William Lyon Phelps quotes - page 2

The amazing activity of the cat is delicately balanced by his capacity for relaxation. Every household should contain a cat, not only for decorative and domestic values, but because the cat in quiescence is medicinal to irritable, tense, tortured men and women. (William Lyon Phelps)
I find daily life not always joyous, but always interesting. I have some sad days and nights, but none that are dull. As I advance deeper into the vale of years, I live with constantly increasing gusto and excitement. I am sure it all means something in the last analysis, I am an optimist because I believe in God. Those who have no faith are quite naturally pessimists and I do not blame them. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
Life, with all its sorrows, cares, perplexities and heartbreaks, is more interesting than bovine placidity, hence more desirable. The more interesting it is, the happier it is. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
My religious faith remains in possession of the field only after prolonged civil war with my naturally skeptical mind. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
The principle of happiness should be like the principle of virtue it should not be dependent of things, but be a part of personality and character. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; but urge me not to use moderation. View quote
William Lyon Phelps
I cannot explain to another the joy and the happiness I get out of teaching. It is more than a profession, an occupation, a vocation, a struggle; it is a passion, for I love to teach. ... I love to teach as a painter loves to paint, as a singer loves to sing, and as a musician loves to play. Every strong man loves to run a race. View quote
William Lyon Phelps