Browse quotes by category
Thousands of quotes organised by category, author, and topic. Every entry comes with attribution and, where possible, a plain-language meaning—so you leave with an idea you can actually use, not just a phrase to copy.
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“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”
Meaning: A free society needs people who can report and speak openly. If we let that be restricted, our other freedoms soon follow. -
“I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.”
Meaning: Healthy societies need occasional protest and challenge to stay honest, just as storms clear the air in nature. -
“The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.”
Meaning: Power tends to grow over time while freedom shrinks, so keeping liberty takes constant attention and effort. -
“We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.”
Meaning: Free people should pursue truth wherever it goes and answer bad ideas with open debate, not suppression. -
“Being a good mother means teaching your children to care for the world.”
Meaning: Good parenting is more than keeping children safe at home; it prepares them to look after other people and the planet. -
“It is the fundamental unfairness of parenthood that if we do our jobs well, the deepest bond we are given will walk out the door with a wave over the shoulder.”
Meaning: The best sign of raising a child well is that they become independent and leave, even though letting go is painful. -
“Being a good mother doesn't end with creating a home where just my children can flourish. A good mother grows into a richly eutrophic old woman, knowing that her work doesn't end until she creates a h...”
Meaning: A mother's care can grow beyond her own children to include a wider community and the world they will live in. -
“Mothering is like that, a net of living threads to lovingly encircle what it cannot possibly hold, what will eventually move through it.”
Meaning: Mothering means surrounding a child with love and support while knowing they will eventually move beyond your reach. -
“This is really why I made my daughters learn to garden—so they would always have a mother to love them, long after I am gone.”
Meaning: Teaching children to love and care for nature gives them lasting comfort and support, even after their parent is gone. -
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. In this life we get nothing save by effort. Freedom from effort in the present merely means that there has been stored up effort in...”
Meaning: Failing hurts, but never trying is worse. Real results come from effort, and today's ease is paid for by earlier work. -
“I don't pity any man who does hard work worth doing. I admire him. I pity the creature who does not work, at whichever end of the social scale he may regard himself as being.”
Meaning: Respect people who work hard at something worthwhile, and don't envy those who avoid effort. -
“In short, in life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard; don't foul and don't shirk, but hit the line hard!”
Meaning: Give full effort, play fairly and don't dodge responsibility, whether in sport or in daily life. -
“We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.”
Meaning: Greatness isn't handed out; it is earned through hard work, sacrifice and courage. -
“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again.”
Meaning: When your mind is scattered or stressed, returning to your breath brings body and mind back together. -
“If we are not happy, if we are not peaceful, we can't share peace and happiness with others, even those we love, those who live under the same roof. If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile a...”
Meaning: Your own peace and happiness affect everyone around you, so caring for your well-being also benefits your family and community. -
“Life is filled with suffering, but it is also filled with many wonders, such as the blue sky, the sunshine, and the eyes of a baby. To suffer is not enough. We must also be in touch with the wonders o...”
Meaning: Pain is part of life, but so are small joys; noticing the good around you supports a healthier outlook. -
“Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is a wonderful moment.”
Meaning: A short breathing practice you can repeat any time to relax your body and settle into the present. -
“Feelings, whether of compassion or irritation, should be welcomed, recognized, and treated on an absolutely equal basis; because both are ourselves.”
Meaning: Accept every feeling, comfortable or not, instead of fighting it; this is a healthy way to treat your own mind. -
“Our Substance is our Father, God Almighty, and our Substance is our Mother, God, All-wisdom”
Meaning: Julian saw the nurturing, wise side of love as a divine quality, much like a mother's care for her child. -
“As verily as God is our Father, so verily God is our Mother”
Meaning: A mother's tender, steady care is described as a picture of the deepest love there is.