Quotes about success and happiness

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“When a person loves another very much, she greatly wished to meet that person. Why then should I be afraid of death? Death brings us to God.”

Josephine Bakhita (1868–1947) Italian saint and former slave

Quoted in "Goodness and missionary zeal", The Holy See https://www.vatican.va/spirit/documents/spirit_20010112_bakhita_en.html.

“I felt like I wanted to make everybody else happy because bars is my thing and a lot of people were rooting for me.”

Sunisa Lee (2003) American artistic gymnast; first Hmong American Olympic gold medalist

"Sunisa Lee Says She's 'Going to Delete Twitter' So She Can Focus on Preparing for Beam Final" in People (1 August 2021) https://people.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-sunisa-lee-going-to-delete-twitter-focus-preparing-beam-final/

“It's true hard work never killed anyone, but I figure, why take the chance?”

Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American politician, 40th president of the United States (in office from 1981 to 1989)

On his relaxed approach to work, as quoted in Ronald Reagan: The Presidential Portfolio : a History Illustrated from the Collection of the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum (2001) by Lou Cannon
Post-presidency (1989–2004)

“Optics is an example of the different ways a human is able to see things in the world. The same goes for the color of a person's skin and even though optics present that there are differences in color, these do not state that they should necessarily be treated as different.”

Edward Bouchet (1852–1918) African American academic

Unsourced

“The brave man is not the one without fear but the one who does what he must despite being afraid. To succeed, you must be willing to risk total failure; you must learn this.”

Raymond E. Feist book The King's Buccaneer

Source: The King's Buccaneer

“A TV evening with the right person can be more erotic than sex with the wrong one. ”

Ville Valo (1976) Finnish rock musician

“Each person must live their life as a model for others.”

Rosa Parks (1913–2005) African-American civil rights activist

“I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.”

Rosa Parks (1913–2005) African-American civil rights activist

Quoted in "Women of the Hall: Rosa Parks," http://womenshalloffame.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=117 Women's National Hall of Fame (undated); said upon her 77th birthday (1990-02-04)

“I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free… so other people would be also free.”

Rosa Parks (1913–2005) African-American civil rights activist

“I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day, but I don't think there is anything such as complete happiness. It pains me that there is still a lot of Klan activity and racism. I think when you say you're happy, you have everything that you need and everything that you want, and nothing more to wish for. I haven't reached that stage yet.”

Rosa Parks (1913–2005) African-American civil rights activist

Quoted in "Standing Up for Freedom," Academy of Achievement.org (2005-10-31)

“Language is at the heart of poetry and it is difficult to commandeer words which elicit no personal echo. Of what we can speak, we need not be silent.”

Dennis O'Driscoll (1954–2012) Irish poet, critic

Interview with Eugene O'Connell 'Cork Literary Review vol xiii 2009
Poetry Quotes

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

Harriet Tubman (1820–1913) African-American abolitionist and humanitarian

“We cannot bank our hopes on possibilities. We must put our trust in ourselves, in our capabilities and efforts and strength and preparations not only for our success but even to avoid our own defeat.”

Aung San (1915–1947) Burmese revolutionary leader

Presidential address to the AFPFL Supreme Council Session (August 1946)

“The person who does not control his territory does not control his existence. If someone is not conscious, he is taken over, not only outwardly but also with the thoughts that assault him. He is very vulnerable to desires and feelings. For example, you live calmly with your wife, and then—catastrophe! Suddenly you lose control because you have fallen in love with another. You don't have to fall victim to that reality; what you have to do is navigate in it, overcome the winds and sandstorms. Amid the storms at sea and the signs, you must move forward calmly and look toward the port you're heading for. In New York, when I was filming The Holy Mountain, I had problems of all sorts. I soaked six or seven T-Shirts a night with my sweat. I went to see a Chinese sage that someone had recommended. He was a poet, a great master of tai chi, and a doctor. When he first saw me, he said, "What is your purpose in life?" I was disconcerted and did not answer. He continued, "If you do not tell me what is your purpose in life, I cannot heal you."”

Alejandro Jodorowsky (1929) Filmmaker and comics writer

So I understood that if a ship crosses the sea without a purpose, it will arrive at no port. What prevents life from devouring us is having a purpose. The higher it is, the further it will carry us...
Psychomagic: The Transformative Power of Shamanic Psychotherapy (2010)

“Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.”

Man Ray (1890–1976) American artist and photographer

As quoted in Photographers on Photography : A Critical Anthology (1966) by Nathan Lyons, p. 80 
Context: Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask "how", while others of a more curious nature will ask "why". Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.