William Arthur Ward Quotes & Sayings

A life lived without forgiveness is a prison. — William Arthur Ward

We can be resentful of our age, or we can be grateful for having attained it. — 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

Real optimism is aware of problems but recognizes the solutions, knows about difficulties but believes they can be overcome, sees the negatives but accentuates the positives, is exposed to the worst but expects the best, has reason to complain but chooses to smile. — William Arthur Ward

Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others. — William Arthur Ward

Television remote controls encourage couch potatoes to exercise their options while broadening their base. — William Arthur Ward

When we shut people out, we wall ourselves in;When we stop building bridges, we start erecting fences. — William Arthur Ward

The adventure of life is to learn ... — William Arthur Ward

To the optimist all doors have handles and hinges; to the pessimist, all doors have locks and latches. — William Arthur Ward

'If only' is the excuse of the loser; 'I can' is the affirmation of the winner. — William Arthur Ward

Optimism is a seed sown in the soil of faith; pessimism is a seed hoarded in the vault of doubt. — William Arthur Ward

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. — 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

Real optimism has reason to complain but prefers to smile. — 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

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. — 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

The more patient we are, the more understanding we become. — William Arthur Ward

TODAY can be a healthy unusual day for you-and for others-if you take time to give someone a smile ... to express a word of kindness ... to lend a helping hand to someone in need ... to write a note of gratitude ... to give a word of encouragement to someone who is temporarily overcome with problems ... to share a portion of your material possessions with others. — 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

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

There is one thing we can do better than anyone else: we can be ourselves. — William Arthur Ward

The greatest ideas, the most profound thoughts, and the most beautiful poetry are born from the womb of silence — William Arthur Ward

Men never plan to be failures; they simply fail to plan to be successful — 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

Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding. — William Arthur Ward

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live. Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom. Only a person who risks is free. The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; and the realist adjusts the sails — William Arthur Ward

Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday's mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow's problems, and ingratitude for today's blessings. — William Arthur Ward

Forgiveness from others is charity; from God, grace; from oneself, wisdom. — William Arthur Ward

The regeneration of a sinner is an evidence of power in the highest sphere
moral nature; with the highest prerogative
to change nature; and operating to the highest result
not to create originally, which is great; but to create anew, which is greater. — William Arthur Ward

Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn't always have to be their top priority. — William Arthur Ward

To the optimist, obstacles aare challenges, roadblocks are inspirations, and problems are invitations to achievement. — William Arthur Ward

Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently. — William Arthur Ward

The optimist pleasantly ponders how high his kite will fly; the pessimist woefully wonders how soon his kite will fall. — William Arthur Ward

Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook. — William Arthur Ward

Friendship flourishes at the fountain of forgiveness. — William Arthur Ward

Believe while others are doubting. — 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

Our greatest challenge-our greatest opportunity-is found in these words: 'Choose ye this day ... '. — William Arthur Ward

Before you speak, listen. — William Arthur Ward

Once trust is tarnished, it is hard to restore it to its original glow. — William Arthur Ward

Another fresh new year is here ... Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! This bright new year is given me To live each day with zest ... To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best! I have the opportunity Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs! — William Arthur Ward

Too many of us hear without heeding, read without responding, confess without changing, profess without practicing, worship without witnessing, and seek without sharing. — William Arthur Ward

A complaining tongue reveals an ungrateful heart. — William Arthur Ward

In life, satisfaction is experienced when activities are brought to a state of completion. Loss of energy and loss of control are functions of incompletion. The result of completing things releases one's ability to create. Prioritize any items that need to be completed, set a completion date, then do it. — William Arthur Ward

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. - — William Arthur Ward

Giving is more than a responsibility-it is a privilege; more than an act of obedience-it is evidence of our faith. — 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

Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them. — William Arthur Ward

When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves. — 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

Man, like the bridge, was designed to carry the load of the moment, not the combined weight of a year at once. — William Arthur Ward

The winner asks, "May I help?" The loser asks, "Do you expect me to do that?" — William Arthur Ward

Christmas is more that a time of festivities, family, and friends; it is a season of generosity, gladness, and gratitude. — William Arthur Ward

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. — William Arthur Ward

To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity — William Arthur Ward

Everyone has a common, yet unique, responsibility to the future: to make the most of today. — William Arthur Ward

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it — William Arthur Ward

Risks
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 live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free. — 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 sent to be solved. It is better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills. — 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

Real optimism is exposed to the worst but expects the best. — William Arthur Ward

Excellence without effort is as futile as progress without preparation. — William Arthur Ward

Nothing limits achievement like small thinking; nothing expands possibilities like unleashed imagination. — William Arthur Ward

This bright new year is given me — William Arthur Ward

God gave you a gift of 84,600 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you? — William Arthur Ward

The momentary thrill of getting rarely equals the lasting joy of giving. — William Arthur Ward

Failure is delay, but not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead-end street. — 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

Success never resides in the world of weak wishes, but in the palace of purposeful plans and prayerful persistence. — William Arthur Ward

Encourage me, and I will not forget you. — William Arthur Ward

Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change. — William Arthur Ward

Whatever gets your goat gets your attention. Whatever gets your attention gets your time. Whatever gets your time gets you. Whatever gets you becomes your master. Take care, lest a little thing horn in and get your goat — William Arthur Ward

Humanity either makes, or breeds, or tolerates all its afflictions. — William Arthur Ward

Each of us 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

Real optimism sees the negatives but accentuates the positive. — William Arthur Ward

Do more than be fair: be kind. — William Arthur Ward

Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards. — William Arthur Ward

The greatest failure is the failure to try. — William Arthur Ward

Every day is a good day to examine our prime-time priorities. — William Arthur Ward

Words, like tranquil waters behind a dam, can become reckless and uncontrollable torrents of destruction when released without caution and wisdom. — 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

A religion without the Holy Ghost, though it had all the ordinances and all the doctrines of the New Testament, would certainly not be Christianity. — William Arthur Ward

A success is one who decided to succeed and worked. A failure is one who decided to succeed and wished. — William Arthur Ward

Skillful listening is the best remedy for loneliness, loquaciousness, and laryngitis. — William Arthur Ward

We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge. We are most like God when we forgive. — William Arthur Ward

Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned. — William Arthur Ward

Our words reveal our thoughts; our manners mirror our self-esteem; our actions reflect our character; our habits predict the future. — 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

We can be bitter about our handicaps or we can be happy about our blessings. — William Arthur Ward

I have the opportunity, once more to right some wrongs, to pray for peace, to plant some trees, and sing more joyful songs. — William Arthur Ward

Christmas can be the end of emptiness and waywardness; The beginning of happiness and purposefulness. — 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

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. — William Arthur Ward

In the face of unjust criticism we can become bitter or better; upset or understanding; hostile or humble; furious or forgiving. — William Arthur Ward

Will someone else's life be brighter tomorrow, because of what you have done today? — William Arthur Ward

Today's patience can transform yesterday's discouragements into tomorrow's discoveries. Today's purposes can turn yesterday's defeats into tomorrow's determination. — William Arthur Ward

A second-class is a first-class mistake. — William Arthur Ward

The essence of life is to care. The beauty of life is to give. — William Arthur Ward