"Rest is good, but laziness is not. Labour is good, but slavery is not. Wine is good, but drunkenness is not. Food is good, but gluttony is not. Money is good, but greed is not. Wealth is good, but selfishness is not. Beauty is good, but vanity is not. Sex is good, but lust is not. Pleasure is good, but sin is not. Amusement is good, but decadence is not. Fame is good, but self importance is not. Confidence is good, but ego is not. Eloquence is good, but flattery is not. Charisma is good, but deception is not. Ambition is good, but self interest is not. Influence is good, but manipulation is not. Authority is good, but tyranny is not. Servitude is good, but bondage is not. Admiration is good, but idolatry is not. Law is good, but injustice is not. Race pride is good, but bigotry is not. Liberty is good, but recklessness is not. Freedom is good, but unruliness is not. Belief is good, but fanaticism is not. Religion is good, but extremism is not.
"It is easier to teach saints than to learn from sinners. It is easier to teach young students than to guide old fools. It is easier to chastise saints than to caution sinners. It is easier to shine in the dark than to glow in the light. It is easier to multiply enemies than to accumulate friends. It is easier to embrace your angel than to face your demons. It is easier to fight an army of opinions than a single truth. It is easier to rise with enemies than to fall with friends. It is easier to fall into sin than to rise into virtue. It is easier to rise from defeat than to rise from ignorance. It is easier to survive a blow from a friend than a kiss from an enemy. It is easier to conquer a thousand devils than a single angel. It is easier to rise from love than to soar from hate. It is easier to move mountains by faith than hills by your hands. It is easier for stars to shine than for truth to glow. It is easier to resist pain than to defy pleasure. It is easier to appease the strong than to wrestle the mighty. It is easier to tame the mind than to bridle the soul. It is easier to fight an army than to grapple with your conscience. It is easier to embrace the future than to understand the past. It is easier for the sun to shine than for the moon to glow. It is easier for small seeds to rise than for big trees to grow. It is easier to heal a wounded heart than a broken soul.
"The 15 Principles of Life 1. Count your blessings. 2. Read good books. 3. Discover your gifts. 4. Chase your dreams. 5. Learn from everyone. 6. Forgive your enemies. 7. Protect your friends. 8. Love your family. 9. Do good deeds. 10. Harm none. 11. Hone your skills. 12. Work hard. 13. Use time wisely.
"Doubt your critics, never your dreams; your weaknesses, never your strengths; your enemies, never your friends; and your circumstances, but never doubt yourself. Embrace your intelligence, never your ignorance; your humility, never your pride;
"Nature needs your care. Animals need your attention. People need your light. The world needs your love. There are five kinds of love: veritable love for God, your parents, your life partner, your friends, and the most difficult of all, your neighbor.
"The distance between truth and lies is integrity, between need and want is contentment, between fate and chance is will, between vice and virtue is intention, between faith and doubt is conviction, between joy and grief is happiness, between strength and weakness is tenacity, between action and fear is courage, between hope and despair is expectation, between wealth and poverty is diligence, between friendship and humility is kindness, between life and death is existence, between eternity and time is reality, between war and peace is diplomacy, between God and intelligence is wisdom, between knowledge and ignorance is education, between sin and righteousness is desire, between God and religion is faith, between blessings and curses is obedience, between faith and science is God, between good and evil is light, between light and darkness is sight,
"Never take anyone for granted. Never apologize for being yourself. Never compare yourself with others. Never live for anyone's approval. Never put down your friends. Never denigrate your enemies. Never applaud yourself. Never embrace your vices. Never shun your virtues. Never trust your fears. Never doubt your strengths. Never accept your weaknesses.
"Where there's strength there's courage. Where there's courage there's hope. Where there's hope there's faith. Where there's faith there's power. Where there's truth there's knowledge. Where there's knowledge there's understanding.
