The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist
adjusts the sails.
– William Arthur Ward
Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.
– William Arthur Ward
The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment.
– William Arthur Ward
It is wise to direct your anger towards problems – not people; to focus your energies on
answers – not excuses.
– William Arthur Ward
If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.
– William Arthur Ward
Before you speak, listen.
Before you write, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you invest, investigate.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.
Before you retire, save.
Before you die, give.
– William Arthur Ward
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires.
– William Arthur Ward
When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.
– William Arthur Ward
Today is a most unusual day, because we have never lived it before; we will never live it
again; it is the only day we have.
– William Arthur Ward
A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the
tightrope of life.
– William Arthur Ward
God gave you a gift of 86.400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you?
– William Arthur Ward
Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.
– William Arthur Ward
Opportunities are like sunrises; if you wait too long, you miss them.
– William Arthur Ward
A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strenghs; feels your fears but
fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but
emphasizes your possibilities.
– William Arthur Ward
A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.
– William Arthur Ward
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I
may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to
love you.
– William Arthur Ward
A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are
blessed, and for whom you are grateful.
– William Arthur Ward
Nothing limits achievement like small thinking; nothing expands possibilities like unleashed
imagination.
– William Arthur Ward
Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a
power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.
– William Arthur Ward
A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.
– William Arthur Ward
Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but
not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate.
– William Arthur Ward
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To hope is to risk pain.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
– William Arthur Ward
Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn’t always have to be their top priority.
– William Arthur Ward
Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.
– William Arthur Ward
Real religion is a way of life, not a white cloak to be wrapped around us on the sabbath and
then cast aside into the six-day closet of unconcern.
– William Arthur Ward
Study while others are sleeping;
Work while others are loafing;
Prepare while others are playing;
And dream while others are wishing.
– William Arthur Ward
The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to
change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity
of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of
life is to give.
– William Arthur Ward
Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change. Learning is more than
absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.
– William Arthur Ward
Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers
and billboards.
– William Arthur Ward
As the valley gives height to the mountain, so can sorrow give meaning to pleasure; as the
well is the source of the fountain, deep adversity can be a treasure.
– William Arthur Ward
Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.
– William Arthur Ward
Lose yourself in generous service and every day can be a most unusual day, a triumphant
day, an abundantly rewarding day!
– William Arthur Ward
Men never plan to be failures – they simply fail to plan to be successful.
– William Arthur Ward
The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain – he is inspired by it. The
persistent winner is not discouraged by a problem – he is challenged by it. Mountains are
created to be conquered; adversities are designed to be defeated; problems are meant to be
solved. It is better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills.
– William Arthur Ward
Happiness is an inside job.
– William Arthur Ward
Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and
change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
– William Arthur Ward
Optimists enrich the present, enhance the future, challenge the improbable and attain the
impossible.
– William Arthur Ward
We can learn much from wise words, little from wisecracks, and less from wise guys.
– William Arthur Ward
Do more than belong: Participate. Do more than care: Help. Do more than believe: Practice.
Do more than be fair: Be kind. Do more than forgive: Forget. Do more than dream: Work.
– William Arthur Ward
The winner asks, “May I help?” The loser asks, “Do you expect me to do that?”
– William Arthur Ward
Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in
goodness, humility, service, and character.
– William Arthur Ward
A life lived without forgiveness is a prison.
– William Arthur Ward
The winner persistently programs his pluses; the loser mournfully magnifies his minuses.
– William Arthur Ward
To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is
maturity.
– William Arthur Ward
Failure is not fatal. Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. It should challenge us to
new heights of accomplishments, not pull us to new depths of despair. From honest failure can
come valuable experience.
– William Arthur Ward
Enthusiasm is the match that lights the candle of achievement.
– William Arthur Ward
We can choose to throw stones, to stumble on them, to climb over them, or to build with
them.
– William Arthur Ward
Each of will one day be judged by our standard of life, not by our standard of living. By our
measure of giving, not by our measure of wealth. By our simple goodness, not by our seeming
greatness.
– William Arthur Ward
We must be silent before we can listen. We must listen before we can learn. We must learn
before we can prepare. We must prepare before we can serve. We must serve before we can
lead.
– William Arthur Ward
Interruptions can be viewed as sources of irritation or opportunities for service, as moments
lost or experience gained, as time wasted or horizons widened. They can annoy us or enrich
us, get under our skin or give us a shot in the arm. Monopolize our minutes or spice our
schedules, depending on our attitude toward them.
– William Arthur Ward
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
– William Arthur Ward
Four steps to achievement:
Plan purposefully.
Prepare prayerfully.
Proceed positively.
Pursue persistently.
– William Arthur Ward
Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.
– William Arthur Ward
Faith sees a beautiful blossom in a bulb, a lovely garden in a seed, and a giant oak in an
acorn.
– William Arthur Ward
Every person has the power to make others happy. Some do it simply by entering a room,
others by leaving the room. Some individuals leave trails of gloom; others, trails of joy. Some
leave trails of hate and bitterness; others, trails of love and harmony. Some leave trails of
cynicism and pessimism; others trails of faith and optimism. Some leave trails of criticism and
resignation; others trails of gratitude and hope. What kind of trails do you leave?
– William Arthur Ward
Three keys to more abundant living:
Caring about others,
Daring for others,
Sharing with others.
– William Arthur Ward
The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the
island of perpetual indecision.
– William Arthur Ward