William Lyon Phelps quotes

The final test of a gentleman is his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him. (William Lyon Phelps)
One of the secrets of life is to keep our intellectual curiosity acute. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
I divide all readers into two classes: those who read to remember and those who read to forget. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
If I were running the world I would have it rain only between 2 and 5 a.m. Anyone who was out then ought to get wet. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
If you develop the absolute sense of certainty that powerful beliefs provide, then you can get yourself to accomplish virtually anything, including those things that other people are certain are impossible. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
In a start-up company, you basically throw out all assumptions every three weeks. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
The fear of life is the favorite disease of the 20th century. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
God speaks to me not through the thunder and the earthquake, nor through the ocean and the stars, but through the Son of Man, and speaks in a language adapted to my imperfect sight and hearing. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
You can learn more about human nature by reading the Bible than by living in New York. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
You can be deprived of your money, your job and your home by someone else, but remember that no one can ever take away your honor. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
There is a strange reluctance on the part of most people to admit they enjoy life. (William Lyon Phelps)
If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
If happiness truly consisted in physical ease and freedom from care, then the happiest individual would not be either a man or a woman; it would be, I think, an American cow. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
The belief that youth is the happiest time of life is founded on a fallacy. The happiest person is the person who thinks the most interesting thoughts, and we grow happier as we grow older. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good plays, good company, good conversation - what are they? They are the happiest people in the world. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view halfway up is better than the view from the base, and it steadily becomes finer as the horizon expands. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
A bibliophile of little means is likely to suffer often. Books don't slip from his hands but fly past him through the air, high as birds, high as prices. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
The happiest people in this world are those who have the most interesting thoughts. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
A student never forgets an encouraging private word, when it is given with sincere respect and admiration. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
A cat pours his body on the floor like water. It is restful just to see him. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
Whenever it is possible, a boy should choose some occupation which he should do even if he did not need the money. (William Lyon Phelps)
Whenever it is in any way possible, every boy and girl should choose as his life work some occupation which he should like to do anyhow, even if he did not need the money. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
Nature makes boys and girls lovely to look upon so they can be tolerated until they acquire some sense. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
The highest happiness on earth is marriage. Every man who is happily married is a successful man even if he has failed in everything else. View quote
William Lyon Phelps