Haile Selassie

We have before us the examples of the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. We must remember how long these required to achieve their union. When a solid foundation is laid, if the mason is able and his materials good, a strong house can be built.

If a strong government finds that it can, with impunity, destroy a weak people, then the hour has struck for that weak people to appeal to the League of Nations to give its judgment in all freedom. God and history will remember your judgment.

History teaches us that unity is strength, and cautions us to submerge and overcome our differences in the quest for common goals, to strive, with all our combined strength, for the path to true African brotherhood and unity.

It is much easier to show compassion to animals. They are never wicked.

I have lived too long to cherish many illusions about the essential high-mindedness of men when brought into stark confrontation with the issue of control over their security, and their property interests.

Above all, we must avoid the pitfalls of tribalism. If we are divided among ourselves on tribal lines, we open our doors to foreign intervention and its potentially harmful consequences.

Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.

I like to think of the word FOCUS as Follow One Course Until Successful.

If it’s flipping burgers at Mcdonald’s, be the best burger flipper in the world. Whatever it is you do, you have to master your craft.

If you’re going to have to swallow a frog, you don’t want to have to look at that sucker too long!

Surround your mind with healthy thoughts, thoughts of faith, and not fear, and you will produce faith results instead of fear results.

I gave up the guitar in 1965. Didn’t want to see a guitar. I’d go out and get drunk. When I came out of the heart surgery, the doc said, “Promise me you’ll work hard.” I said, “I thought working hard is what got me here.” He said, “No, working is what will keep you alive.”

The more people tell you it’s not possible, that it can’t be done, the more you should be absolutely determined to prove them wrong. Treat the word ‘impossible’ as nothing more than motivation.

The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty.

Make every day extraordinary no matter what your job is.

As a principle-centered person you try to stand apart from the emotion of the situation and from other factors that would act on you, and evaluate the options. Looking at the balanced whole–the work needs, the family needs, the other needs that may be involved, and the possible implications of the various alternatives — you’ll try to come up with the best solution taking all factors into consideration. We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations.

Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

Successful people are those who are willing to delay gratification and make sacrifices in the short term so that they can enjoy far greater rewards in the long term.

Thanks to emptiness, everything is possible.

I’ve got to confess I’m a pragmatic optimist myself.

There is no dream you can’t achieve. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.