Who is William Arthur Ward
William Arthur Ward was born on the 17th December 1921 and he was a prolific writer of articles, poetry and comments, which were published in Reader’s Digest, Science of mind and many Christian based publications. Perhaps why his inspirational writings are quoted so much is partly down to him frequently being referred to in Quote, a weekly publication that was shared around the world.
A highly religious man, Ward graduated from McMurry College and received his Master’s from Oklahoma State University, spending his career working for various education institutions, as well as teaching bible classes at church. Not satisfied with his writing and career, he served as a church lay leader, school superintendent and was a member or director of multiple associations, including Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross.
William Arthur Ward continues to inspire many, even after his death on the 30th March 1994 and anyone searching for quotes will come across words attributed to this inspirational man. Whether you’re religious or not, you will find power and meaning in his words.
William Arthur Ward Quotes
1. God gave you a gift of 86 400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you.
2. It is wise to direct your anger towards problems — not people; to focus your energies on answers — not excuses
3. Happiness is an inside job.
4. The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates.The great teacher inspires.
5. The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails
6. A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.
7. We can learn much from wise words, little from wisecracks, and less from wise guys.
8. A life lived without forgiveness is a prison.
9. Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
10. Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.
11. Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.
12. Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn’t always have to be their top priority.
13. The greatest hazard in life is to risk NOTHING.
14. We can choose to throw stones, to stumble on them, to climb over them, or to build with them.
15. When we shut people out, we wall ourselves in; When we stop building bridges, we start erecting fences.
16. Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.
17. When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.
18. To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity.
19. Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.
20. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it.
21. Failure is delay but not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead-end street.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. The surest cure for loneliness, the quickest way to happiness, is found in this, a simple creed: Go serve someone in greater need.
26. Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.
27. A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.
28. The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of like is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give.
29. I’ve always loved the idea of not being what people expect me to be.
30. 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.
31. Every person has the power to make others happy. Some do it simply by entering a room; others by leaving the room.
32. Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.
33. 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.
34. The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of like is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give.
35. Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate.
36. The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
37. The greatest failure is the failure to try.
38. Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and ingratitude for today’s blessings.
39. A Winner’s Blueprint for Achievement BELIEVE while others are doubting. PLAN while others are playing. STUDY while others are sleeping. DECIDE while others are delaying. PREPARE while others are daydreaming. BEGIN while others are procrastinating. WORK while others are wishing. SAVE while others are wasting. LISTEN while others are talking. SMILE while others are frowning. COMMEND while others are criticizing. PERSIST while others are quitting.
40. 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?
41. A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.
42. well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.
43. 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.
44. Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
45. Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.
46. The essence of life is to care. The beauty of life is to give.
47. 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.
48. There is one thing we can do better than anyone else: we can be ourselves.
50. Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.
51. Lose yourself in generous service and every day can be a most unusual day, a triumphant day, an abundantly rewarding day!
52. Nothing limits achievement like small thinking; nothing expands possibilities like unleashed imagination.
53. 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.
54. 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.
55. Love is more than a noun-it is a verb; it is more than a feeling-it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing.
56. The optimist pleasantly ponders how high his kite will fly; the pessimist woefully wonders how soon his kite will fall.
57. The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment.
58. 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.
