Dr. Seuss photo

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

Dr. Seuss (1904–1991) American children's writer and illustrator, co-founder of Beginner Books

“Life can only be understood looking backward. It must be lived forward.”

Eric Roth (1945) American screenwriter

Source: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Screenplay

Gertrude Stein photo

“Whenever you get there, there is no there there.”

Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) American art collector and experimental writer of novels, poetry and plays
Nick Cave photo

“It's a wonderful life if you can find it.”

Nick Cave (1957) Australian musician

Source: Complete Lyrics

John Dewey photo

“If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.”

John Dewey (1859–1952) American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer
Dr. Seuss photo

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting!”

Dr. Seuss (1904–1991) American children's writer and illustrator, co-founder of Beginner Books

Variant: Today is your day, your mountain is waiting. So get on your way.

Ralph Waldo Emerson photo

“We aim above the mark to hit the mark.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) American philosopher, essayist, and poet
Sören Kierkegaard photo

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

Sören Kierkegaard (1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, founder of Existentialism

Variant: Life can only be understood going backward, but must be lived going forward.

Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux photo

“Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern but impossible to enslave.”

Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux (1778–1868) English barrister, politician, and Lord Chancellor of Great Britain

Speech to the House of Commons (January 29, 1828).

Paulo Coelho photo
Bono photo

“The world is more malleable than you think and it's waiting for you to hammer it into shape.”

Bono (1960) Irish rock musician, singer of U2

PENN Address (2004)

Borís Pasternak photo
Sam Levenson photo
Robert A. Heinlein photo

“Life is short, but the years are long.”

Part of the secret "call and response" codewords by which members of the long-lived Howard Families can identify others:
: Life is short.
But the years are long.
Not while the evil days come not.
Methuselah's Children (1958)

Oprah Winfrey photo

“Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.”

Oprah Winfrey (1954) American businesswoman, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist
Oprah Winfrey photo
Benjamin Disraeli photo

“The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.”

Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881) British Conservative politician, writer, aristocrat and Prime Minister