“It is God's own thought put into practical form.”

Describing her preferred spiritual philosophy as something meant to be lived · Essay, A Worn Out Creed

• Action
• Faith
• Spirituality

“This is the new religion; yet it is older than the universe.”

Describing her spiritual philosophy as both modern in form and ancient in origin · Essay, A Worn Out Creed

• Religion
• Spirituality
• Tradition

“The world has been kept back too long by this false, unholy and blasphemous religion.”

Her forceful rejection of religious teaching based primarily on human depravity · Essay, A Worn Out Creed

• Criticism
• Progress
• Religion

“He is a dangerous hypnotist, while pretending to be a disciple of Christ.”

A sharp condemnation of people whose pessimism influences others destructively · Essay, A Worn Out Creed

• Hypocrisy
• Influence
• Religion

“The man who believes that all men are vicious, selfish and immoral is projecting pernicious mind stuff into space.”

Criticising blanket cynicism as socially damaging · Essay, A Worn Out Creed

• Attitude
• Cynicism
• Humanity

“If this can be said of men who have been criminals, surely humanity is not so vile as my orthodox correspondent would have me believe.”

Defending the possibility of goodness and redemption in people who have fallen · Essay, A Worn Out Creed

• Forgiveness
• Goodness
• Humanity

“There are great souls all along the highway of life.”

Expressing her conviction that greatness can be found among ordinary people · Essay, A Worn Out Creed

• Goodness
• Greatness
• Humanity

“Cultivate happiness as an art or science.”

Treating happiness as something that can be deliberately developed · Essay, The Philosophy of Happiness

• Growth
• Happiness
• Practice

“Happiness must come from within in order to respond to that which comes from without.”

Defining happiness as an inner capacity rather than merely an external reward · Essay, The Philosophy of Happiness

• Contentment
• Happiness
• Self

“How much better to expatiate in its presence on the blessing of rain, and to teach it the enjoyment of all nature's varying moods.”

Encouraging children to appreciate nature rather than complain about inconvenience · Essay, The Philosophy of Happiness

• Children
• Happiness
• Nature

“A child should be taught from its earliest life to find entertainment in every kind of condition or weather.”

Advocating adaptability and enjoyment rather than dependence on ideal conditions · Essay, The Philosophy of Happiness

• Adaptation
• Children
• Happiness

“He was a true philosopher and optimist and such a man gets the very kernel out of the nut of life.”

Praising the ability to find value in unexpected experiences · Essay, The Philosophy of Happiness

• Experience
• Optimism
• Wisdom

“Think of yourself each morning as an explorer in a new realm.”

Encouraging curiosity about ordinary experience · Essay, The Philosophy of Happiness

• Adventure
• Attitude
• Curiosity

“To be able to enjoy heaven, one must learn first to enjoy earth.”

Grounding spiritual aspiration in appreciation of earthly life · Essay, The Philosophy of Happiness

• Happiness
• Life
• Spirituality

“It is a great gift to learn to enjoy the present—to get all there is out of it, and to think of to-day as a piece of eternity.”

Celebrating presence and attention to the life immediately available · Essay, The Philosophy of Happiness

• Eternity
• Happiness
• Presence

“Get on shore and throw out a life-line, but do not remain and be dragged under.”

A memorable distinction between helping someone and being destroyed by their difficulties · Essay, Thought Force

• Boundaries
• Compassion
• Strength

“You might as well think it your duty to stay in deep water with one who would not make the least effort to swim.”

A vivid metaphor for maintaining healthy boundaries around despair · Essay, Thought Force

• Boundaries
• Compassion
• Resilience

“Never feel that it is your duty to stay closely and continuously in the atmosphere of the despondent.”

Distinguishing compassion from allowing another person's despair to overwhelm you · Essay, Thought Force

• Boundaries
• Compassion
• Despair

“Get out and away, into the society of optimistic people.”

Encouraging deliberate companionship with hopeful people · Essay, Thought Force

• Community
• Friendship
• Optimism

“Do not associate with pessimists.”

Her unusually blunt advice about protecting one's outlook · Essay, Thought Force

• Attitude
• Company
• Pessimism

“Think of yourself as necessary to the great design. It is an inspiring thought.”

Encouraging a sense of personal significance without grandiosity · Essay, Thought Force

• Belonging
• Inspiration
• Purpose

“There is a divine purpose in your being on earth.”

Affirming that individual existence has meaning · Essay, Thought Force

• Existence
• Faith
• Purpose

“The Creator makes no mistakes.”

A succinct expression of her confidence in divine purpose · Essay, Thought Force

• Acceptance
• Faith
• Purpose

“He has need of me or I would not be. I am here to strengthen the plan.”

A personal affirmation of purpose and usefulness · Essay, Thought Force

• Belonging
• Purpose
• Service