an act
Just what the result will be;
But with every deed you are sowing a seed,
Though the harvest you may not see.
Each kindly act is an acorn dropped
In God’s productive soil
You may not know, but the tree shall grow,
With shelter for those who toil.

You never can tell what your thoughts will do,
In bringing you hate or love;
For thoughts are things, and their airy wings
Are swifter than carrier doves.
They follow the law of the universe—
Each thing must create its kind,
And they speed o’er the track to bring you back
Whatever went out from your mind.”

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox,
Author & Poet

Wish, Hope & Work It

Estée Lauder with a customer.

~ Image via Wikipedia Commons

“I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it,
but by working for it.”

~ Estée Lauder,
Businesswoman, Co-Founder of Estée Lauder Companies
Presidential Medal of Freedom Award,
Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1988,
Time Magazine’s 1998 List of the 20 Most Influential Business Geniuses of the 20th Century

Replacing Thoughts

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones,
you’ll start having positive results.”

~ Willie Hugh Nelson,
Singer-Songwriter, Author, Poet, Actor, and Activist

~ Image via Pixabay

Victories for Humanity

“Be ashamed to die until you
have won some victory for humanity.”

~ Horace Mann,
Educator, Politician & College President

Believed & Sold Hard

Estée Lauder with a customer.

~ Image via Wikipedia Commons

“I have never worked a day in my life without selling.
If I believe in something, I sell it, and I sell it hard.”

~ Estée Lauder,
Businesswoman, Co-Founder of Estée Lauder Companies
Presidential Medal of Freedom Award,
Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1988,
Time Magazine’s 1998 List of the 20 Most Influential Business Geniuses of the 20th Century

Easy to Start, Hard to Stop

“She will be successful who is easy to start, and hard to stop.”

~ Connie Stevens
a.k.a Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingoglia ,
Actress, Film Director, Screenwriter & Singer

Is Your Mind Set?

Image courtesy of Pixabay’s Skeeze

“I proved to myself
that if I believe in something
and set my mind to it
I could actually accomplish it.”

~ Salma Hayek,
Actress, Director, Producer
Glamour ‘Woman of the Year Award’ recipient (2001)
Producers Guild of America Celebration of Diversity Award recipient (2003)
Time ’25 Most Influential Hispanics’ recipient (2005)
Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year Award recipient (2006)
Knight (Chevalier) of the National Order of the Legion of Honour recipient (France, 2011)

Because We Were Here

Image courtesy of Pixabay’s PublicDomainArchive

“I want the world to be better because I was here.”

~ Will Smith
a.k.a Willard Carroll Smith, Jr.,,
Actor, Producer, Rapper, and Songwriter

Happily Fulfilled

“I was a single mom that raised two bright, beautiful, and compassionate girls.”
“I made the decision a long time ago that I had an obligation to my children that I happily fulfilled.”
“My kids are pretty secure, bright, and know who they are.”

~ Connie Stevens
a.k.a Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingoglia ,
Actress, Film Director, Screenwriter & Singer

A Habitual Sense of Humor

“There is no defense against adverse fortune which is so effectual
as a habitual sense of humor.”

~ Thomas Wentworth Higginson,
Minister, Author, Abolitionist, and Soldier

Have More Than One Income

“Never depend on single income.
Make investments to create a second source.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

Money Itself

“”Money is simply a way of measuring
if the business is going well or not,
yet money in and of itself
doesn’t fascinate me.”

~ Jorge Paulo Lemann,
Founder, Banco de Investimentos Garantia,
Banker, Co-Founder of 3G Capital,
Beer Magnate & Tennis Champion

When You’re to Blame

“I’m very observant and very instinctive.
In life, you have to have the vulnerability
to accept when you are to blame.
And I do have that, and
I am open enough to say it.”

~ Naomi Elaine Campbell,
Model, Actress, Singer, and Author

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People Will …

“Throughout life people will
make you mad,
disrespect you
and treat you bad.
Let God deal with the things they do,
’cause hate in your heart will consume you, too.”

~ Willard Carroll Smith, Jr.,
a.k.a Will Smith,
Actor, Producer, Rapper, and Songwriter

Being Calm

“PEACE:
It does not mean
to be in a place where there is
no noise, trouble or hard work.
It means to be in the midst of those things
and still be calm in your heart.”

~ Unknown,

No Power Struggles

“I love being a wife and homemaker – because it’s my choice.
My husband doesn’t expect me to do it. I don’t mind doing things for him
because he does so much for me; we both feel that way
so there is no power struggle.”

~ Salma Hayek,
Actress, Director, Producer
Glamour ‘Woman of the Year Award’ recipient (2001)
Producers Guild of America Celebration of Diversity Award recipient (2003)
Time ’25 Most Influential Hispanics’ recipient (2005)
Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year Award recipient (2006)
Knight (Chevalier) of the National Order of the Legion of Honour recipient (France, 2011)

“Let Go!”

“Sometimes we think we need to hold on, when we really need to let go!
Let go of the negative energy, events or people,
set some boundaries and start your new day!”

~ Jennifer Gayle

Your Work, Your Plan

“Plan your work for today
and every day,
then, work your plan.”

~ Margaret Hilda Thatcher,
(Baroness Thatcher),Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (May 1979–November 1990)
Leader of the Opposition (February 1975–May 1979)
Leader of the Conservative Party (February 1975–November 1990)
Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment (March 1974–February 1975)
Secretary of State for Education and Science (June 1970–March 1974)
Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science (January 1967-June 1970)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Pensions (October 1961–October 1964)
Member of Parliament for Finchley (October 1959–April 1992)

~ Image via Wikipedia

Better Than You

“Don’t bother just to be
better than your contemporaries
or predecessors.
Try to be better than yourself.”

~ William Cuthbert Faulkner,
Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature (1949) recipient
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1955, 1963) recipient, &
National Book Award (1951, 1955) recipient

Making Excuses

“Ninety-nine percent
of the failures come from
people who have the habit
of making excuses.”

~ George Washington Carver,
Botanist and Inventor

Do Superbly-Well!

“The best preparation for Tomorrow
is to do Today’s work
Superbly-Well.”

~ Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet
a Founding Professor of Johns Hopkins Hospital,
Physician and “Father of Modern Medicine”,
Bibliophile, Historian,
Author, and renowned Practical Joker.

Every Human’s Life

“Every man’s life
ends the same way.
It is only the details
of how he lived
and how he died
that distinguish one man from another.”

~ Ernest Miller Hemingway,
Author, Journalist
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, recipient (1953)
Nobel Prize in Literature, recipient (1954)

Time Users

“Time stays long enough for anyone
who will use it.”

~Leonardo da Vinci,
Polymath: Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Musician,
Mathematician, Engineer, Inventor, Anatomist,
Geologist, Cartographer, Botanist, & Writer

Unexpressed Gratitude

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it
is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

~ William Arthur Ward,
Author, Educator & Motivational Speaker