Daily Inspiration. Shareable Quotes. Rise Every Day.

“Here lies one who meant well, tried a little, failed much: — surely that may be his epitaph of which he need not be ashamed.”

Meaning: Stevenson wrote this in his essay "A Christmas Sermon" while reflecting on how little any of us achieves. He argues that sincere effort matters more than flawless results. Try applying it by judging today by whether you honestly tried, then starting again tomorrow.

— Robert Louis Stevenson

“To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.”

Meaning: From Stevenson's essay "El Dorado", this line suggests that the pursuit of a goal often brings more life than reaching it. When a long project drags, notice what you enjoy about the work itself, and let small daily progress feel like a destination of its own.

— Robert Louis Stevenson

“Gentleness and cheerfulness, these come before all morality; they are the perfect duties.”

Meaning: Stevenson places warmth and good humour ahead of rigid rules in his 1892 essay "A Christmas Sermon". He suggests that a kind, cheerful presence does more good than strict virtue. Try greeting the next stressful moment at work or home with patience before you try to fix anything.

— Robert Louis Stevenson

“A good conscience is eight parts of courage.”

Meaning: In the novel Catriona, a character argues that acting rightly takes more bravery than people admit. Standing by honest choices often means risking discomfort. Next time you hesitate to speak up or admit a mistake, treat the hesitation as a cue for courage, not a reason to stay quiet.

— Robert Louis Stevenson

“Whatever else we are intended to do, we are not intended to succeed; failure is the fate allotted.”

Meaning: Stevenson wrote this in "A Christmas Sermon" as a deliberately sobering reminder that perfect success is not guaranteed. His point is that dignity lies in continuing to try anyway. Use it to ease pressure: aim for steady effort on one task today rather than flawless results.

— Robert Louis Stevenson

“Character is the virtue of hard times.”

Meaning: De Gaulle wrote this in his 1932 book on leadership and military command, arguing that steadiness shows itself under pressure rather than in easy periods. When a team faces a setback, a leader can practice this by staying calm, being honest about the problem, and keeping commitments.

— Charles de Gaulle

“Nothing builds authority up like silence, splendor of the strong and shelter of the weak.”

Meaning: In The Edge of the Sword, de Gaulle describes how restraint gives a leader weight, because those who speak constantly dilute their words. In meetings, try listening first and speaking last, so your decision lands with more force and others feel heard.

— Charles de Gaulle

“Nothing great is done without great men, and they are great because they wanted it.”

Meaning: De Gaulle wrote this in 1934 while arguing for a professional modern army, stressing that determined individuals drive large changes. The takeaway is that greatness starts with will. Choose one outcome you truly want to lead, and take a concrete step toward it this week.

— Charles de Gaulle

“The leader is always alone before bad fates.”

Meaning: In his war memoirs, de Gaulle reflects on the isolation of carrying decisions during crisis, when advisers cannot share the final responsibility. If you lead a team, accept that tough calls are yours, and prepare by gathering views early so you decide with clear eyes.

— Charles de Gaulle

“Difficulty attracts a man of character, for it is by embracing it that he fulfills himself.”

Meaning: De Gaulle describes in his war memoirs how strong people are drawn toward hard tasks rather than away from them, because struggle reveals who they are. Pick the project everyone avoids at work and volunteer for it, treating it as a chance to grow.

— Charles de Gaulle

“"Don't put all your eggs in one basket" is all wrong. I tell you "put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket."”

Meaning: Speaking to Pittsburgh students in 1885, Carnegie argued that failing businesses had scattered their capital and attention too widely. His advice is to concentrate on a few ventures and manage them closely. Apply it by dropping side projects that dilute your focus.

— Andrew Carnegie

“The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.”

Meaning: Carnegie wrote this in his 1889 essay on wealth, condemning those who hoard fortunes until death instead of using them for the community. He treated wealthy people as trustees. A practical version: decide now how a portion of your income or time will serve others.

— Andrew Carnegie

“Why should men leave great fortunes to their children? If this is done from affection, is it not misguided affection?”

Meaning: In The Gospel of Wealth, Carnegie questions inheritance, arguing that large bequests can sap the drive of heirs. The idea applies at any scale: give your children skills, education and values before money, and consider how your resources could create lasting good.

— Andrew Carnegie

“Let him look out for the "dark horse" in the boy who begins by sweeping out the office.”

Meaning: In his autobiography, Carnegie advises young strivers to fear not the boss's relatives but humble workers with hidden talent. Managers can use this by noticing effort in junior colleagues and giving them stretch assignments, instead of assuming talent only comes from obvious places.

— Andrew Carnegie

“Salary, (I said, quite offended) what do I care for salary? I do not want the salary; I want the position.”

Meaning: Carnegie recalls turning down a raise in his autobiography because he valued the role and its opportunities more than the pay. When weighing job offers, ask which one teaches you the most and builds future options, not only which pays most this year.

— Andrew Carnegie

“There's only one rule that I know of, babies — "God damn it, you've got to be kind."”

Meaning: Vonnegut's character Eliot Rosewater greets newborns with this blunt rule in the 1965 novel. It boils down a life philosophy to one practice. Try it with a small, concrete act: respond kindly to the next person who irritates you, and notice how the day changes.

— Kurt Vonnegut

“But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”

Meaning: Vonnegut told graduates at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 1974 that bold living is about belonging, not only personal achievement. Put it into practice by hosting a regular meal, club or walk, and make a habit of including someone who seems on the outside.

— Kurt Vonnegut

“Our awareness is all that is alive and maybe sacred in any of us.”

Meaning: In Breakfast of Champions, Vonnegut suggests that our capacity to notice the world is what makes a person precious. Give that awareness room: put your phone away for ten minutes and pay full attention to a meal, a walk or a conversation.

— Kurt Vonnegut

“We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane.”

Meaning: Vonnegut wrote this line as the epitaph of the fictional writer Kilgore Trout in Breakfast of Champions. It links wellbeing to the quality of our thinking about others. Check the beliefs you act on this week, and replace one harsh judgement with a generous reading.

— Kurt Vonnegut

“You learn about life by the accidents you have, over and over again”

Meaning: In a 2002 McSweeney's interview, Vonnegut pointed to mishaps as life's main teachers rather than tidy plans. After your next mistake, take two minutes to write down what it showed you, and carry that lesson into the next attempt.

— Kurt Vonnegut