Words of wisdom from ages past

These are some of our favourite inspirational and thought-provoking personal development quotes.

These are ones that have really stood the test of time and can still speak to us today from ages past. 

On being more ourselves...

"To be what we were born to be, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end in life."
Baruch Spinoza, Dutch philosopher (1632 - 1677)

"The heart has its reasons, which reason knows nothing of."
Blaise Pascal, French mathematician and philosopher (1623 - 1662)

"We first made our habits, and then our habits make us."
John Dryden, English poet (1631 - 1700)

On being more thankful...

"If the only prayer you say in your whole life is "thank you", that would suffice."
Meister Eckhart, German theologian and philospher (1260 - 1328)

On being more decisive...

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that at the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer and polymath (1749 - 1832)

On being more in tune with our work... 

"When we consider the real purpose of work and discovered that work builds ourselves, we will consider it a far greater privilege to work for everything we need or desire, than go to a free mine and take all the gold we can carry away."
Patanjali, Indian Sage (2nd to 3rd Century BC)

"Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation."
Aristotle, Greek philosopher (384 - 322 BC)

On being more present...

"My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened."
Michel De Montaigne, French Renaissance philosopher (1533 - 1592)

"Joy is not in things; joy is in us."
Benjamin Franklin, American founding father and polymath (1706 - 1790)

On being more resourceful...

"I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward."
Thomas Edison, American inventor and businessman (1847 - 1931)

"We will either find a way, or make one."
Hannibal, Carthaginian military commander (248 - 183BC)

And just because it's wonderful...

"One can't believe impossible things."
"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll (1832 - 1898)

"What is now proved was once impossible."
William Blake, English Romantic poet (1757 - 1827)