"It's not what you take, it's what you give. It's not what you know, it's what you apply. It's not who you lack, it's what you acquire. It's not what you have, it's what has you. It's not what you earn, it's what you save. It's not what you buy, it's what you enjoy. It's not what you seek, it's what you find. It's not what you encounter, it's what you experience. It's not what you think, it's what you believe. It's not what you see, it's what you comprehend. It's not what you feel, it's what you value. It's not what you do, it's what you accomplish. It's not what you want, it's what you pursue. It's not what you chase, it's what you attract. It's not what you avoid, it's what you follow. It's not what you intend, it's what you execute. It's not what you mask, it's what you reveal. It's not what you desire, it's what you need. It's not what you receive, it's what you embrace. It's not what you demand, it's what you deserve. It's not what you lose, it's what you gather. It's not what you cherish, it's what you honor.
"Wisdom is more valuable than knowledge. Truth is more valuable than opinion. Discernment is more valuable than intelligence. Intuition is more valuable than vision. Observation is more valuable than hearing. Experience is more valuable than education. Compassion is more valuable than titles. Character is more valuable than reputation. Integrity is more valuable than intellect. Honor is more valuable than admiration. Patience is more valuable than passion. Joy is more valuable than happiness. Peace is more valuable than riches. Faith is more valuable than religion. Meekness is more valuable than might. Confidence is more valuable than strength. Love is more valuable than desire. Reality is more valuable than fantasy.
"God is the beginning of life. Life is the beginning of time. Time is the beginning of eternity. Eternity is the beginning of reality. Reality is the beginning of existence.
"If you have days, you have riches. If you have months, you have fortune. If you have years, you have treasure. If you have decades, you have wealth. If you have time, you have affluence. If you have excitement, you have luxury. If you have pleasure, you have privilege. If you have peace, you have comfort. If you have happiness, you have prosperity. If you have joy, you have triumph. If you have knowledge, you have currency. If you have understanding, you have capital. If you have discernment, you have assets. If you have insight, you have benefits. If you have wisdom, you have profit. If you have religion, you have influence. If you have philosophy, you have muscle. If you have will, you have strength.
"Where knowledge ends wisdom begins. Where intelligence ends intuition begins. Where darkness ends light begins. Where ignorance ends enlightenment begins. Where the mind ends the soul begins. Where life ends death begins. Where time ends eternity begins. Where chance ends fate begins.
"If you value knowledge, you will hate ignorance. If you value understanding, you will hate shallowness. If you value intelligence, you will hate imprudence. If you value wisdom, you will hate foolishness. If you value hope, you will hate gloominess. If you value faith, you will hate anxiousness. If you value joy, you will hate cheerlessness.
"They have courage, but not your faith; patience, but not your long suffering; composure, but not your discipline; skill, but not your talent; ability, but not your mastery; ego, but not your confidence; facts, but not your truth; money, but not your wealth; possessions, but not your joy; intelligence, but not your wisdom; strength, but not your power; connections, but not your character; education, but not your experience; position, but not your authority; force, but not your command; awards, but not your merit; titles, but not your honor; recognition, but not your dignity; fame, but not your influence;
"Light in love is joy. Light in faith is hope. Light in compassion is mercy. Light in gratitude is contentment. Light in understanding is awareness. Light in intellect is discernment. Light in certainty is conviction. Light in patience is expectation. Light in truth is discovery. Light in innocence is virtue. Light in experience is illumination. Light in consciousness is realization. Light in your world is warmth. Light in your sky is energy. Light in your universe is wisdom. Light in your yourself is virtue. Light in your mind is truth. Light in your heart is knowledge.
"If you have a million titles, and no influence, you're still not a leader; a million armies, and no strategy, you're still not a general; a million ideas and no creations, you're still not an artist. a million theories, and no facts, you're still not a scholar; a million books, and no wisdom, you're still not a sage;
"A step towards love is a mile towards virtue. A step towards virtue is a mile towards wisdom. A step towards wisdom is a mile towards joy. Invest in wisdom; the returns are certain. Invest in love; the rewards are plenty.